Johnathan Kells shifted restlessly, growing more irritated by the second. He felt like he was being interrogated, and it was quickly wearing on his nerves. With clenched teeth, he yanked the machines from his body and stood up, his voice laced with frustration. “Where’s Jarvis Grave? I need to speak to him, because I’m not going to sit here and be harassed by… someone like you. A self-proclaimed healer who thinks waving needles makes him God.” Unfazed, Leon let out a low chuckle. “Those words are coming from a place of fear, and that’s why you can't admit it. Jarvis isn't gonna help you here, so I suggest you to tell me the source of why you've been a dead man walking.” Johnathan shook his head violently. “I’m not telling you anything because there’s nothing to tell! I’m not some ‘dead man walking.’ Whatever you saw after examining me… maybe the equipment you used is just malfunctioning. Maybe it’s a fluke.” Leon couldn’t suppress another chuckle, clearly amused. “I don’t need

Leon stood still, eyes fixed on Johnathan’s body lying lifeless on the floor of the clinic ward. His mind was spinning. His brain tried to piece together what just happened, but it was like grasping smoke. ‘Something killed him…’ the thought echoed through Leon’s mind like a slow tolling bell. He watched as Johnathan’s skin lost every bit of color, his features hollowing unnaturally fast. His body stiffened, rigor mortis setting in much too quickly. It looked like he’d been dead for months, not minutes. Just then, the door slammed open and Jarvis and Dante stepped in, both stopping short at the sight in front of them. “Oh my God!” Dante gasped, his voice laced with disbelief and horror. “He’s dead! He’s…” His words stumbled as his eyes locked onto the body. “Damn, he’s…” he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. Whatever he was about to say got caught in his throat. “He was a dead man walking,” Leon said flatly, his eyes still locked on the corpse. His mind was elsewhere, tu

Ethan’s eyes widened in pure disbelief at the figure that stepped through the entrance.Diane.She walked in slowly, calmly, her heels echoing against the metal floor. There was a faint smile on her lips, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.“Well,” she said smoothly, “surprise to see me, Ethan?”Ethan’s expression twisted into rage. Even with the gag still in place, the hatred in his eyes was unmistakable.Diane tilted her head and sighed dramatically, clearly unimpressed by the fury in his stare. She walked over to him, crouched slightly, and began to untie the cloth from around his mouth.The second it dropped, Ethan spat out his words like venom. “You bitch!” he barked, eyes blazing with fury.Diane didn’t flinch. In fact, she just scoffed.“Relax, Ethan,” she said coolly. “I brought you here for a reason.”Ethan yanked against the ropes binding him, his face flushed with fury. “And what kind of stupid reason involves kidnapping me and tying me up?!” he shouted. “I swear, when I

Just as Ethan reached for the handle of the shipping container’s door, it slammed open with a deafening clang. Five men in sleek, tailored suits stormed in like a coordinated strike team. Ethan stumbled back in alarm, his smirk instantly vanishing. His eyes darted between them, wide with confusion and rising fear. “Wh-who the hell are you people?” he demanded, trying to mask his panic. “This is private property. You’ve clearly got the wrong place!” He said with an uneasy look as he glanced back at Diane, who was still tied up and crying. But the suited men said nothing at first. Their leader, tall, calm, and deadly in demeanor, stepped forward and pulled out a handgun. The sharp click of the safety being disengaged echoed in the metal container. Ethan’s breath hitched as he instinctively raised his hands in surrender, retreating a few steps. “Whoa, whoa! Easy! What’s the gun for? Listen, I didn’t do anything wrong! That girl over there… she kidnapped me! I was just taking b

With a smug smile tugging at her lips, Liz led Leon through the grand lobby toward the reception desk. As soon as the receptionists noticed her, they straightened up and offered polite greetings, fully aware of her managerial status within Echelon.“This gentleman here claims to have a reservation in the Majestic Lounge,” Liz said, her voice lined with subtle mockery. Her smirk made it clear she found the claim laughable.The receptionists turned their attention to Leon, momentarily puzzled as their eyes swept over his attire. He was well-dressed, handsome and sharp in a tailored black suit and coat that radiated wealth and class.Noticing the flicker of hesitation in their expressions, Liz stepped in quickly. “Oh, don’t be fooled by the outfit,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “He borrowed it. I went to college with him, so I know. The guy’s broke… completely. He was once the live-in son-in-law of the Hartwell family. Surely you’ve heard that story.”One of the reception