Leon's eyes met hers, and for a moment, the weight of what had happened between him and Alex seemed suffocating. He nodded slowly, understanding the pain shared by both of them."I understand," Leon murmured. "We're all in this hell together."Before he could say anything else, however, a shrill alarm sounded. Then Sasha's voice came over the loudspeakers, summoning everyone to a meeting."I can't wait to finish this bitch off," muttered Christina, amid the commotion of people leaving their seats.Leon said nothing, just stared at her for a few seconds before answering Sasha's call.As they passed through the corridors, Leon caught a glimpse of Alex at the far end, walking as fast as he could. His face was severely haggard and pale, and dark circles took over his face, as if he hadn't been able to sleep.The events of that night had really taken a toll on him. It was obvious to anyone.Leon didn't approach him. He didn't know if he could find the courage to look him in the eye, especi
Alex didn't stay in the same group as Leon.But Christina was.He and eight others now faced the back of a building in the city center. Everyone was hidden by the shadow of the alley, hooded and properly equipped.Leon sighed, tense. It wasn't just the mission he was on that worried him. It was Sasha's coldness in executing that boy.What would stop her from executing Leon's father when it was all over? Or worse still, getting rid of all the men and women who had done her dirty work for her?Christina, standing next to Leon, saw the anguish in his eyes."You're thinking about that boy, aren't you?" she whispered, keeping her gaze fixed on the building opposite.Leon nodded, unable to hide his concern. "I can't let this happen to all of us. We need to find a way out of this, to end her tyranny."The woman placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Let's focus on the mission now. We have to be quick and precise. Then we'll think about what to do next."But Leon couldn't help glancing
The others.Those who were supposed to be in other strategic places, the others who were supposed to go to the meeting point as soon as it was over.They were dead too.Shot. Holes had opened up in their bodies, and blood pooled around them.This time, Leon couldn't keep from crying, and he couldn't stop the solitary tear that ran down his cheek.Sasha didn't care about those deaths. No, after all, all she wanted was the bloody box that was now in Christina's hands.The girl, pale, muttered:"Let's go."But Leon didn't answer. He felt responsible for it, for such cruel deaths."Come on, Leon." She sniffled, also on the verge of tears. "We have to go."So off they went. They got into the designated van, where two foremen were waiting. They didn't ask any questions about the rest of the team.Leon stared out of the window, watching the lights of the city drift away. He wondered if he would ever see that place again, if he would ever have a normal life again. He hated himself for getting
Brittany bit her lip nervously, looking at her father, who still hadn't said a word. On the contrary, the silence that followed after Brittany decided to open up was worthy of a funeral. The man scratched his beard, as if deliberating whether he was going through a psychotic episode or not. Then, raising one eyebrow and taking another sip of his drink, he finally replied: "Let me get this straight..." Brittany swallowed as she heard the man's tone of voice: gloomy, slurred - and not because of the alcohol. No, that tone of voice meant that heads were going to fly off, people were going to get hurt. Or at least that's what came to her mind at those times. Lighting his imported cigar, the man continued: "Are you telling me that during your time at school, you hid from me not only that you dated a lowlife, but that that same lowlife is the scumbag boy who rose through the ranks, threatened me and is now missing?" Taking a deep breath, Brittany continued: "Well... The way you put i
The atmosphere in the VIP area of the Midnight Bar instantly turned into frenzied chaos. The regulars, previously immersed in their discreet conversations, now turned their heads in the direction of the confusion. Sweating, knowing that she was surrounded and had little to do but put up a weak resistance, the girl began to look around for an escape, any escape. The exits were surrounded by the bar staff. How many of them directly served that man?The brute who had received the kick staggered backwards, while the other let out a grunt of pain at the sharp stab. The spectators, in shock, formed a wall of astonished stares. The bleary-eyed man, who until then had been watching with disdain, showed an expression of momentary surprise.Brittany took advantage of the gap and stepped back, knife in hand and ready for any hostile move. The men responsible for her capture (or attempted capture) recovered, their expressions hardening in determination. The man with the clear eyes gave a siniste
The revelation hit Brittany like a punch. Her world fell apart as she tried to process Leon's words. The bleary-eyed man, the thugs, the strange woman called Sasha - they were all pieces of the puzzle of tragedy that was now unfolding in front of her.Leon's gaze, filled with pain and resentment, continued to stare into Brittany's confused and frightened eyes. She felt paralyzed, caught between the horror of what she had just discovered and the imminent threat posed by Sasha."Yes, darling. Your father, the man you believed to be upstanding, or as upstanding as the nest of rats that are his friends, killed Leon's mother," said Sasha, enjoying the emotional chaos unfolding around her.That woman didn't just like physical suffering, she delighted in internal pain too, the pain of the soul."It's a lie. My father... My father is a lot of things, but he's not a murderer.""You see, little girl," Sasha mocked, "you know your father isn't exactly a good man. You know that he's lied, cheated
