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BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 1
Boom Boom Boom!The sound of knocking reverberated through the quiet night.“Who’s at the door?” Samuel murmured groggily.The clock on the wall showed 1 a.m.—far too late for visitors.“Open the door, or we’ll break it down!”A commanding voice from outside made Samuel quicken his steps.As he passed the window, his gaze caught the faint flicker of police sirens.Shock coursed through him when he opened the door and found three police officers standing there.“Mr. Hayes, you’re under arrest”One of the officers, a man with a thick mustache, held out an arrest warrant. Fraud, embezzlement, forgery, and tax evasionIt’s all about the company. His mind raced back to his years of dedication to J&S Corp, which belonged to his fiancée’s family.J&S Corp was nothing more than a company riddled with issues, leaving behind environmental destruction, loss of lives, and tangled government problems.However, everything became clear when Samuel entered the company.Samuel had put everything to
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 2
Fury flashed in Madeline’s eyes, and without hesitation, she slapped Samuel hard across the face.The sound echoed in the hallway.“Enough!” she hissed, her voice trembling with anger. “Know your place.”Samuel’s cheek burned, but he stood tall, his voice calm.“You’ve just made the biggest mistake of your life.”Madeline laughed derisively. “Who do you think you are, Samuel? Without my grandparents’ charity, you’d still be nothing more than a street rat! Don’t delude yourself into thinking J&S succeeded because of you.”“Your skills were all ours to begin with,” she continued, her tone dripping with contempt. “If someone as useless as you could run the company, imagine what we can achieve without you.”Samuel gave a faint smile, saying nothing more.“You know what? I’m marrying Gideon!” she declared, her voice laced with venom, "He was incredible!"“Gideon is handsome, smart, and rich. With him around, J&S will not only make more money but also become a global powerhouse!”Samuel res
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 3
“How?! Why?!” Joey’s eyes widened in shock as he entered the room.“What the hell happened?!”The others stayed silent, stunned as they watched him.None of them had expected Joey to show up.Known for solving the toughest cases, Chief Joey Gunther was even rumored to be a contender for governor.To them, someone like Samuel was far too insignificant to warrant Joey rushing to the station in the middle of the night—let alone in such a hurry!They had never seen their chief speak to anyone with such a respectful tone.The young officer who had just threatened to shove Samuel’s head in a toilet quietly stepped back, terrified of facing Joey’s possible wrath.It was clear to those present that Samuel was no ordinary man to Joey.“Um, Chief Gunther, Mr. Hayes--” Douglaz began. But Joey cut him off with a raised hand, his face a mix of frustration and concern.Joey sat down, exhaling deeply, and turned his attention back to Samuel.“Relax, take a deep breath, Chief,” Samuel said calmly.“
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 4
If there's anything more terrifying than a crime, it's the West Line.That sentence was always drilled into the heads of every law enforcement officer and government official.So, it was clear—Samuel’s request to go to West Line was the most insane idea they had ever heard."I’m sure you’re fully aware of how West Line operates, Mr. Hayes, and it’s not a good idea!"Joey clenched his fists, his expression filled with unease. He ruffled his hair in frustration."The largest supplier of every kind of drug is there! It’s the hub!" "And that’s not even mentioning the weapons assembly distributed on a massive scale, or the human trafficking! Oh, my God!"Douglaz, who had been sitting silently with his head bowed, took a deep breath. He looked up, raising one hand."Permission to add, Chief—one of my friends died when he entered West Line.""His body was never found. All that was sent to his house was a small box.""That box contained... his finger bone."Joey slammed the table, shouting,
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 5
The Hawthorne Corporation still appeared glamorous from the outside.They excelled at manipulating public perception.In reality, their internal funds were completely drained.The rising success of J&S Corp naturally caught their attention.If they could take over J&S effortlessly, it would be the lifeline the Hawthornes desperately needed.Gideon was a habitual troublemaker with a history of digital scandals.If his affair with an English official’s wife hadn’t gone public, he wouldn’t have agreed to marry Madeline.Even so, it was all to secure what little remained of his crumbling fortune.Per their agreement, J&S was set to fall entirely under the Hawthornes’ control.“You’re the same—always so charismatic I can’t take my eyes off you, Gideon.” Madeline smiled.“I’ve prepared a fantastic spot for us.” She playfully pulled Gideon toward the car.Their destination was Aurora Époque, an opulent venue requiring a $100,000 deposit just to reserve.Madeline had arranged the most luxurio
