The wind roared through the dense forest through the dark ominous night, its icy fingers clawing at her as she raced along the narrow, precarious path. The trees stood like silent sentinels, their branches swaying due to the furious gusts and creaking in protest.
The ground beneath her was uneven, a narrow trail that clung to the edge of a high, crumbling ridge.
She was running breathless, not caring about the strong storm that hindered her movements and the pursuers at her feet.
Her steps came to an abrupt halt when she reached the end of the path before her lay a very steep cliff, the ragged rocks below barely visible through the swirling mist.
She turned to look at her pursuers, who had caught up to her. There was no way for her to run away from there as the waterfall poured violently over the edge, its heavy waves crashing with such ferocity that they seemed to consume the very air around it.
The churning, frothy waters surged with merciless power, creating a deadly maelstrom that promised nothing but peril for anyone who dared to leap into its depths.
''Ashley Moretti, there's nowhere left to run.''
Her pursuer advanced steadily, his footsteps deliberate, one hand casually tucked into his pocket.
Ashley carefully examined her surroundings. Escape was impossible- there was no way she could successfully run from the relentless hunters thirsty for her blood. And if she jumped from the cliff, no one could save her from the merciless hands of death, and her fate would be sealed.
As a life and death situation flashed before her, she remembered her nanny's words from her childhood,
''Life creates situations that throw sharp turns our way, yet we are seldom prepared for these changes. Uncertainty envelops us, leaving us in a dark, narrow pit. In our desperation, we cling to our inner demons for survival.
Ashley's gaze flicked to the man standing before her. he had fished out a gun from his pocket, the barrel now aimed directly at her.
''Ashley Moretti,'' he said coldly, ''come with us and receive your punishment according to the book.
She closed her eyes as the words in her nanny's sweet voice rampaged through her mind,
''Seeking help sometimes feels more futile than asking the moon why it never meets the sun, child. However, time changes everything. People and things alike do not remain the same. Every winter meets summer, every autumn meets spring''.
Ashley spun on her heels and sprinted toward the cliff's edge, her heart pounding in sync with her frantic footsteps. A loud gunshot was heard through the night.
In the next heartbeat, she was diving into a void, the world around her swallowed by the icy grip of the wind and water that wrapped her in a suffocating cocoon.
The chilly embrace of the overflow was in stark contrast to the searing heat radiating from her right shoulder, where the bullet had struck her.
As the darkness closed in, the warmth of her blood was the only reminder that she was still alive—if only for a fleeting moment.
The instant all the puzzle pieces align, doubt dissolves, and the undeniable truth comes to light, it marks the beginning of justice by law.
Three days earlier,
The Mirage Royale, the most lively casino in New York City, sparkled like shooting stars in the night, its towering glass walls reflecting the neon lights that painted the city's skyline.
Inside, the air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and cigar smoke, shuffling cards, and the rhythmic clinking of glasses adding to the intoxicating buzz of the night.
Lavishly dressed women floated between tables, their gowns glowing under the soft, golden lights, while men in tuxedos, with drinks in hand, watched the games and placed bets.
This wasn't just any casino—it was a secret playground for the elite. Here, top-tier celebrities, infamous mafia dons, and ruthless businessmen rubbed shoulders, each hiding behind veils of wealth and power.
In the center of the casino, a massive crystal chandelier hung above a private poker table, reserved for the night's most dangerous players.
Mafia heirs who were to take over their empires leaned over their hands, their faces unemotional as their eyes flickered with calculations.
The casino was said to be the perfect training ground for a mafia heir, where people revealed the true animals hidden beneath their polished exteriors.
While everyone else seemed absorbed by the thrill of the night, he stood apart, quietly watching.
''This place is so much more lively than our home city, right boss''. The boy standing next to him exclaimed.
''Andrei, the shimmering façade you see here is no more different than a blood-sucker den. Everyone here is leaching off the other''. Leaning casually against a polished marble column, his sharp eyes took in everything.
He noticed how closely he was being watched, eyes and ears were prying on him, to find a way to drag him into the light and tear him into pieces.
''How's the game going down there?'' He asked Andrei.
''I heard some old geezers lost badly from a young lady''. Andrei stated as they walked downstairs.
''A lady?'' He asked.
Before Andrei could respond, he was abruptly yanked and sent crashing to the floor.
"Watch where you're going, boy!" a voice barked. "How dare you block my path?"
Dazed, Andrei struggled to lift his head and caught sight of a middle-aged man clad entirely in black, resembling a grim reaper. A booted foot was aimed at his face before Andrei could make out the man's features.
Just as the kick was about to land, a sudden force struck the man's leg, making him yelp in pain.
"Is this how you deal with your frustrations from losing to me, you old hag?" a woman's voice rang out sharply.
A woman in a striking red gown appeared, her face partially covered by an ornate feather mask that revealed only her lips and her dazzling blue eyes. She had smashed a wine glass against the man's leg, sending shards flying and drawing a crowd's curious gaze.
''You…''
The woman smirked, casting a glance at Andrei who was in a daze, and she turned to leave. But then her gaze locked onto a pair of hazel eyes watching her from the shadows. In that instant, the depth of the ocean met the warm allure of honey and amber.