"But what does that mean?"Sasha's squeaky voice was no coincidence. After all, one of his subordinates, Alex, had sneaked in and then disrupted one of Leon's vendettas.Alex looked at Sasha and said:"If you want to punish me for that, then do it." Then the redhead faced Leon: "It's not worth it.""What the hell are you doing?""Preventing you from turning into a monster.""You don't know anything.""I know you might end up developing a taste for the stuff and turning into it," he pointed at Sasha. Had he lost his mind? "And I don't want that. You're one of the few here who hasn't lost his mind yet."Alex."Sasha's voice was low, controlled. But his expression was one of pure hatred."Get out of here immediately.""Let his ex-girlfriend go," Alex demanded. "She has nothing to do with-""Have you forgotten who's in charge here and who obeys? You don't question my orders.""She could be more use to us alive than dead. Integrate her into the team. Let's make her part of our... your plan
Christina's punch hit Leon hard, sending him reeling backwards. Pain pulsed in his mouth as he tried to understand what had just happened. Christina remained motionless, staring at him with intense eyes."I thought you were different." Christina growled, her voice filled with restrained anger. Then she shouted: "I thought you were here because I had no choice.Still holding his chin, the boy replied:"I was kidnapped in the dead of night. Of course I don't want to be here!""You tortured your ex. I heard her screams.""Stay out of it.""Don't be cynical, Leon. You have choices, even here. And you chose to become a monster."Christina's gaze was piercing, a mixture of disappointment and disgust. Leon could feel the weight of her words piercing his conscience. "You don't know who she was. What she put me through.""I heard everything that was said in there. And even that doesn't justify it."Leon turned aggressive immediately:"What are you, some kind of moral authority? Who gave you t
His physical state must have been shocking, but he didn't care. His determination was greater than any pain or shame.Finally, after a tireless search, Leon spotted Alex talking to Brittany and Christina in a secluded corner of the complex. His friends seemed shocked to see him, but quickly ran towards him when they realized his sorry state."Leon! What happened to you?" asked Christina, horrified, as she examined her friend's wounds."It doesn't matter now," replied Leon, his voice firm despite the weakness that plagued him. "We need to act. We have to put an end to Sasha once and for all.""Is she the one who did this to you?" asked Alex, too quietly.He didn't answer.Not at all distressed, Brittany simply commented:"Maybe he didn't kill my father the way she wanted and was punished."Everyone went eerily silent."What did you say?""Why don't you ask him?! I'm sure he'll be able to explain it much better than I can. Right, Leon?"Leon just stared at Brittany, trying not to lose c
Fear was useless. Fear made people blind and deaf prey in a forest full of predators. Fear would get you killed.Even fully aware of this, however, Leon couldn't stop himself from feeling a shiver run down his spine when he heard Sasha's words. He knew he had no choice but to follow the thugs into the torture chamber. His heart was pounding in his chest as he walked, mentally preparing himself for what was to come.As he entered the chamber, he was greeted by a stifling atmosphere. The walls were a gloomy gray, and the instruments of torture hanging on the walls cast frightening shadows across the room. The last time he had been there, it had been to end his ex-girlfriend's life, but he had been interrupted at the last moment by Alex, who had decided to play the savior for some reason.Leon swallowed, doing everything he could to disguise the tremors coming from his hands and legs.The thugs tied him to a chair, binding his hands and feet so that he couldn't move. The boy took a deep
Leon felt paralyzed by Sasha's physical closeness and the intensity of her words. A mixture of repulsion and excitement overwhelmed him, leaving him confused and disturbed. He knew he couldn't give in to her manipulation, but at the same time, a part of him was intrigued by the idea of surrendering to the forbidden desire he felt."Don't do this," he said, his voice wavering as he tried to push Sasha away.But she didn't pull back, she just smiled predatorily, as if she were enjoying his discomfort."Why not, Leon? You know you want to. You've always wanted to," she said, her voice a seductive whisper that sent shivers down Leon's spine.He fought against the attraction he felt for her, against the voice in his head that whispered that it would be easy to give in. But deep down, he knew he couldn't. He had to resist, no matter how hard it was."No. Enough. I won't give in to you," he said with more determination, pushing her harder and pulling away.The woman's expression quickly turn
