Bishop sat all by himself in his study room. A bottle of whiskey was visibly seen on his table, and an ashtray was closer by his side. He let out some smoke he had just inhaled from the cigarette that he was holding.“I should have killed him when I had the chance!” he shouted in anger.One of his men walked into the room after knocking. “What is it?” Thomas asked, raising an eyebrow. He had received more bad news than any good news in the past few days. “Brian. He couldn't get a grip on where Richard was. He lost Tony and Troy.” Thomas Bishop's face darted towards the man standing. He immediately drew out his locker and brought out a pistol. The man fell to his knees immediately he saw the look on Thomas Bishop's face. “Give me your command now! I am ready to do anything, Sir!” The room went quiet as Thomas’s finger fiddled with the gun in front of him. “Lawrence has outplayed himself. Bring me his head.” That was the last voice in the room before the man jumped out like a

Brian didn’t breathe. He couldn’t. Thomas Bishop’s hand still rested on his shoulder, gentle like the touch of a father… yet heavy like the weight of a knife pressed against skin. The room felt colder than before. Even the fire burning behind Thomas didn’t give any warmth.The shadowy man behind Brian stayed silent. No cough, no sigh, not even the faintest breath. Just there, like a black ghost with a blade.Thomas finally straightened up, his eyes locked on Brian’s trembling face.“I asked you a question,” Thomas said softly. “Are you going to work for me… or do I have to kill you tonight?”Brian’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. His voice refused to come out. His throat felt too tight.“I… I want to work for you, sir,” he forced out.Thomas tilted his head slowly. “Do you? Or are you only saying that because you're scared of dying?”“I…” Brian swallowed hard. “Sir, I’m scared. Yes. But I’m also loyal. I want to work for you.”Thomas smiled faintly, like a man lo

His heart pounded in his chest like a drum of war. The hand on his shoulder had vanished, but the echo of that cold whisper lingered. “You shouldn’t have come here tonight.”He spun around, searching for the source. The hallway was empty. Dim lights flickered over cracked tiles. Shadows stretched like fingers across the walls, and Brian felt smaller than ever. His trembling hands clutched the black envelope.“Who’s there? Show yourself!” Brian barked, trying to mask the fear in his voice.A soft chuckle came from the shadows near the staircase. A figure stepped forward, lit by a thin stream of moonlight through the cracked window. Brian’s stomach dropped.“You really shouldn’t have come here, Brian,” the figure said. It was deep, smooth, and cruelly calm.Brian staggered backward. “I, I’m following orders! I didn’t mean to..”The figure raised a hand. “I know exactly why you’re here. You don’t get to make mistakes. Not anymore.”Brian’s legs shook. “W-who are you?”“I’m your warning,”

Richard stood completely still at the edge of the old workshop, staring at the blood trail like it was a message written for him alone.Thomas Bishop killed his father.The words beat inside his skull like war drums. Every breath he took was sharp, painful, and hot. His jaw kept tightening on its own. His hands couldn’t stay still.He wanted to scream.He wanted to tear the entire workshop apart.He wanted Thomas dead.But first… he needed answers.Richard stepped deeper into the abandoned place, flashlight cutting through the darkness. Dust floated in the air like slow-moving ghosts. Every corner looked empty, but he felt someone watching.And not just anyone. Someone dangerous, and someone who knew him.He whispered to himself.“Brian wasn’t lying… someone else was here.”A soft sound answered him.A faint metal scrape… far into the dark.Richard froze and slowly reached for the knife at his belt.“Who’s there?” he called out, his voice calm but filled with warning.Silence. And the

Brian’s heartbeat slammed against his chest like it was trying to escape.The masked man stepped closer, blocking the doorway, blocking the only exit.His voice carried a calmness that made everything more terrifying.“I told Thomas you were too soft for this assignment,” the man said.“But he insisted you’d learn something tonight.”Brian shook his head slowly.“No… Thomas wouldn’t send you. He wouldn’t send you to kill me.”The masked man laughed, a slow, low, twisted laugh.“Oh, Brian… you really don’t understand Thomas at all, do you?”Brian took a step back, gripping the wall for balance.His legs were trembling, but he forced himself to stand straighter.“Take off the mask,” Brian said.“I want to see your face.”The man tilted his head.“You sure? Once you see it, you won’t forget it.”“TAKE IT OFF!” Brian shouted.The masked man raised one hand slowly…Then ripped the mask off.The face beneath made Brian’s stomach drop.“NO… No… that’s not possible,” Brian whispered.The man