THE MESSAGE...
The message was clear.
Alexander Vasiliev wanted to meet.
No security. No tricks.
And he had chosen the same facility from Velena's nightmares.
Lucian paced the room in agitation. "We can't do this, Ceil. It's a trap.
Ceil smirked, his eyes narrowed. "I know."
Velena's hands clenched into fists, the anger and fear swirling inside her like a storm. Her past had led them here. But was she truly ready to face it? To confront the nightmare that had haunted her for years?
Her mind raced, images from her childhood flashing—her family, her life before everything had gone wrong. Alexander had always been there, in the background, his influence seeping into her every waking moment. Now, he was pulling them back into that dark place. Was she really prepared for what lay ahead?
A GAME OF STRATEGY...
Ceil walked toward the table and spread out a blueprint of the facility, his fingers lightly brushing the surface of the map as if it were a living thing. The man exuded a sense of control, a calmness in the face of the storm that was quickly gathering.
"Alexander chose this location for a reason," Ceil said, voice low and serious. "That means he has the advantage. He knows this place better than we ever will."
Lucian crossed his arms, leaning against the wall, a grimace on his face. "Then why are we even entertaining this? Why walk into his hands like lambs to slaughter?"
Ceil tapped the map with purpose, his voice cool and unwavering. "Because I don't like being summoned. And I never back down from a challenge. If he thinks he can control us, he's sorely mistaken."
Velena took a slow, steady breath, trying to center herself. "So, what's the plan?"
Ceil's smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with the thrill of the game. "We change the rules of the game."
Lucian frowned, clearly confused. "That means?"
Ceil's voice remained calm. Too calm. "We don't walk into this as prey. We walk in as the hunters. This is no longer about survival. It's about control."
Velena swallowed, her heart hammering in her chest. She had seen Ceil manipulate people before—seen him play others like puppets. But this felt different. The stakes were personal now. She wasn't sure she could trust him completely, not when the past was pushing her forward, demanding answers. Answers that might destroy them all.
THE PLAN IN MOTION...
Velena watched with a growing sense of unease as Ceil made a call. His voice was low and purposeful as he relayed orders, speaking with the kind of authority that made the room feel smaller.
"Move our men to a five-mile radius. No one enters unless I say so. And no one is to engage without direct orders."
Lucian tensed beside her, a storm cloud of concern hanging over him. "I don't like this. It feels wrong, Ceil. Something's off."
Ceil raised an eyebrow, his expression sharp and knowing. "Good. It means it's working."
Lucian exhaled sharply, his hand tightening on his weapon. "And if this goes wrong?"
Ceil's smirk was razor-sharp, his confidence unshaken. "Then we make sure we're the last ones standing. This is a game, Lucian. And in a game, you either win or you lose."
Velena clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She wasn't sure what scared her more—the thought of walking into this trap, or the unsettling realization that Ceil was actually enjoying the game. There was something darker in him now, something that sent a chill through her.
ENTERING THE FACILITY...
The air inside the facility was thick with dust and the scent of old chemicals, lingering as if it hadn't been disturbed in years. Every breath felt heavy in Velena's lungs.
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, a constant drumbeat of fear and anticipation. She could feel the weight of the walls pressing in, the silence stretching out around them. The place looked abandoned, but she knew better. She knew this was no empty shell. Someone had been here recently. Someone was waiting.
Ceil walked ahead, his steps confident, his body language a picture of calm determination.
Lucian stayed close, his eyes darting around the dark corners of the room, his instincts sharp and alert. He was always on edge, but tonight, something felt off. As if the walls themselves were watching them.
Velena could feel it too. A presence. Something—or someone—watching them from the shadows. Waiting.
Then—
A soft click.
Ceil stopped instantly, his body freezing like a predator caught mid-pounce.
Lucian's eyes snapped toward the source of the sound, his muscles tensing. A sensor.
Velena barely had time to react before the hallway lights flickered on, one by one, leading them forward. It was like a path, a guiding light that beckoned them deeper into the belly of the beast.
An invitation. Or maybe a warning.
Ceil exhaled, his voice low and almost amused. "He's expecting us."
And then, a voice echoed through the hallway, smooth and mocking.
"You actually came."
Velena's breath caught in her throat, the sound of his voice striking her like a physical blow.
Lucian's grip on his weapon tightened, his muscles coiling in readiness.
Ceil didn't flinch, but Velena could feel the shift in the air—the tension thickening, like the calm before a storm.
A shadow stepped forward, emerging from the darkness.
And for the first time in years—
Velena came face to face with Alexander Vasiliev.
THE MAN FROM HER NIGHTMARES...
Alexander stood before them, exactly as she remembered.
Tall. Cold. Unshaken.
His dark eyes studied them with the calculating gaze of a predator, weighing them, measuring them, like they were nothing more than pieces on a chessboard. And yet, there was something more in those eyes—a depth, a darkness that spoke of the years that had passed.
Velena's stomach twisted as old memories flooded her senses. The man who had haunted her dreams, her nightmares—he was standing right in front of her, unchanged. Untouched by time.
He hadn't aged.
At least, not in the way she expected.
The same sharp features, the same controlled movements. He was a ghost of her past, and now, he was here.
Ceil spoke first, his tone clipped, businesslike. "You called me here. Talk."
Alexander's lips curled into a smile that was anything but friendly. "Straight to business. Just like your father."
Ceil's expression didn't change, but Velena saw it—the flicker of something dangerous in his eyes. For just a moment, the mask slipped.
Lucian exhaled slowly, his voice cautious but firm. "Why are we here?"
Alexander tilted his head, his gaze shifting toward Velena. His smile widened, growing colder.
"Because of her."
VELENA'S PAST IS STILL A MYSTERY...
Velena's chest tightened, her breath catching in her throat. "What do you mean?"
Alexander's gaze remained fixed on her, unblinking.
"You still don't remember everything, do you?" His words were like a blade, cutting through the thin veil of her control.
Velena's fingers twitched, an involuntary reaction to the old, familiar ache inside her. Another memory stirred—something dark, something she had buried so deep that it had almost slipped away. Almost forgotten.
Ceil stepped forward, his voice calm but edged with warning. "Enough with the games. If you have something to say, say it."
Alexander finally looked at Ceil, his smirk fading, replaced by something much more sinister.
And then—he reached into his coat and pulled something out. A small, innocuous USB drive. He tossed it onto the table between them with a casual flick of his wrist.
"This has the answers you've been looking for," Alexander said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Velena stared at the drive, her heart pounding in her chest. It was like a bomb waiting to explode. Whatever was on that drive, it was about to change everything.
Lucian frowned, his eyes narrowing. "And why would you just hand it over?"
Alexander's smile returned, cold and calculating. "Because I want you to see the truth."
Ceil didn't take his eyes off him, the air thick with tension.
"And what's the cost?" Ceil asked, his voice low, demanding an answer.
Alexander chuckled softly, the sound cold and eerie. "The truth always has a price, Ceil. You should know that by now."
Velena swallowed hard, her throat dry. She wasn't sure if she wanted to know the truth.
But she had no choice.
Whatever was on that drive…
It was about to change everything.