The way back to HQ was ten times worse than the way to the country house.Not least because, as well as having other people's blood on his hands, Leon now knew that Sasha had personal connections with her mother's killer.Yes, she wanted him dead. But not for a second did the boy think it was out of a thirst for justice, or even pity. Sasha only thought of one thing: herself. And she didn't see anyone as people, but as tools.The thugs were silent, as always, and Leon wasn't bothered by them. He also knew it would be pointless to ask them anything.When they finally arrived, Leon went straight to Sasha's room, closely followed by the men.When he opened the door, he was surprised.Sasha was naked. And below her...Brittany. Also naked.Leon felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched the scene before him. His heart raced and a mixture of shock, disgust and anger overwhelmed him. He could barely process what he was seeing, but one thing was clear: this was a completely disturbing si
Leon felt as if his very soul had been torn from his body.Slowly, as if he feared that the reality around him would fade like cobwebs, the boy began to approach the picture.Then, trembling, Leon held the picture frame, still not believing his eyes.Yes, it was definitely her. But thinner, with a younger, happier countenance. As if the psychopathy and pleasure in other people's pain had not yet taken hold in her psyche.So Sasha also had personal connections with Brittany's father. With her mother's murderer.His hands were cold with fury, dread and incomprehension. The boy turned to the torn body behind him.Sasha knew what Leon wanted. Not only that, but she handed it to him on a platter so that he could get rid of it once and for all. Obviously she had no reason to care about his feelings.So, if Sasha had a grudge against that man, who would be a more perfect tool than Leon himself?Shaken, the boy, still holding the painting in his hands, walked out of the room towards the thugs
The men opened the door of the house and entered, closely followed by Leon. The interior was dark and silent, with only the dim light of the lamps illuminating the way. The smell of mold and abandonment hung in the air, creating an oppressive atmosphere around them."He's upstairs," said one of the men, indicating the stairs with a nod.Leon nodded and began to climb the steps, his heart hammering in his chest with every step. Closer and closer to his goal, he felt the tension building inside him, a mixture of fear and determination.Finally, they reached the top of the stairs and made their way down the corridor to a closed door. The men positioned themselves around it, ready to act if necessary, while Leon prepared to confront the man on the other side.With a final sigh, Leon turned the handle and slowly pushed the door open, revealing the dark interior of the room. The man, who had been snoring like a pig, was startled as he jumped out of bed."But what does that mean?"Leon stoo
At first, Brittany couldn't say anything. In fact, she couldn't even move.Then, when the air finally returned to her lungs, all she could say was:"No..." she whispered, her voice almost lost in the air.Leon stared at her, his eyes reflecting a cold, implacable determination."Yes," he replied simply, his voice calm and controlled."Leon, you can't do this," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "This isn't what your mother would want. It's not the path to justice."He looked at her for a moment, his eyes revealing a mixture of pain and suppressed anger."Let me get this straight. You think you have any right to talk about what my mother would or wouldn't want? Just you, a dirty little bitch who betrayed me all the time? Pretending to be a good Samaritan might even fool Alex and Christina, Brittany. But not me.""Leon, I... I know I made a mistake," she mumbled, struggling to hold back the tears that threatened to overflow. "I know I have no right to talk about your mother, after everyt
"Hello, my darling."Wearing provocative clothes, Sasha stepped forward and lightly scratched Leon's cheek."How nice of you to show up.""What now?"The woman ducked her head, looking falsely hurt."My. What terrible manners you have... Have you forgotten what awaits you if you're unpleasant with me?""Are you going to punish me by making me have sex with you?"Sasha smiled."I know you loved it, kid."Leon wanted to give an answer, but he was so nervous that he couldn't even open his mouth.Taking advantage of the boy's silence, Sasha went back to her own desk and started going through some papers."I think you'll be happy with what I have for you today."The boy remained silent. The woman continued:"Your mother's murderer. You'll be able to see him today."Of all the things she could say, that certainly wasn't one he was expecting."What did you say?"She smiled."What didn't you understand?"More silence."Look at it as a courtesy. I said you could see him after everything was do
"Bombs?"Christina, with her arms crossed and her eyes slightly wide, didn't seem to believe Brittany's words."Exactly. She's placed them at key points in the city, and she intends to set them off, but I don't know when or how.""That's suicide. Sasha wouldn't make it out of the city in time, she'd die too."Alex, who was leaning against the iron door of Christina's dormitory, agreed:"That's true. But something in me says that Sasha's ego is the size of the world, and even if this plan is crazy, she must have some leverage to survive in the midst of the chaos.""So what should we do?" asked Christina."We should find out about the operation in minute detail. We're in the so-called second phase, as the bastard told us, which gives us only a short time before we move on to the third, which I believe is the execution of the explosions.""And how, exactly, are we going to do that?"The redhead sighed thoughtfully."We need to use Sasha's own strategy against herself."What do you mean?