As they arrived at the park gate, Emma’s mood had already been sour from the long drive. When they saw the sign in bold letters, “KEEP OFF — NATURAL DISASTERS,” her patience snapped. “Are you kidding me?” she yelled, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “Three hours of driving, and this is what we get? A closed gate?! Victor, you’ve got to be kidding me!”Victor winced, knowing he messed up. He had been so sure the park would be open. “Emma, I’m sorry. I had no idea. If I had known—"Emma cut him off, eyes blazing with frustration. “This is the last time I let you plan anything! Three hours, Victor! Wasted!”He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I am. Next time, don’t follow my instructions when I suggest a picnic. I suck at planning these things.”Emma rolled her eyes, zooming the car back down the road. “You can say that again. I’m not listening to you the next time you suggest some ‘romantic getaway.’” She mimicked him in a playful but frustrated voice, making ai
Emma’s breath hitched as the echo of the gunshot shattered the night. For a split second, everything went silent, her heart, her thoughts, even the wind around them. She saw Victor’s body jolt, his knees buckling as the bullet tore through him. Blood stained his shirt instantly, dark and menacing.“Victor!” she screamed, lunging forward to catch him as he stumbled. Her hands pressed against his chest, desperately trying to stop the blood, but it flowed too fast, too hot under her fingertips.The gunman smirked, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he took a step closer. “Looks like you’re all alone now, princess. What’s your next move?” His voice was taunting, dripping with malice as if he enjoyed the sight of Victor’s pain.But Emma wasn’t backing down. She pressed harder on Victor’s wound, her breath coming in shallow, frantic gasps. “Stay with me,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Her mind raced, trying to come up with a plan, anything to get them out of this alive.Victor gri
Burned JusticeEmma’s heart raced as gunfire echoed behind her. She threw the car door open and bolted toward a truck parked nearby. Her legs felt like lead, her breaths quick and shallow, but she couldn’t stop. The gunman was right behind her, his footsteps closing in fast.“Where do you think you’re going, princess?” he taunted, his voice carrying over the sound of her frantic breaths.Emma didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Her mind was focused on one thing: survival. She threw herself into the truck, her hands shaking violently as she fumbled for the ignition. Her fingers searched for the keys, panic setting in when she realized she didn’t have them.*Where are the keys?* Her mind screamed.Her eyes darted around the truck’s interior, her heart racing as the gunman closed in. She saw him through the rearview mirror, approaching fast, his gun raised and ready. Emma’s breath hitched in her throat.“You can’t hide forever!” the man shouted, his smirk widening as he raised his weapon.Emma
Emma stood firm, the inferno blazing in front of her, her expression cold and unwavering. The gunman’s pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears, the flames growing taller with every passing second. His screams were lost in the crackling roar of the fire as the truck became an inescapable prison, a final reckoning for the man who had hunted her down.Her breath came in sharp, shallow bursts, but she didn’t move. She felt no pity, no remorse. Only the weight of justice, burning as bright as the flames before her.Her voice was barely a whisper, but it cut through the night like a blade."Burn." The night was silent except for the fire that consumed everything.Emma lay on the ground, barely conscious, her vision fading in and out as the sirens grew louder. She felt like she was floating, her body heavy and unresponsive. The distant sound of car doors slamming and hurried footsteps filled her ears, but she couldn’t move. Everything was slipping away.“Over here!” a woman’s voice shouted. “We’v
Emma's victoryEmma’s body felt heavy as the female officer dragged her out of the back seat, but her mind was racing. The dizziness was fading, and her survival instincts kicked in. She knew she had to act fast.The officer thought Emma was still out of it, but as soon as they reached the driver’s side, Emma snapped into action. With a burst of energy, she shoved the officer hard and dived into the driver’s seat, slamming the door behind her.“Get back here!” the officer screamed, pounding on the window, but Emma didn’t hesitate.Her hands fumbled with the keys for a split second before she turned the ignition, and the car roared to life. Emma floored the gas pedal, the tires screeching as she sped off, the officer yelling behind her.But Emma didn’t look back. Her heart pounded in her chest, the adrenaline fueling her as she raced down the road. Her hands trembled on the wheel, but she kept going, forcing herself to focus.In the rearview mirror, she saw the other man, the real kill
Emma wiped her face with trembling hands, but no matter how much she tried to stop the tears, they kept falling, warm and relentless. She glanced one last time at the lifeless body sprawled on the floor, her vision blurring as reality began to crash in. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, echoing in the deafening silence that now surrounded her. A sob escaped her lips, ragged and desperate.*Victor...*The name played on her mind like a broken record, each repetition digging deeper into her already shattered soul. She took a shaky step back, her feet barely carrying her as she stumbled toward the alley. Her knees felt weak like they would give out at any second, but she forced herself to keep moving. She had to get away from there, away from the scene that was already haunting her.Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion, panic, and fear. Each step she took felt heavy, almost unbearable. The world around her was spinning out of control, and the only thing grounding her was the suf
Emma froze as the door creaked open, her breath catching in her throat. She blinked through the haze of steam, her heart thudding painfully in her chest, trying to make sense of what was happening. The shower water still pounded down on her, but she could barely hear it over the racing thoughts in her mind.Was she imagining things? Was her grief and exhaustion playing tricks on her?But then, through the mist, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows.“Victor?” Her voice was barely a whisper, choked with disbelief and hope.He stepped into the light, his face etched with pain and exhaustion, but alive. His clothes were torn, and there was blood on his shirt, but his eyes, those intense, piercing eyes, were locked on hers. “Emma...” he rasped, his voice rough and strained.In an instant, all her fear, grief, and pain melted away. She was on him before she could even think, her body crashing against his as she wrapped her arms around him, her sobs muffled against his chest. She coul
Victor’s grip on Emma’s hand tightened as they exchanged a brief, but intense glance. The weight of everything that had just happened still clung to the air around them, and the threat looming outside felt heavier than ever. His jaw clenched as he spoke in a low voice.“We don’t have much time. They’ll come back,” he said, eyes darting to the shattered window. “And next time, they won’t stop until we’re both dead.”Emma’s chest tightened at the cold truth of his words. She had barely survived that last encounter, and now their enemies were circling like vultures.“Then what do we do?” she asked, her voice barely steady.Victor pulled her closer, his face inches from hers, his gaze burning with determination. “We fight. We’re not running anymore.”The intensity in his eyes made Emma’s heart skip. She nodded, adrenaline still pumping through her veins. “All right. I’m with you.”Victor released her hand and quickly scanned the room. His mind was already working through their next steps,