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BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 46
The air in the city was thick with tension, the kind that clung to every whispered conversation, every careful glance over the shoulder. Samuel had been walking a tightrope, balancing between survival and the relentless pursuit of those who wanted him destroyed. He had grown used to being hunted, to schemes woven in the shadows.But he had not expected this.The doors to the dimly lit lounge swung open with a force that silenced the room. The usual hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses came to an abrupt halt as all eyes turned toward the figure standing in the doorway.A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped inside, the glow of the streetlamp behind him casting his face into shadow. His presence alone carried an unmistakable weight, as if the city itself had been holding its breath for his return.Samuel, seated in the corner with a glass of whiskey in hand, slowly lowered the drink. His fingers tightened around the glass. He hadn’t seen that face in years—had convinced himself
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 47
They had entered Samuel’s world like a shadow slipping through cracks in the pavement—silent, sudden, and impossible to ignore.Their name was Vincent Hale, a fixer, a broker of secrets. No allegiance except to the highest bidder, no history that could be traced without running into dead ends. They were the kind of person who could make or break men like Samuel, and they knew it.Vincent exhaled slowly, letting the tension settle in the room before finally speaking. “I have something you need.”Samuel lifted his gaze, eyes dark and unreadable. “That so?”Vincent slid a small USB drive across the table. It stopped just before Samuel’s fingers. “On there is everything you need to rip Arthur apart from the inside. Connections he’s kept hidden, favors he’s traded with men who would burn if their names were ever tied to him. Corrupt politicians, CEOs, judges—every dirty deal, every handshake in the dark.”Samuel stared at the drive but didn’t reach for it. He had learned long ago that noth
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 48
Samuel had changed everything. He wasn’t just a powerful man—he was a force, a presence that made the ground shift under your feet. The moment Joey had stepped into his world, he had felt it, the pull of something bigger, something darker. And yet, even knowing the weight of the choices ahead, he was still here.A knock on the passenger window snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Vincent Hale, Samuel’s newest ally, smirking at him through the glass. Joey hesitated, then unlocked the door.Vincent slid in, his movements smooth, casual. “You look like a man about to make a very bad decision.”Joey exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing anymore.”Vincent chuckled, lighting a cigarette and taking a slow drag before responding. “That’s the first honest thing I’ve heard all night.”Joey turned to face him fully. “Why are you here?”Vincent exhaled smoke toward the windshield. “Samuel sent me to make sure you don’t do anything… regre
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 49
Arthur knew this was his last chance. He sat at his desk, the dim light of his office casting long shadows over stacks of documents, news clippings, and confidential reports. His campaign against Samuel had been going on for months, but he had underestimated the man. Every attempt to expose him had backfired. Every whisper campaign, every investigative piece he had leaked to the media had only strengthened Samuel’s hold.That was going to change.Arthur leaned forward, watching the news anchor on the screen in front of him."New allegations have surfaced against businessman Samuel Caine, with sources claiming ties to illicit financial dealings and political corruption."The reporter’s voice was calm, professional, but Arthur could hear the tension behind it. The media had been cautious about taking him on, but Arthur had forced their hand. He had supplied them with carefully curated evidence, enough to create doubt, to plant the seeds of Samuel’s downfall.It wasn’t enough.Arthur gra
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 50
Arthur’s sword swung toward Samuel with a lethal arc, but Samuel, ever the patient strategist, didn’t flinch. He allowed the attack to come closer, just close enough that Arthur would believe victory was in his grasp. At the last possible moment, Samuel moved with the grace of a dancer, sidestepping the blow and using Arthur’s momentum against him. Arthur stumbled forward, caught off guard by the unexpected ease with which Samuel had countered."You're getting slow, Arthur," Samuel said, his voice a smooth murmur in the midst of the tension. "Is it age? Or something else weighing on you?"Arthur’s face flushed with anger. He straightened himself, glaring at Samuel. "You think you're clever, don’t you? Always playing your games, always one step ahead. But this ends now."With a growl, Arthur surged forward again, faster this time, his sword aimed straight for Samuel’s chest. But once again, Samuel moved like water, flowing around the strike with barely a shift in posture. Samuel’s eye
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 51
At the heart of this division stood Joey. His uniform, a deep shade of blue with the emblem of the state emblazoned on his chest, symbolized everything he had once believed in—order, control, and loyalty to the system. But that loyalty was beginning to waver, and with it, everything he had ever known.Joey had always thought he knew where his allegiance lay. He was a soldier, part of the system, bound to uphold the state’s rule and maintain the fragile peace that held Aletra together. For years, he had followed orders without question, believing the ideal of a unified city. That was, until he met Samuel.Samuel had come into his life at the most unexpected of times—a time when Joey’s faith in the state was beginning to crack. He had watched Samuel for weeks from the shadows, a man who seemed to move through the streets of Aletra with a quiet power, someone who wasn’t bound by the state’s rules, but who could navigate the city's darkest alleys with ease. At first, Joey had seen him as
