The morning sun cast a warm glow over the small town of Tori,The morning sun peeked through the inn's tattered curtains, casting a warm glow on Reed's face.He took a quick shower, the water lukewarm, and brushed his teeth with a frayed toothbrush.The mirror reflected a man with shadows under his eyes. Reed dressed carefully, pulling on a long-sleeved shirt, a blazer, and jeans.The clothes felt foreign, too polished for the forgotten town of Tori.As he descended the creaky stairs, the old woman at the reception desk looked up from her crossword puzzle.Her eyes—sharp as a hawk's—traveled over Reed's attire.He exchanged a polite nod with the old woman at the front desk, her wrinkled face breaking into a toothless grin as she greeted him."Howdy, sunshine," she said, her voice raspy but friendly."Morning," Reed replied with a small smile, adjusting the cuffs of his long-sleeved shirt.The woman eyed his attire with interest, her gaze lingering on his neatly pressed blazer and jea
Reed stepped into his room at the inn, the door creaking softly behind him.The air smelled of old wood and faded memories.The room was small, its walls adorned with peeling wallpaper.Reed’s gaze swept the space—the narrow bed, the cracked mirror, the sagging curtains. He’d been here for days.The bag of cash weighed heavy in his hand. Reed needed a safe place to hide it—somewhere beyond prying eyes.After a thorough search, he discovered a slightly loose floorboard hidden beneath a worn rug, his fingers traced the edges of the rug, and he felt a slightly loose floorboard underneath.A hiding spot, perhaps.With careful precision, he removed the rug and lifted the floorboard, revealing a small space beneath.Reed placed the bag of money inside, ensuring it was well-hidden, before carefully replacing the floorboard and fixing the loose fitting.Satisfied with his concealment, Reed made his way downstairs revealing the worn wooden floor.The floorboard yielded with a gentle tug, and h
Billy’s jacket swung open, revealing the cold steel of a gun tucked into his waistband.His eyes bore into Reed’s, a challenge issued.The diner’s patrons—ordinary folks seeking refuge in their meals—scrambled to the corners, their chairs scraping against the worn linoleum floor.Some hurriedly gathered their belongings and made for the exit, eager to distance themselves from the brewing confrontation.Others lingered for a moment, torn between curiosity and self-preservation, before ultimately deciding to flee the scene.Billy’s intention was clear: to intimidate Reed, to assert dominance through the threat of violence.But Reed, instead of cowering in fear, met Billy's gaze head-on.“Do you really wanna do this?” Reed’s voice was steady, his hand hovering near his own concealed weapon.He knew the risks of confronting two armed men in a crowded diner, but he refused to be intimidated into submission. Richie stepped forward, his gaze colder than the diner’s coffee.He tried to intim
Reed leaned forward, his eyes probing. “What do you mean that Walker is the reason your family lost everything?” His brow furrowing with concernCandice hesitated, then blurted out, “He used the mayor to increase taxes, then drove my father’s restaurant down.” Candice took a deep breath, steeling herself to relive the painful memories.Reed’s brows furrowed. “So your family owns the restaurant?”“Yeah, well used to, now it belongs to walker now,” Candice replied, her voice bitter. “Frank is my dad.”The photograph of Walker Rhomes, Reed’s gaze shifted to it, Reed's mind raced with questions, and he seized the opportunity to learn more about Walker's mysterious rise to power so he asked, “Do you know how Walker came back to this town—changed and rich?”Candice shook her head. “Nah, nobody knows. Everyone’s too afraid to do anything. He’s got this town in his palms.”Reed leaned back, studying her. “And the Wayne brothers?”Candice’s eyes darted toward the window, as if expecting shadow
The inn’s flickering sign welcomed Reed back, its neon glow casting eerie shadows on the cracked pavement.The old woman at the reception barely glanced up from her TV, her eyes dull as she muttered, “you back.”Reed nodded, his footsteps echoing in the dimly lit hallway.He pushed the door open, the hinges groaning in protest.The worn rug lay askew, and he knelt to lift it, revealing the loose floorboard.With practiced efficiency, he lifted the rug and carefully removed the loose floorboard beneath it.From the hidden compartment, he retrieved the bag of cash intended for Daisy.Reed descended the creaky stairs, passing the old woman again.She didn’t look up, lost in her world of daytime soaps. With the bag securely in hand, Reed returned to the main area of the inn, passing the old woman once again.She glanced up at him briefly before returning to her television program. Reed paid her little mind.Reed stepped into his car, the engine roaring to life.The junkyard lay on the ou
Daisy clutched an old iron key, its teeth worn from years of use.Daisy fumbled with a key, her hands shaking slightly with nervousness, she inserted it into the padlock, and with a twist, the gate swung open.The barn laid ahead, its red paint faded and chipped. Reed squinted, noticing the faint glow seeping through the gaps in the wooden walls.“You sure they’re not in there?” he asked, glancing at Daisy, his voice barely above a whisper.She nodded, her eyes scanning the darkened fields beyond and her expression tense.“Billy and Richie went to drop off a shipment. They’ll be back soon.” Her voice held a hint of unease, as if she knew more than she let on.Together, they crossed the small grass into the barn.The air smelled of hay and earth, but something else lingered—an antiseptic tang that prickled Reed’s senses.He followed Daisy deeper, the floorboards groaning under their weight.Reed followed Daisy as she led the way towards the barn, his senses on high alert as they neared
Reed's heart pounded in his chest as he darted for cover, bullets whizzing past him with deadly accuracy.He could hear the deafening roar of gunfire echoing through the barn as Billy and Richie unleashed a barrage of bullets in his direction. The acrid smell of gunpowder hung heavy in the air, mixing with the earthy scent of hay and the tang of spilled chemicals.His breath came in ragged gasps, adrenaline urging him forward.Ducking under one of the machines, Reed frantically scanned his surroundings for any sign of escape.The air was thick with the acrid scent of burning chemicals, and smoke billowed from the machines that had been damaged by stray bullets.Reed’s boots skidded on the slick surface, and he threw himself behind one of the massive contraptions.Bullets whizzed past, tearing through the air like angry wasps.He could hear the splintering of wood as the projectiles found their mark.Billy and Richie were relentless, advancing with grim determination.Their faces were
Reed stumbled out of the burning barn, the acrid smoke clinging to his clothes like a shroud.His lungs burned, and his heart raced as he gulped in the cool night air.The chaos behind him was a symphony of crackling flames and distant screams.He glanced back, his eyes narrowing at the flickering orange glow that consumed everything he’d known.Daisy stood a few paces away, her face pale and tear-streaked.Her betrayal hung heavy in the air, a bitter taste on Reed’s tongue.He’d trusted her, relied on her, and now she was nothing more than a liability.Her apology fell on deaf ears as he glared at her. “Stop talking,” he spat, his voice low and venomous.She followed him, stumbling over the uneven ground.Reed clenched the papers he’d snatched from the barn, their edges crumpling in his fist.The secrets they held were dangerous, and he’d risked everything to obtain them. A noise echoed from the barn—a desperate cry or a dying groan, he couldn’t tell. Reed turned, his eyes widening