The sound of the gunshot echoed across the empty beach.
Maria's scream trembled through the cold night air as Ivan collapsed onto the sand.
The unknown man slowly pulled down his hood.
For the first time, his face became visible.
Burn marks covered most of his skin.
"Good job, girl.
You did well bringing him here."
A faint smile appeared on his scarred face.
"I'm delighted."
A few weeks earlier…
"Boss, look what we brought you," one of the men said with a grin.
"She'll be useful, won't she?"
The boss noticed a phone lying on the table nearby.
He picked it up casually.
Even though Maria was blindfolded, her breathing grew heavier the moment she heard the sound of her phone unlocking.
The wallpaper showed a picture of Ivan and Maria together.
The man stared at it for a few seconds before slowly turning toward her.
"Bring me the boy in this picture."
Maria's expression changed instantly.
"Why…? What do you want from him?" she asked fearfully.
"Don't ask questions," the man replied coldly.
"If you don't bring him to me, then my men will handle it instead."
He stepped closer.
"You might be able to bring him here safely… but if my men do it—"
He paused for a moment.
"I can't promise what condition he'll be in afterward."
Back to the present…
"So this is why you asked me to bring him here?!"
Maria's voice trembled with anger.
"Just to kill him?! You bastard!"
Then he slowly crouched down in front of Maria.
"Umm… not exactly," he said calmly.
"I had other motives too."
He continued,
"Hey girl… you know something?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"An hour ago, I was with Ivan's father."
An hour earlier…
Ivan's house was completely silent.
Karl lay weakly on his bed while Ivan was away from home.
Then suddenly—
the front door unlocked.
He slowly approached Karl's room, a container filled with petrol hanging from his hand.
The burn-scarred man stopped in front of Karl's bed.
"Hey, Karl… how have you been?" he said calmly.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's been fifteen years since we last met."
"Huh?! Who are you? I don't know you, so get the hell out of my house!"
Karl's voice was filled with anger at the sight of a stranger standing in his room at that hour.
"Oh, Karl…" the man chuckled softly.
"How could you forget your old friend?"
A faint smile appeared on his scarred face.
"I'm Robert."
The moment Karl recognized him, the color drained from his face.
This was not a memory he ever wanted to face again.
"Please… stay away from me," Karl begged immediately.
"I regret what I did. Please, just leave."
His voice trembled.
"What happened that day… it was an accident."
Robert slowly opened the cap of the container he had brought with him.
Without saying another word, he began pouring petrol across the room.
Karl's breathing became heavier as panic filled his eyes.
Yet Robert remained completely silent.
After emptying the container, he quietly walked out of the house.
The cold night air greeted him the moment he stepped outside.
He lit a cigarette calmly before glancing back toward Karl's room.
Then—
with a small flick of his hand,
he tossed the lighter through the open window.
The sound of the explosion tore through the quiet neighborhood.
But the streets remained empty.
Everyone was away at church, celebrating Christmas… completely unaware of the tragedy unfolding nearby.
After revealing everything to Maria, Robert pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Keep the ship ready," he said coldly.
"I'll be there in five minutes. Got it?"
After ending the call, he turned toward Maria.
"Hey girl… you're coming with me."
Maria stepped back immediately.
"No… I'm not going anyw—"
Before she could finish speaking, Robert pressed the gun against her head.
"Don't force me to pull the trigger," he muttered calmly.
"Just do as I say."
Maria clenched her fists helplessly.
With no choice left, she silently followed Robert toward the ship waiting near the dark shoreline.
Locked inside the dark room of the ship, Maria sat quietly in the corner without saying a single word.
Guilt weighed heavily on her heart.
She had only wanted to protect Ivan…
yet everything had fallen apart.
And while she sat there drowning in regret,
Ivan's body remained abandoned on the empty beach.