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 6
Madeline’s mind was in chaos, her hands trembling.The sudden withdrawal of the two biggest investors supporting J&S Corp’s cash flow almost made her faint.This meant the company had abruptly lost its operating funds, which could disrupt the supply of raw materials—and paying workers would be out of the question.A major corporation can collapse in an instant!A flicker of doubt crossed her mind:Could it be... that Samuel was actually important?She quickly dismissed the thought.If Samuel were so capable, why would he have worked to help run the Brooks family’s company?There must have been some mistake during the partnership.Gritting her teeth, Madeline returned to her seat.Gideon and Arthur didn’t seem to have heard anything, cheerfully sipping their wine.Looking at Gideon’s face, Madeline felt reassured.After all, it didn’t matter if the investors pulled out.J&S Corp was about to partner with The Hawthornes!With The Hawthornes Corporation involved, those investors were irr
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 7
The room fell silent as the sharp crack of her slap echoed through the air. Samuel’s head turned slightly from the impact, but he didn’t react otherwise. His jaw tightened, his calm demeanor only fueling her anger.“Bastard!” she spat, her voice trembling with fury.As she raised her hand for another slap, Samuel caught her wrist mid-air.“That’s enough,” he said coldly.“I let you slap me twice.”“The first was to repay the debt I owe your grandparents for taking me in.”“The second was for the years you claim you were ‘trapped’ with me.”“Now, we’re even. I owe you nothing.”Madeline froze, her face a mixture of shock and rage.How dare he defy her?For years, she had grown used to Samuel’s quiet compliance, his willingness to endure whatever she threw at him.She didn’t see her own faults, only her mounting anger.This was all Samuel’s fault, she thought bitterly, especially after hearing about the investors pulling out because of him.She burned with fury, wishing she could destro
BENEATH THE MASK: REVENGE OF SAMUEL HAYES 8
To Samuel, he was simply stating the facts.But to Gideon, it was an outright provocation!Gideon’s eyebrows twisted in anger.The next moment, he clenched his fist and threw a powerful punch toward Samuel’s face.The room seemed to hold its breath.But the punch never landed.Samuel seemed to just flicker and dodge the attack.In one smooth motion, he blocked the strike and pushed Gideon’s arm aside.The onlookers gasped in unison.Gideon stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock.“What?!” he sputtered, clearly stunned.The move he had just tried was one of his master’s most advanced techniques—a strike that had never failed him before!He was confident in his fighting skills.Normally, his opponents couldn’t dodge and would fall helplessly.How could someone like Samuel block it so effortlessly?Samuel was beneath him!“You’re such a weasel,” Gideon seethed, his eyes bloodshot with fury. “How did you dodge that?!”Samuel raised his hands in a peaceful gesture.“I don’t want to fight,”
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59
The crash of falling rocks echoed behind them as Samuel and Sarah emerged onto the rocky shore, their breaths ragged and uneven. The cave had collapsed completely, leaving behind nothing but dust and the faint tremors still reverberating through the earth. The ocean roared against the jagged cliffs, its waves crashing in a relentless, violent rhythm, as if mirroring the chaos unfolding before them.Samuel steadied himself, hands braced against his knees, his pulse hammering in his ears. He turned sharply toward Sarah, his voice laced with frustration.“What the hell just happened?”Sarah’s face was pale, her usually sharp gaze unfocused as she stared at the spot where the cave entrance had once stood. Slowly, she shook her head. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “That wasn’t supposed to happen. The island has never reacted like this before.”Samuel exhaled sharply, his frustration mounting. He could still feel the weight of the journal tucked in his bag, as if the secrets within were burn
58
