"Let's take a walk, Sophia," Daisy whispered, her eyes darting toward the tree line.
Sophia nodded, and the two stepped out into the cool air. They had only been walking for a few minutes when Sophia's pace faltered. "Someone is following us," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Daisy didn't need to look back; she had already caught glimpses of a shadow flickering between the buildings. "Let's double back. We need to get to the safehouse. Now."
They pivoted, their walking turning into a frantic stride. Behind them, the heavy thud of boots accelerated in perfect synchronization. Suddenly, shadows detached themselves from the brush—several men, moving with a predator's grace, began to close the gap.
"We're almost there!" Daisy panted.
"This is Olivia," Sophia gasped, her lungs burning. "It has to be."
Daisy's expression darkened into a grim mask. "Once we take this left, the safehouse is right there."
They rounded the corner at a sprint, but their relief vanished instantly. Standing directly in their path, flanked by a wall of stone-faced men, was Olivia. She wore a smile that didn't reach her cold eyes.
Seeing the trap, Sophia grabbed Daisy's hand and pulled her toward a thicket of overgrown bushes. "Daisy, kick off your shoes! Now!"
They flung their shoes in the opposite direction to throw off the trail and scrambled into the dense thorns. They huddled together, forcing their breaths to come shallow and silent, even as their hearts hammered against their ribs.
Moments later, the heavy crunch of gravel announced the men's arrival.
"They're here somewhere. Search the perimeter," a gruff voice commanded.
Daisy felt the blood drain from her face. How did they find us so fast? The men moved with professional efficiency, systematically probing the greenery. Then, Olivia's voice drifted through the air like a haunting melody. "Where are you, my dear Daisy? Don't make this harder than it has to be."
The girls trembled, clutching each other in the shadows. Suddenly, the world turned upside down. Two massive hands plunged into the brush, seizing them by their hair. With a grunt of effort, a mountain of a man hauled them out and threw them into the dirt like ragdolls.
Daisy looked up, paralyzed. Olivia stepped into the clearing, her wicked grin widening.
"You... you never learn," Daisy spat, her voice trembling despite her defiance.
Olivia didn't hesitate. She stepped forward and delivered a stinging slap that snapped Daisy's head to the side.
"Don't!" Sophia screamed.
Olivia turned her predatory gaze to Sophia. "You little bitch. If you had just cooperated, none of this would be happening." She grabbed both their heads and slammed them together. The world went white for a second as the girls collapsed, dazed.
"What do you want?" Sophia wheezed, clutching her forehead.
"I want the boy," Olivia said, her eyes gleaming. "The one who saved you that day. Call him."
"I don't know him," Sophia protested.
"Not my problem," Olivia countered coldly. "If you don't bring him to me, these men will beat you both to death and bury the remains where no one will ever find them."
"I'm telling you the truth! He was just a stranger passing by!"
Olivia sighed and gestured to two of her men. They stepped forward, reaching for Daisy's throat—but then, they froze.
"What are you doing? Finish it," Olivia snapped.
She looked around, confused. Every man in the clearing had drawn a knife, their knuckles white. Even Daisy and Sophia felt the shift in the air. The atmosphere grew heavy, suffocating, as if the oxygen had suddenly been sucked out of the clearing.
"What is happening?" Olivia yelled, her voice cracking.
"Someone... someone strong is coming," one of the mercenaries whispered, sweat beads rolling down his face.
The girls' throats went dry. Olivia's heart hammered against her ribs. These were seasoned killers, yet they were trembling. Every eye turned toward the roadway.
Out of the gloom, a figure emerged. A boy, his face hidden behind a mask, his black hair tousled by the wind. His black eyes were cold, focused entirely on the bruised faces of the two girls on the ground.
"It's him," Sophia whispered.
Olivia's fear momentarily vanished, replaced by a sick triumph. Finally. I found him.
"Hey!" Olivia called out, trying to reclaim her authority. "What's your name?"
The boy remained silent, his gaze dropping to the marks on Daisy and Sophia's skin.
"Look," Olivia said, stepping toward him with a forced confidence. "If you want these two, you have to work with us. Come under my wing, and I'll guarantee you more money and power than you've ever dreamed of. What do you say?"
The silence that followed was deafening. The boy didn't blink.
Olivia's patience snapped. She glanced at her men. "Your orders?" one of them asked, his voice shaking.
"Fine. We'll do it the hard way," Olivia hissed. "Two of you, grab the girls as hostages. The rest of you—kill him!"
Two men lunged for Daisy and Sophia. The rest charged the boy.
In the blink of an eye, the world became a blur of motion. A sickening crack echoed through the clearing. Before anyone could process the movement, the masked boy was standing over Daisy and Sophia. The two men who had tried to grab them were crumpled on the ground, their necks snapped at impossible angles.
Olivia stumbled back, her face pale with sudden, bone-deep terror.
"ATTACK!" she shrieked.
As the remaining men threw themselves at him, a single thought flashed through Olivia's mind: This isn't a boy. He's a monster.