Jackson stood in the middle of the old abandoned warehouse he had transformed into a makeshift home and gym. The cavernous space echoed with the clanging of weights and the rhythmic thud of his fists hitting a worn punching bag. Various pieces of scrap metal and discarded machinery littered the area, repurposed as exercise equipment. His muscles glistened with sweat, and his breaths came in steady, controlled bursts as he pushed his body to its limits.Suddenly, an eerie silence fell over the warehouse, broken only by the distant drip of water. Jackson, lost in his workout, didn’t notice the three masked men creeping through the shadows. They moved with practiced stealth, their dark clothing blending seamlessly into the dimly lit environment. The men circled Jackson, their movements synchronized like a well-rehearsed dance. They kept him in the center, each step bringing them closer. Jackson’s instincts kicked in, and he spun around, eyes narrowing as he took in the intruders.
The city’s only female prison loomed on the outskirts, a grim fortress of gray stone and steel. The exterior was a bleak testament to its purpose, with high, barbed-wire-topped walls stretching around the perimeter. Guard towers punctuated the corners, each manned by vigilant officers with watchful eyes scanning for any sign of disturbance. The main gate, an imposing iron barrier, stood as the sole entrance and exit, guarded by a team of armed personnel.Inside the walls, the atmosphere was no less oppressive. The corridors were narrow and cold, lined with reinforced steel doors that led to cramped cells. Each cell housed two inmates, their lives confined to a space barely big enough for two single beds and a small, shared toilet. The air was thick with the scent of disinfectant and the faint, ever-present odor of sweat and despair.The central hall, where the prisoners gathered for meals and recreational time, was slightly more open but just as dreary. Long tables and benches fi
Jackson never imagined his makeshift place would be ruined before the end of the day. Now, he lay on the cold concrete floor, his suit ruined to bits and his body screaming in pain. Grunting, he forced himself to sit up. Every tiny movement sent jolts of agony through his battered frame. “Ah…” He groaned as his movements caused the hard floor to scrap a bruise on his elbow. Blood dripped from his wounds, but he ignored it, his mind focused on one thing: revenge. He would not let these men get away with what they had done. But the real question was who did it? Who sent these men after him? He was sure they didn't just act on their own. A faint feeling slowly creeped up to him, but he shook his head vigorously to snap out of it.“One of the houses,” his mind told him instantly. Jackson allied his fists in anger, smashing into the walls. He shouldn't have let them do as they pleased, but the funny thing was how powerless he was. Like a housefly close to a fucking dragon fly. The diff
The light in Alex’s makeshift slum room was dim, the rough concrete walls seemed to close in around him, a stark reminder of his fallen state. His bed was nothing more than a thin, tattered mattress on the cold floor, and his pillow was a large, jagged rock. Despite the uncomfortable setting, Alex lay wide awake, his mind churning with thoughts of his past and the man who had driven him to this wretched existence: Ethan.The memories of his once-promising life played out in his mind like a cruel movie. He had been successful, respected, and full of potential. But Ethan had taken it all away. Every opportunity, every achievement, every ounce of happiness had been stripped from him by Ethan’s action. Just as he was about to sink deeper into his thoughts, the sharp buzz of his cellphone broke the silence. Alex’s heart skipped a beat as he reached for the device. The screen lit up with a single, cryptic message: “Jackson won’t trouble you anymore.”A satisfactory smile slowly crept a
Rachel had just finished her bath. The bathroom was warm and steamy, with white tiles on the walls and a small window letting in the soft morning light. Drops of water clung to her skin as she reached for her towel. By the sink, her phone lit up and made a soft chime.She noticed it right away. "Who...?" she muttered, slowly making her way to the phone and picking it up. Careful not to get it wet, she swiped open the screen. It showed a message from Paul.Rachel raised an eyebrow. Paul usually calls, not texts. Curious, she tapped on the message box.He wanted to tell her about something important.There was an address at the bottom of the screen. Rachel scoffed. Really? Shaking her head in disbelief, she dropped the phone.But she picked it up almost immediately. The address rang a bell. Wait a minute. That was a hotel! Her hands shook as she tried to figure out what Paul meant by his message. A proposal?No. Rachel shook her head. That was too fast. An invitation to dinner? Yes. Pr
The room warmed Rachel, taking some of her heat away and remaining just enough to make her feel flustered. The surprise had just been evident on Rachel's face because Paul asked.“What is it?”“This place isn't what I expected.”“Oh yeah? What did you expect?” Rachel had no reply to that.They walked to a quiet corner of the lobby, where a small table and two chairs waited. Rachel stood, still feeling a bit nervous, while Paul remained standing for a moment, watching her. He didn't offer her a chair.They both stared."I wanted to talk to you about something important," Paul said, finally sitting down. His tone was serious, but the amused look in his eyes remained.Rachel nodded, waiting for him to continue, her heart pounding in her chest. Paul didn't say anything for awhile. “Take your seat.” She offered, like this was her treat.Paul complied immediately, and Rachel was impressed by his composure. Swallowing her worries, she took the initiative.She raised her eyes, filled with
This had to be the most peaceful sleep Rachel had enjoyed since she saw Mr.Mcdave acting weird at the office. She had been having nightmares about him catching her spying on him and her frantic attempts to cover her tracks. But tonight, wrapped in the soft warmth of Paul’s couch, those nightmares seemed a world away.She drifted into a deep slumber, the gentle hum of the rain against the windows providing a soothing backdrop. The bed was really comfortable, with a fluffy blanket draped over her. Rachel felt a sense of safety here, something she always felt whenever she was with paul. Even with the storm raging outside, she was cocooned in a bubble of calm.Her dreams were free of Mr. Mcdave menacing glare and the stress that had been plaguing her. Instead, her mind wandered through peaceful scenes, where she explored fruity gardens, far from the annoying chaos of her waking work life.But just as she began to relax completely, her phone blared loudly from the nearby table, shatte
“you are. I don’t want you to think about it. Master Ethan won’t blame you.”“I have a feeling this is tied to a lot of crazy things happening in the office, especially with Jason breathing down our necks.”“I know. It might get worse from here.” Paul sighed, lost in his own thoughts, forgetting that a smart woman was sitting beside him, watching.Rachel couldn’t agree more. It was going to get worse. Many people were out for Master Ethan’s fame, position, and life.No one wanted to know what he endured to get to this point. It was actually disappointing.“I am here to keep you safe.”Rachel scoffed. “Don’t be so cheesy. Yes, I was employed by the old man to keep Master Ethan safe.”“Now I’ve added another to the list,” Paul said shamelessly, causing Rachel to blush furiously.No words were exchanged between them until they arrived at the office. It was when Rachel passed by the mirror that she realized what a mess she was. Her hair was frizzy, her clothes were rumpled, and her makeu