The cave trembled around us, dust raining from the ceiling as the ground beneath our feet quaked. The pedestal where the journal had rested began to crack, thin fractures crawling across its surface like veins of some ancient, dying beast.I gripped the book tighter, my breath coming fast. “What the hell is happening?”Sarah stood frozen, her eyes darting around the chamber. She took a step back, her voice barely above a whisper. “We triggered something… but I don’t know what.”I turned to her sharply. “You knew this place would react, didn’t you? You knew something like this could happen.”She flinched at the accusation but didn’t deny it.“You’ve been keeping secrets this entire time,” I snapped, anger flaring in my chest. “Enough. Tell me what’s really going on.”Sarah clenched her fists, her hesitation tangible. The flickering torchlight cast
57
The hum of the private jet was the only sound that accompanied Samuel as he stared out of the window, watching the endless blue of the ocean below. The sunlight reflected off the water’s surface, making it appear like liquid glass. It was beautiful—too beautiful for what lay ahead. Samuel shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his thoughts racing.His old master’s final words echoed in his mind: “Your true purpose lies in the ocean’s depths.”What could that possibly mean? He had been trained for years in secret, preparing for something big, but nothing had ever felt this urgent. XX Island. The name alone was enough to send a shiver down his spine. It wasn’t just an island—it was a place steeped in mystery, with whispers of its ancient power and artifacts that could alter the very fabric of time. And now, Samuel was bound for it, with only fragmented clues to guide him.Beside him, Sarah sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the horizon. He hadn’t heard a word from her since they boarded the pla
56
Samuel first noticed the visions three nights ago. They started as fleeting images—shadows curling at the edges of his consciousness, whispers in languages he didn’t recognize, and a throne wreathed in flickering blue flames. But last night, they became impossible to ignore. He had woken up drenched in sweat, heart hammering in his chest, his arm burning as if seared by an invisible fire. When he pulled up his sleeve, a sigil glowed on his forearm, intricate and pulsating with an eerie golden light.Sarah was the first to see it.Her face paled. She took a step back, gripping the edge of the table as if the sight had physically weakened her. "Oh, God," she whispered."What?" Samuel demanded, his voice hoarse. "You know what this is?"Sarah swallowed hard, her fingers trembling. "I was hoping this would never happen." She looked into his eyes, guilt and fear warring in her expression. "Samuel, there’s something I never told you about your
55
Samuel stared at the money Joey had placed on the table. A stack of red and blue bills lay neatly, as if they had just been withdrawn from the bank. However, something within him sensed an oddity.Suddenly, a fleeting vision flashed through his mind. Fragments of memories from who knows where seemed to tell him something. This money was no ordinary cash. He recognized the packaging pattern and the faint scent emanating from it—a mix of expensive perfume and tobacco smoke. Something he could only associate with one name: Sharon.Samuel furrowed his brows and took a deep breath before looking at Joey, who was still standing before him with a questioning expression."This is from Sharon," he stated, his voice flat but filled with certainty.Joey blinked, looking surprised. "Sharon? You mean, that Sharon?"Samuel nodded slowly. "A high-profile criminal. The shadow queen we've never been able to touch."Joey exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. "How can you be so sure?"Samuel
54
Samuel sat alone in the dimly lit room, his fingers tracing the worn edges of a map spread across the table, his mind was a maze of conflicting thoughts. The rebellion had come so far, and yet it felt like everything was crumbling, piece by piece. Was it all worth it? He had sacrificed so much—his time, his energy, his relationships—and yet, in the end, what had they achieved? The state had grown stronger, and the people who once followed him now looked to him with doubt and fear in their eyes.His reflection was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Samuel didn’t need to look up to know who it was. Joey had been a constant presence in his life for years, a loyal ally despite the chaos that surrounded them. But now, the younger man’s silence was a weight Samuel couldn’t ignore.“Samuel,” Joey’s voice broke the stillness, low and unsure. “Are you okay?”Samuel didn’t answer immediately. He could feel the weight of Joey’s gaze, the expectation in the air, but he wasn’t sure how to resp
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
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
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