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 52
There had been whispers of a betrayal, rumors that certain allies had already begun to distance themselves. The state’s forces had infiltrated nearly every corner of Aletra, making it nearly impossible to trust anyone. Samuel’s trust in his inner circle was faltering, his thoughts clouded by doubt. He had led them this far, but now it seemed like the walls were closing in.His position was precarious. The political forces within Aletra had already sided with the state, pressuring Samuel’s few remaining allies to withdraw. The underworld, once a dark web of support, was now splintered into competing factions, each more concerned with survival than loyalty. Samuel was on the brink of losing everything.And then, when it seemed like hope was fading, a figure stepped from the shadows.It was a presence that Samuel had not expected, a figure whose reputation preceded him like a storm—The Falcon.Known to most as a shadow, a ghost in the city's underworld, The Falcon had managed to stay out
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 53
The tension in Aletra had been building for weeks. Samuel could feel it in the air, thick and suffocating, like the city itself was holding its breath. His rebellion had been gaining momentum, stirring up fear and uncertainty in the state’s leadership. Samuel’s plan was working, but as with every move he made, there were risks—risks he had learned to live with.What he hadn’t anticipated was that one of his own allies would be the one to deliver the blow. It came swiftly, in the dead of night, like a dagger to the heart.Samuel had always trusted Aaron. The man had been a loyal companion, one of the few people Samuel could count on. Together, they had built the resistance from the ground up, fighting against an oppressive government that had no regard for the people. Samuel had shared his darkest secrets with Aaron, confided in him when the weight of the world became too much. He had believed in him, trusted him as much as anyone could.But that trust was shattered in an instant.It h
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\The road to the Vale of Remnants wasn’t marked on any map. It was hidden, buried beneath centuries of secrecy and natural camouflage. Eli had given them a tattered scroll, ink faded but still legible, containing coordinates only someone with the sigil could decipher. As they left the last paved road behind, the air grew heavier, laced with static. Trees loomed taller here, their twisted trunks like sentinels watching every move.Samuel sat in the backseat, staring out at the encroaching forest, his mind reeling. The Mark of Ascendance pulsed under his sleeve with quiet insistence, as if reacting to their proximity to the boundary. Every time he blinked, he saw that throne again—ancient and immense, its surface etched with glowing veins of light and shadow.Joey drove in tense silence. He had stopped cracking jokes two hours ago, when the GPS died and the radio began spitting out bursts of static mixed with those same whispered voices Samuel had been hearing. Sarah sat beside him, ey
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The handshake lingered longer than it should have, and when Marcus finally let go, Samuel wiped his hand on his coat, as if trying to rid himself of something foul. The warehouse hit had gone clean, precise, but that didn’t matter now. Callahan’s warning refused to quiet in Samuel’s head. The real players—the ones who truly run this city—are still out there.Back at the safe house, the atmosphere was no warmer than when they had left. Olivia was asleep on the couch, her breathing shallow but even. Rafael stood by the window, watching the street, while Evelyn leaned against the wall, arms crossed, the lines of tension etched deeper into her face.“You okay?” Samuel asked, stepping beside her.She didn’t answer at first. Then, quietly, “We just shot a man in cold blood, and I don’t feel a thing. That’s not normal.”Samuel glanced at her. “Normal left the building a long time ago.”Rafael spoke up. “We’ve stirred something up. Marcus might be useful, but he’s no ally. He plays sides, not
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'Hey, how about now? I am hungry'.There really was no other choice but to send a message to Gelael and go out with him. I couldn't possibly have to whine to Adrian, he might get really angry with me, because earlier he had offered to buy food straight away.Luckily, in no more than five minutes, Gelael arrived. I immediately got down and opened Gelael's car door when I saw that he had come with his friend. I immediately closed the front door and moved to the back. Unlucky! It's really embarrassing."Eh, sorry Emma, I forgot to tell you that I invited my brother, his name is Bon," said Gelael, Bon then extended his hand towards me."Emma," I said, shaking Bon's hand."Where are you going, sis?" Bon asked Gelael."Whatever, just a place to eat, a relaxed cafe, something delicious, if possible with live music," said Gelael.I sent a message to Gelael.'Why didn't you say that you would invite your brother, I was embarrassed because I suddenly opened the front door''Why should you be em
