James stood frozen inside the bus, the flashlight trembling slightly in his hand as he stared at the little girl in front of him. He could barely process what he was seeing. How had they gotten hold of Loretta? Out of all the children in this city, how had she ended up here? Loretta was trying to make a muffled sound through the tape covering her mouth, her eyes fixed desperately on James as if she recognized him as the only person who could possibly save her. She shifted against the restraints, struggling to communicate, and although she couldn’t speak clearly, James understood exactly what she was trying to say. She was asking for help.For a moment, James forgot about the money, the organization, and the guards standing around him. All he could see was Drax’s little sister sitting helplessly among the other kidnapped children. Loretta’s eyes suddenly brightened when James moved closer, and a faint smile appeared on her face. She had finally found someone she knew. Someone connected

James quickly shook his head and forced himself to look at Drax. “I’m just exhausted, that’s all. It’s been a long night, and I’m not used to this kind of work.” Drax studied him for another moment, as if he wasn’t completely convinced, but eventually nodded and leaned back. “Alright, then. Get some rest.” James quietly sighed in relief and looked away, hoping Drax wouldn’t ask any more questions. He couldn’t bring himself to tell his best friend what he had seen, not when he had already made his choice.The convoy continued through the night for nearly two hours, moving farther away from the city and deeper into an isolated industrial district. Eventually, the vehicles approached a massive steel gate surrounded by high concrete walls, surveillance cameras, and armed guards positioned at several points around the perimeter. The lead vehicle stopped briefly, the guards exchanged a few words with the men at the entrance, and the enormous gate slowly began to open. One after another, the

Drax’s eyes immediately locked onto the girl’s face, and for a moment, the entire compound seemed to disappear around him. He knew that face. He had seen it every morning, every night, and in every memory that mattered to him. His little sister was standing in the middle of the compound, restrained and terrified, and Drax couldn’t understand how she had ended up here. Why was Loretta among the children they had brought to this place?Before Drax could even move, one of the guards struck Loretta hard across the back of her neck. “Shut up brat!”Her body went limp immediately, and she collapsed into the arms of the men holding her. Drax’s expression changed instantly as something inside him snapped.“LORETTA!”He charged forward without thinking. One of the guards stepped into his path and raised a hand, clearly confused by the sudden outburst. “Hey, man! What’s wrong with you?”Drax didn’t answer. He slammed his fist into the man’s chest and sent him crashing several feet across the c

Drax drove through the darkness at full speed, both hands locked tightly around the steering wheel as the damaged vehicle bounced over the uneven asphalt. Every few seconds, his eyes left the road and shifted toward the passenger seat. Loretta was still unconscious, her head resting against the side of the seat, and every time Drax looked at her, fear tightened around his chest. He had escaped the compound, but he couldn’t allow himself to believe they were safe until Loretta opened her eyes.Then her fingers moved.Drax immediately glanced toward her.Loretta’s eyelids slowly opened, and she winced as a severe headache struck her. For several seconds, she looked around in confusion, frightened by the unfamiliar surroundings. Then she turned toward the driver’s seat and froze when she saw Drax.“Loretta.”Her eyes widened.“Big brother?”Drax’s expression immediately changed, relief washing over his face. “Yeah. I’m here.”Loretta stared at him for a few seconds before tears suddenly

“Little kid, who are you?” Ragnar asked, staring at the boy who had suddenly appeared at the entrance.Drax’s eyes widened despite the pain coursing through his battered body. He knew that voice and that face.Desmond?!Before Ragnar could take another step, Desmond reached toward the wall beside the door and pressed a large emergency button.A loud alarm immediately erupted throughout the room.Ragnar frowned as a series of vents opened along the walls and ceiling. Within seconds, a thick emergency suppression gas began flooding the room, spreading rapidly across the enclosed space. It was the ship’s automatic fire-suppression system, designed to flood a section with the chemical agent whenever a serious fire was detected.The gas immediately reacted with Ragnar’s overheated body.His expression changed.“ARGHHHH!”Ragnar grabbed his chest as his skin began steaming violently. The red glow beneath his skin flickered, and the heat radiating from his body dropped sharply as the suppres