The silence did not last long.
It never did in a world like this.
Ayla could feel it before anything happened.
That shift.
That invisible pressure in the air that warned her something was about to go wrong.
The man standing before them smiled.
Not out of amusement.
But certainty.
"You are wasting my time," he said calmly.
Zayn did not move.
"Then leave," he replied.
The man's eyes darkened slightly.
"You still do not understand," he said.
Ayla's heart pounded faster.
Something about his tone was different now.
This was no longer a negotiation.
This was a countdown.
Her father stepped slightly closer to them.
"We need to move," he said quietly.
Zayn did not look at him.
"I know," he replied.
Ayla frowned.
"Move where?" she asked.
Neither of them answered.
That silence made everything worse.
"You are not telling me something," she said.
Zayn's jaw tightened.
"There is no time," he said.
"There is always time to tell the truth," she replied sharply.
Before he could respond-
The man raised his hand.
And this time…
No warning followed.
A loud sound echoed.
Everything changed.
Men moved again.
But not like before.
This time, they were faster.
More aggressive.
More desperate.
Ayla barely had time to react as Zayn pulled her back again, shielding her from the sudden surge of movement.
"Stay with me," he said.
But his voice was different now.
Tighter.
More urgent.
That was when Ayla realized something terrifying.
They were not in control anymore.
The fight broke out again.
But this time…
It was not clean.
It was chaotic.
Unpredictable.
Zayn moved quickly, taking down one man after another, but there were too many.
And then-
Ayla heard it.
A sharp sound.
Not close.
But not far either.
She turned instinctively.
And her breath stopped.
Her father staggered slightly.
"No…" she whispered.
Time slowed down.
Everything around her faded.
All she could see was him.
He took a step back.
Then another.
Ayla ran toward him.
"Dad!" she shouted.
Zayn's voice came from behind her.
"Ayla, stop!"
But she did not.
She reached him just as he lost his balance.
Her hands caught him before he hit the ground.
"Dad, look at me," she said, panic rising in her voice.
His breathing was uneven.
"Ayla…" he said weakly.
"No," she said quickly. "You are fine. You are going to be fine."
But even as she said it…
She knew it was not true.
There was something wrong.
Very wrong.
Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to hold him steady.
"You need to listen to me," he said.
Ayla shook her head.
"No. Do not talk like that."
His grip on her hand tightened slightly.
"The case," he said.
Ayla's heart broke.
"Forget the case," she said.
"No," he replied.
His voice was weak.
But firm.
"You have to protect it."
Ayla felt tears rise in her eyes.
"Why?" she asked.
"For you," he said.
The words confused her.
"What do you mean?"
He tried to speak again.
But his strength was fading.
"They are not just after the data," he said slowly.
Ayla leaned closer.
"Then what?"
His eyes met hers.
And for the first time…
There was fear.
"They are after you."
The words hit harder than anything else.
Ayla froze.
"What?"
But before he could explain further-
Another voice interrupted.
"You should not have wasted your time."
Ayla turned slowly.
The man was standing there.
Closer now.
Much closer.
Zayn stepped in front of her instantly.
"Do not take another step," he said.
But the man did not stop.
"You lost," he said calmly.
Zayn's eyes turned cold.
"This is not over," he replied.
The man smiled faintly.
"It is for him," he said, glancing at Ayla's father.
Ayla's heart shattered.
"No," she whispered.
Her father's grip on her hand loosened slightly.
"Dad…" she said.
But there was no response.
No movement.
Nothing.
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Ayla felt something break inside her.
Completely.
Tears fell freely now.
But she did not make a sound.
Because the pain was too deep.
Too heavy.
Zayn placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Ayla…" he said quietly.
But she did not respond.
Her eyes remained fixed on her father.
Gone.
Just like that.
The man sighed softly.
"This could have been avoided," he said.
Zayn's expression darkened dangerously.
"You made your move," he said.
Now it was his turn.
Before the man could react-
Zayn moved.
Fast.
Precise.
The atmosphere shifted again.
But Ayla did not notice.
Because in that moment…
Nothing else mattered.
Not the fight.
Not the danger.
Only one thing remained.
Loss.
And the realization that everything had changed.
Forever.