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"Why did you bring your brother? That's really cool," I asked."He was the one who wanted to come, he said he was bored at home, lazy about being told by his older brother, so I just invited him, do you feel bothered?" Gelael asked back."No, it's up to you, whoever you want to invite," I answered.Gelael smiled, he kept looking at me, I became uncomfortable."What now?" I asked Gelael."Nothing, I'm just happy to see you again, forgive all my stupidity yesterday, I think I was possessed by the ghost of a woman, that's why I acted so annoyingly," said Gelael."There's no need to discuss it any further, just assume that if you're crazy, I understand," I said.Gelael laughed, he looked back at me while supporting his chin. A very annoying pose for me, I ignored it and immediately played with my cellphone.Adrian sent photos of the food being served at Sandra's house, lots of it. It looked like they were having a luxurious party, Sandra was also seen smiling holding a lobster. I'm gratef
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“Why, just because I said something wrong earlier? "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, don't be angry like this, we can discuss other things that are more interesting," replied Gelael."What else can I discuss with you?" I asked."What, I don't know either, there are many things I could tell you but you won't hear them, you understand what I mean," said Gelael, he looked at me sharply."Yeah, thank you, I don't want to hear it one bit," I answered.Gelael raised his eyebrows, he then opened his cellphone. Likewise with me. I also kept myself busy by opening my cellphone.I looked around, people seemed to be chatting with each other, sharing stories, laughing, and making memorable memories. Meanwhile we were both just busy with our own affairs. There are no more words, no more stories that we can talk about, it's all over.Likewise with this relationship, it should be completely over, it cannot be forced. Between the two of us we still have wounds and hopes, I have wounds that have not yet h
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Adrian sat on the sofa in front of the television, leaned his head against the sofa cushion, he closed his eyes, from his expression I could tell that Adrian felt very tired and depressed."Sandra apologized to me earlier, she told me about how all this could happen, I was very touched," said Adrian, still with the same expression."That's all he said?" I asked.Adrian opened his eyes, he squinted at me."What else did he tell you? Is there anything else?” Adrian asked me with a confused and curious face."Yes, she told me how she broke up with Hudson, and how all this madness started," I answered, I sat next to Adrian.“Hudson? What did he tell you? "He just said that, all of this has nothing to do with me, all the mistakes that exist are proof that he was guilty and negligent, he was just being hit by anxiety and worry about his life, so he finally chose a shortcut to calm himself down," said Adrian."I don't want to talk about this problem because it is Sandra's personal matter, bu
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"Whoever is stressed, it seems like he is talking about himself," I said quietly. I then closed the door and locked it.What should I do now, it was still very early, I looked in the refrigerator, there was some ice cream that I hadn't eaten. Because I was hungry, I decided to cook instant noodles.After a few minutes, the instant noodles I made were ready and I brought them in front of the television. I turned on the television and ate the noodles I made. It's really delicious.Days like this are sometimes very enjoyable, maybe you know what I mean, I haven't lived a normal life like someone without problems for a long time, so this sometimes becomes an interesting habit.Gelael sent me a message saying good morning, I ignored it. I've really decided to keep my distance from Gelael, I don't want to have to play with everything at my young age all the time.By the way, it's December 28th, it's great that Adrian is still working at the end of the year, what a busy businessman. Sometime
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We arrived at the mall where Gelael and I met again for the first time after we separated."Let's just go straight to the salon, okay? My head feels very heavy," said Sandra, she then took my hand and we started walking along the mall."So how did that happen, I really can't comment reading what you just showed me, I'm very happy," I said, Sandra's smile couldn't hide her feelings which were also very happy."Why did I ask Adrian to come home last night? Because I really opened my mind, I apologized to Adrian and asked him not to think about all the things I did, I thought there were things I had to finish before it was too late. So after Adrian came home, I immediately called Tommy and talked to him. Including my meeting with Adrian, Hudson and what just happened, maybe we talked for almost three hours, I have become relieved and open since telling you, so I am really grateful that because of you I can have the courage to admit those things. At first I was hesitant to call Tommy, but
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The safe house felt colder than usual. The air was thick with tension, the kind that settled in your bones and refused to let go. Samuel sat in the corner of the dimly lit room, his fingers lightly tapping against his knee. Evelyn was across from him, tending to Olivia, who lay on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her.Damon paced near the window, his agitation barely contained. “This doesn’t feel like a win,” he muttered. “We took out Vincent, got Olivia back, but something feels... off.”Samuel knew exactly what he meant. The words of the dying man at the warehouse still echoed in his mind. There are worse monsters coming.“We don’t have time to celebrate,” Samuel said finally. “Vincent may be dead, but that doesn’t mean we’re safe. Power like his doesn’t just disappear—it shifts.”Evelyn looked up, her expression tired but determined. “Then we make sure no one else takes it.”Damon scoffed. “That’s a nice thought, but how? We’re just four people against an entire city of crim
