2025-04-08 01:00:06The courthouse buzzed with quiet tension. Reporters crowded the front entrance, eagerly waiting for any sign of what would happen to the accused.
The trial of Joaquin Lopez had become the talk of the month—especially since this was his second time setting foot in that courtroom.
Moments later, Joaquin arrived. The courtroom door opened, and he entered.
He looked calm, flanked by two officers. His eyes swept across the room as he took his seat.
Then his gaze landed on Serena.
Serena smiled immediately the moment their eyes met. She was seated in the front row beside Jasmine.
Relief washed over him the second he saw the two most important women in his life. And even more when
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Serena headed straight to the detention area to see Joaquin. Jasmine came with her, barely able to contain her excitement after the trial’s outcome.But just before entering the room, Serena stopped her. “Jasmine. I think we should talk first.”Jasmine paused and turned to her. “About what?”Serena hesitated, then gently pulled Jasmine toward the waiting chairs and motioned for her to sit. “There’s something I don’t quite understand. Do you know if Joaquin knows James Villareal?”
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Joaquin continued walking, gripping his knife tightly. Even after that battle with the creature, he couldn’t let his guard down.His legs were dragging with every step. It was only then he realized one of them had a deep wound.Sure, it wasn’t his first time facing strange creatures—but never something like that... Half-human, or whatever it was.He had a strong suspicion it was part of the Black Viper Society. Maybe one of their failed experiments. Maybe that’s why it turned out that way.When he turned a corner in the maze, his legs finally gave out. He slumped to the ground and leaned against the wall, breathing deeply.
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Joaquin didn’t dare blink.The moment he did, he knew he might miss the creature’s next move.The man—if you could even still call him that—stood there motionless, like a statue with skin far too pale to be human. Behind him, the dark tendrils writhed slowly, like snakes savoring their prey before they struck again. The sickening slither and hiss echoed against the stone walls of the maze, creeping beneath Joaquin’s skin.His heart pounded like war drums inside his chest.The thing’s empty eyes locked onto his.“I don’t want to fight you,” Joaquin said, his voice low but steady. “I just want to pass.”Still no respo
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Joaquin slowly opened his eyes. It felt like his head was being split in two from the weight of it. When he remembered what had happened to him earlier, he suddenly sat up as if waking from a trance. He was startled to find himself in a completely different place. The last thing he remembered was being inside a car. But now, he was somewhere narrow, surrounded by walls covered in thick greenery. In front of him was a path, like a passageway.“Where am I?” Joaquin stood up and tuned
