While the world slept in peaceful silence beneath the silver glow of the full moon, a girl limped down a tree-shrouded road, her breath shallow, her eyes wide with fear.
The night was still, almost too still — as if the darkness itself held its breath.
Barefoot and trembling, she stumbled forward, her long shadow chasing her in the moonlight. Her heart pounded like a drumbeat in her ears, drowning out the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTBTSqiAYj
She kept looking over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the darkness behind her — as if something, or someone, was following her.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvEHXC5Bv4
The road was empty, but her terror made it feel crowded — with memories, with danger, with whispers that only she could hear. The echo of police sirens still rang in her ears — distant, yet sharp enough to stab through the silence of the night. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvPEr6CSTj
She kept running, her steps uneven, her breaths short and panicked. She didn’t know where she was… or where she was going. All she knew was that she had to keep moving. Terror had taken full control of her body. Her legs were trembling, her throat was dry, and despite the biting cold of the winter night, sweat trickled down her forehead and spine. Her clothes clung to her skin — damp, heavy, and cold. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNyp4m6H1J
Her mind was a blur, flashing only one desperate thought: “Don’t stop. Don’t let them catch you.” But the darkness stretched endlessly ahead, and every shadow seemed like a threat waiting to pounce.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7SeakDGjZ
Suddenly, headlights cut through the darkness like knives — a car was approaching.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5Hu7O9tEf
Her breath hitched. Without a second thought, she darted off the road and threw herself behind a cluster of trees, the cold earth biting into her knees as she crouched low. She didn’t dare move. She pressed herself tightly against the bark, clutching her bag to her chest as if it were her only lifeline — because it was.............. Inside that worn, dirt-stained bag was everything.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWuJGuDhYk
Everything that could save her.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeTT1OuuL1
Everything that could prove she wasn’t guilty.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDGxq7xMgG
Everything they would kill to hide.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEP5M60gVl9
Her pulse thudded in her ears louder than the car engine now rolling past. She didn’t blink. She didn’t breathe. The night was still again, but her world was anything but. Clutching the bag tightly in her hands, she shut her eyes — trying to block out the world, but her mind betrayed her. Images from just hours ago came crashing back like a tidal wave. She could still hear it. Her grandfather’s voice — broken, desperate, screaming in her ear:106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBrKGXoYv4
“Run! Save yourself! Go, now!”106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgaJvx1mO5
The memory tore through her like a blade. His cries echoed in her head, louder than the wind, sharper than the cold. Her chest rose and fell with shaky breaths, her nails digging into the fabric of the bag like it was the only thing keeping her anchored to this moment. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. She couldn’t afford to break now. She was alive. But at what cost? Instead of returning to the road, she rose slowly from behind the trees and turned toward the forest. The shadows between the trees felt safer than the headlights of any car. She knew it was dangerous. The woods were cold, wild, and full of unknowns. But something about the road — exposed, open, vulnerable — felt far more terrifying. At least in the forest, she could disappear. Each step into the underbrush was like stepping deeper into another world — a world of rustling leaves, whispering branches, and hidden things that watched from the dark. But she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQohBiFWu6O
“Better to face the night than the people hunting me,” 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaQPa7tlKh
she thought, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. She would find a place to hide.... Somewhere no one would look.....106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbpWALmQRB
Somewhere she could breathe… at least for a little while.
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..........................................
