The sound came first.
Heavy boots.
Fast.
Closing in.
From the corridor.
From the world outside her fragile silence.
Inside the room, shadows still clung to the corners.
And near the balcony—
A figure paused.
The Skull Crusher.
He tilted his head slightly, listening.
Then—
A faint, almost reckless wink in the direction of the bed.
Rowdy.
Unbothered.
As if this was all a game to him.
"Another time, little bird…"
His whisper barely touched the air.
And before the door could burst open—
He stepped back.
Blended into the darkness.
Gone.
The door slammed open.
Alex rushed in first.
Weapon drawn.
Eyes sharp.
He didn't waste a second—
Went straight to the balcony.
Scanning.
Searching.
But like always—
Nothing.
No trace.
No shadow.
No proof.
Just the cold night air brushing against the torn curtains.
"Clear!" Alex called out, though his tone lacked certainty.
Adrian entered next.
Like a storm.
Violent.
Uncontrolled.
His gaze swept the room—
And landed on her.
Elena.
Lying on the bed.
Still.
Limp.
Breathing unevenly.
Something inside him twisted.
But instead of concern—
It turned into anger.
Fury.
Blinding.
He strode toward her.
Fast.
Each step heavy with rage.
"Don't you have a tongue?"
His voice exploded in the room.
Harsh.
Accusing.
"Or are you mute, huh?"
Elena flinched.
Her body barely responding.
"Can't you shout?" he continued, grabbing the back of her hair suddenly and forcing her face up.
Her scalp burned at the sudden pull.
Her eyes widened.
"…or were you too busy fantasizing about that man?"
The words hit harder than his grip.
For a moment—
She froze.
Completely.
Because even in her broken state—
That accusation cut deep.
Too deep.
Adrian's grip tightened slightly.
His anger rising with every second.
But then—
He saw it.
The mark.
Right there.
On her neck.
Clear.
Dark.
Unmistakable.
Everything stopped.
For him.
His eyes locked onto it.
Unblinking.
Disbelieving.
Rage exploded inside him like wildfire.
His grip loosened slightly—
Not out of gentleness—
But because something else had taken over.
Something darker.
More dangerous.
His eyes burned.
"Ah…"
A low, mocking sound left his lips.
"So that's the reason…"
His voice dropped.
Cold.
Sharp.
"You were enjoying with him."
Elena's breath hitched.
Her mind snapped out of its numbness instantly.
Too much thirst you have…" he continued, his tone turning nastier, uglier with every word, "so many fantasies…"
Tears filled her eyes.
But this time—
They weren't from fear.
They were from anger.
Pure.
Burning anger.
"Oh wait…" Adrian added, tilting his head slightly as if thinking, "are you somehow in love with him?"
That—
Broke something.
Not her.
But the silence.
"What did you say?"
Her voice came out shaking—
But loud.
Strong.
For the first time since everything began.
Adrian paused.
Slightly taken aback.
Because this—
This was new.
"How can you say such a thing?" she continued, her chest rising and falling rapidly, "do you even hear yourself?"
Her eyes burned as she looked at him.
Not with fear.
But with hurt.
With disbelief.
"He was holding my throat!" she snapped, her voice breaking but not stopping, "I couldn't move… I couldn't even breathe properly!"
Her words came out rushed.
Messy.
But real.
"He threatened me… warned me not to make a sound…" her voice cracked slightly, "and you—"
She took a shaky breath.
"…you're accusing me?"
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Alex, standing near the balcony, slowly turned his head.
Watching.
Because even he hadn't expected this.
"What have you done?" she continued, her voice softer now but more painful, "other than blaming me for everything?"
Her words hung in the air.
Raw.
Unfiltered.
And for the first time—
Adrian didn't respond immediately.
Because something in her voice—
Something in her eyes—
Hit him.
Harder than expected.
He stepped closer again.
Slower this time.
Not as aggressive.
But still intense.
Still overwhelming.
His hand rose.
And instead of grabbing her roughly—
He cupped her cheeks.
Firm.
But controlled.
Holding her face in place.
Forcing her to look at him.
Their eyes met.
And this time—
Something shifted.
In his.
Just for a second.
A flicker.
Something unfamiliar.
Something that didn't belong to anger.
Her breath trembled.
But she didn't look away.
Not anymore.
"You think I wanted this?" she whispered, her voice weaker now, but still holding that same pain, "you think I enjoyed any of this?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
His grip on her face remained firm.
But his mind—
Wasn't as clear anymore.
Because her words—
They didn't sound like lies.
They didn't feel like lies.
And that—
Annoyed him more than anything else.
Suddenly—
Adrian let go of her face.
Stepping back.
His expression unreadable.
But the tension in the room—
Skyrocketed.
Adrian's jaw clenched again.
And then—
His hand dropped.
"Get ready."
His tone returned to command.
"The wedding stays."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"What…?"
Even after all this—
After what just happened—
He still—
"Yes."
His voice cut her off.
Firm.
Final.
"More reason now."
Her heart sank.
Because she understood.
This wasn't protection anymore.
This was war.
And she—
Was the center of it.
Adrian turned to leave.
But stopped at the door.
Without looking back—
He spoke.
"If he thinks he can take you—"
A pause.
His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
"I'll show him what it means to lose everything."
The door closed behind him.
Leaving her alone.
Again.
But this time—
The silence felt heavier.
Because now—
She knew.
Things weren't going to get better.
They were going to get worse.
Much worse.
But just as the silence settled again—
A faint sound echoed.
From the balcony.
Click.
Everyone froze.
Adrian's head snapped toward it instantly.
Alex raised his weapon.
Guards outside shifted.
Alert.
Tense.
Then—
A small object rolled inside.
Across the floor.
Stopping near Adrian's feet.
All eyes dropped to it.
A device.
Black.
Compact.
Blinking.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
It projected something.
A red dot.
On the wall.
No—
Not a dot.
Words.
Written in sharp, glowing red light.
"COUNTDOWN STARTED."
Elena's breath stopped.
Adrian's expression turned deadly.
Alex stepped forward cautiously.
"What the—"
Before he could finish—
The message changed.
New words appeared.
Slower this time.
More deliberate.
"2 DAYS."
Silence.
Heavy.
Terrifying.
Because everyone understood—
That wasn't random.
That was a message.
A warning.
A promise.
And then—
The final line appeared.
"SHE'S COMING WITH ME."
The device went dark.
Dead.
Just like that.
Elena sat on the bed.
Her fingers trembling.
Her mind spinning.
Because for the first time—
She realized something terrifying.
She wasn't just trapped.
She was being fought over.
And neither side—
Was willing to let go.