Rick was barely conscious.
His body was broken, and he was chocking due to that smoke.
He knew there was no escape.
Finally, Rick made a choice.
"It's a deal," he said weakly. "I'll tell you everything. Every detail. And you let me go."
The masked man watched him for a moment, then smiled.
"I agree," he said calmly. "I'll let you free."
Rick spoke.
He revealed everything— The pressure. The orders from above. The lies written into official reports and mainly what exactly happened on that Rainy day on highway.
It was just Rick and the masked man, the truth hanging between them.
The attacker listened in silence.
Some of it he already knew.
Some of it shook him deeply.
When Rick finished, rage exploded.
"If you knew all this," the man shouted, "why did you close the case, you bastard!"
A crushing punch smashed into Rick's jaw.
"I wanted justice too," Rick gasped. "But I was under extreme pressure. I followed orders."
"So this is your excuse?" the man sneered.
"It's not an excuse," Rick snapped weakly. "And it's none of your business. We made a deal. I kept my part. Now it's your turn."
The masked man smiled—uneven, cold, burning with revenge.
-"Yes," he said softly. "I will let you free."
Smoke filled the room again.
Rick was untied—but too broken to move.
Then the rain started again.
The smell of petrol returned.
"You remembered everything," the man said. "Confess it to her—if you meet her in heaven."
"You're breaking your word!" Rick screamed in rage and fear.
"No," the man replied calmly. "I'm letting you free from everything."
The lighter flickered.
Rick screamed.
As the masked man walked away, he threw a lighter behind him.
Fire erupted.
Screams of Rick.
Later, the masked man drove away from the isolated place.
Bang.
The building exploded—nothing left but ashes.
Amid the ruins, one thing remained untouched.
The mask.