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It was a lavish TV lounge — quiet, dimly lit, soaked in the golden glow of the fireplace. Through the tall glass window, one could see a man sitting with his back to the world, facing the flickering flames.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzro3DEWwt7
He didn’t turn. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG2fhqMTbg
Not even as the television behind him blared breaking news, filled with urgency and chaos. His posture was calm. Too calm. A half-burnt cigar rested between his fingers, its smoke curling lazily into the air like it had nowhere to be. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89MKKaKHHr
His other hand rested on the armrest, fingers tapping slowly — rhythmically, like a man lost in deep calculation.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZVZuzCj08
His face remained hidden in shadow, but his silence spoke volumes. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyo1UMsyhD
Not a flinch. Not a word.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dw1Zsp0Eb
As if the chaos on screen… had nothing to do with him.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID4DobQAc4
Suddenly, the phone on the sleek glass coffee table beside him began to ring.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7c4yhGDmq
He didn’t glance at the screen. With practiced ease, he tapped to answer and switched on the speaker.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEngeX6uAW5
His voice broke the silence — deep, commanding, and laced with restrained fury. "I’ve seen the news. What happened… is deeply unfortunate. Find the girl. Fast. She’s the only one who can tell us how one of our most loyal, long-standing agents ended up dead." He didn’t wait for a reply.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdiIOeTWYx
Before the voice on the other end could respond, he ended the call with a swift tap —then stood up, the dying cigar dropping into the ashtray like a period at the end of a sentence.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVpTp2mgBK
He moved toward the window, standing still as the night outside stared back at him. His hands slid into the pockets of his tailored trousers, his broad shoulders rising and falling with a quiet breath.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEaqnBitR4
Then, for the first time — his face came into view. Jet-black hair swept neatly back from his forehead, revealing intense, dark eyes lost in thought. His features were sharp and striking — a perfectly carved jawline, a high-bridged nose, and skin fair and smooth, almost glowing under the soft light.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXU2UHrYcN
He was tall — towering at 6’3" — with a naturally powerful build that hinted at both strength and discipline.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hvly1Nvar
A man of beauty… and danger. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ53t4HTUi
But in this moment, he wasn't thinking about power or appearance. He stared through the glass into the dark beyond, his mind caught in a web of questions… and perhaps something deeper.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SNGwGvuol
He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with a hint of frustration. Without another thought, he grabbed his phone, scrolling through the contacts. His finger paused at the very first name in the list, and with a steady hand, he tapped it. The phone rang. He sat back, eyes fixed ahead, waiting for the other side to pick up 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YrTWvAI1y
Suddenly, a groggy, annoyed voice came through the phone, thick with sleep and irritation. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lUpoQ4JH0
"Grayson, seriously? It’s not necessary for you to be awake at this hour. Normal people are asleep right now, not running around at 2 AM." 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsXiNGKfH7
The voice on the other end sounded like someone who had just been pulled from a deep sleep — disoriented, yet unmistakably familiar.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx2fl0zRAd
Grayson knew this tone all too well. Max Bennett, always half-awake but never without a quick comment. Grayson’s lips curled into a smirk. Grayson let out a light chuckle, his voice calm but carrying a sharp edge.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhkqI9zsVk
"When did you become the ‘good guy’?" “And come on, you're my friend. You know that aside from you, I don’t talk to anyone with this much... carelessness.”106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aQkshR77h
The sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable — a mix of teasing and a hint of deeper meaning. It was a strange comfort, this banter with Max, even in the middle of chaos.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfcULxi6bZ
Max let out a dramatic sigh and replied, 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj0p3LPLhp
"This is what I get for being your one and only best friend, huh? First, you wake me up in the middle of the night… and now this. People say a wife makes your life miserable, but here my best friend is trying his best to fill that role himself!"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybBHfVw32N
His voice was teasing, full of mock misery — but it was clear he was used to this. Grayson calling at odd hours? Typical. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSeNigOoBD
"Get to the point, buddy," Max mumbled, half-asleep, "I didn’t lose my beauty sleep just to have a midnight romance with you. So if you’re done with the sweet talk, can we please talk business now?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GzMdYQpqM
His tone was dry, playful, and filled with that lazy annoyance only a true friend could get away with. He shifted under his blanket, clearly still clinging to the last bits of sleep.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tDv4B6dkW
Grayson gave a small shake of his head — the kind that said “There’s no saving this guy” — and replied in a cool, effortless tone,106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPMecIUrMx
"Let’s go hunting tomorrow. It’s been a while since the two brothers went on a proper chase together. So… what do you say? 7 a.m.?"106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOFILeYvoH
As he spoke, he walked back to the single-seater sofa in front of the fireplace — the same place he had been sitting a while ago — and sank into it again, his voice steady, eyes glowing with something deeper. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnaLyqhGzF
Max let out a sleepy grunt in response… and then fell silent.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E2CfFd1zQ
Grayson didn’t wait for more. He ended the call without another word, slid the phone into his pocket, and stood up.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvRAKh8LFv
With calm, measured steps, he walked out of the TV lounge and towards the staircase leading upward. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFTNTVCOnW
The house was warm and peaceful — a stark contrast to the cold night outside — thanks to the soft hum of the central heating. Upstairs, he walked down the hallway and stepped into the room directly across from his own.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13vAUM2vIp
It was a space unlike any other in the house — lined with weapons that gleamed under soft ceiling lights. Expensive rifles, handguns, and rare collector pieces hung neatly on the walls, each displayed with care.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYINqOJRkCn
But it didn’t take a trained eye to know — these weren’t just for show.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl5PJvgsCJ
There were subtle signs: worn grips, faint scratches, a few cases left slightly ajar. These guns had history. They had been used.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVo8V7JarB
And the man standing in the middle of it all?106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35EH8DVa6s
He knew exactly how to use every single one of them. Grayson’s eyes scanned the array of weapons before him, a brief moment of admiration for the precision and power they represented.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBcDfKToyg
His gaze landed on a particular rifle — the Sako 90S Adventure. He reached out and carefully lifted it, inspecting the sleek metal and well-crafted design.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIdRKDhzX9
This was his weapon of choice for tomorrow's hunt. The perfect balance of power, precision, and reliability.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ANWMmnite
"Tomorrow," he muttered to himself, running a finger along the barrel, "it’ll be this one."106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFjOISIGLj
The feeling of the gun in his hands was familiar, like an old friend ready for action. Grayson could already picture Max’s sulky face after losing — and just the thought of it made him smirk.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30SMFMWhZl
There was a special kind of satisfaction in beating Max, especially when it came to hunting. And teasing him afterward? That was the real prize.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtvcCr2pnc
They had been best friends since childhood, and everyone in the agency knew it well. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWLw0AiJnb
Their bond wasn’t just strong — it was legendary.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6ZuCiHsEk
No matter how serious things got, there was always room for a little mischief between the two. And tomorrow, Grayson planned to enjoy every second of it. With a soft smile still playing on his lips, Grayson set the rifle back in its place and quietly closed the door to the weapon room.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cF74nvZJJ
He walked into his bedroom — a space that reflected both discipline and comfort.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSLcAzb0xn
On either side of the entrance, shelves lined the walls, filled with books of all kinds. A couch sat nearby, perfect for late-night reading or quiet thinking.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZgkEJ4RZg
He stepped in, shut the door behind him, and made his way to the bookshelf. Picking up a book that had been left on the table, he carefully slid it back into its place. Then, with a quiet sigh, he moved to the bed and lay down.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhovjx9qDO4
The room was softly lit by wall lamps placed strategically around, casting a warm golden hue. Hanging above the bed was a grand, elegant chandelier that added a touch of timeless beauty.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneEJmFj15R
On the bedside table to his left sat a framed photo of him and Max — a frozen memory of laughter and brotherhood.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IJN0URIuM
On the other side, another frame stood silently: a picture of his parents...........That was it.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey6Hd72elS
His people. His home. His heart. 106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPJzNYANKu
He pulled the blanket over himself, letting the warmth settle in around him. With his eyes closed, the weight of the day slowly melted away.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdauvhVdfGL
The quiet hum of the heater, the soft glow of the lamps, and the comfort of familiar memories all wrapped around him like a lullaby.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10AdhbyohG
And soon...106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvIwSL9FQH
Grayson was fast asleep.106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9p3OyI0XS
...................................................106Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZJ7I8vj0V
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