"Take him to the iron door at the end of that alley, hurry," Mei Lin gave the command with a suppressed voice.Police sirens wailed increasingly madly on the main highway. Red and blue lights swept the brick walls of the narrow alley. Isabella supported David's right arm, while Elena propped up her husband's waist, ensuring David's hand kept pressing the gunshot wound that continued to spew fresh blood.Mei Lin darted ahead of them. She stood in front of a rusty iron door bearing the sign Joe's Auto Repair, an old building that appeared to have been closed for a long time. Without wasting time, the warrior woman raised her leg and landed a solid kick squarely on the chain padlock securing the sliding door.Crash. The padlock shattered into pieces. Mei Lin pushed the iron door upward, creating a gap just large enough for a human to enter."Get inside, now," Mei Lin ordered, looking back to make sure no police flashlight beams were pointed toward their alley.Elena and Isabella dragged

"The signal is connected, Sir. You are broadcasting live across all regional and national networks," the technician said, his voice trembling with fear. Cold sweat dripped from his chin onto the main console keyboard, while his eyes darted to the sharp tip of Mei Lin's sword still resting near his neck.Millions of television screens in living rooms, noisy bars, and police station surveillance rooms suddenly cut off. Evening soap operas, sports matches, and talk shows vanished instantly. The screens turned to static for a moment, then displayed a face that made the entire country hold its breath in confusion.It was not the face of the cold-blooded monster or terrorist portrayed by the media for days. It was the face of a man completely broken by the harshness of reality.David Vexley's flannel shirt was soaked with blood continuously seeping from the gunshot wound in his left stomach. His face was covered in purple bruises, the corner of his lip was torn, and h

"Wake up, Mr. Miller. The darkness is no longer your ally."The muffled yet incredibly clear voice pierced David Vexley's consciousness. He tried to move his body, but the cold, hard sensation of metal instantly stopped his intent. Both his wrists were handcuffed with thick steel chains permanently embedded into the concrete wall behind him. His paralyzed left arm ached from the forced position.David slowly opened his eyelids.AAARGH!A stifled scream escaped David's throat. He immediately squeezed his eyes shut incredibly tight. A blindingly bright white light stabbed directly into his retinas like thousands of syringes dipped in acid.The interrogation cell where he was confined had no concrete wall at the front. The wall was made of thick bulletproof glass. On the ceiling and floor of the cell, rows of high-intensity white LED lights were installed and turned on to maximum brightness. This room was specifically designed by someone who knew exac

"The hot water never runs out, Elena. This refrigerator is always fully stocked every morning."Dr. Aris's voice sounded soft, echoing inside the living room of the thick-carpeted apartment.Elena stood in front of the wide-open double-door refrigerator. The cold air swept across her face. Inside, neatly arranged, were top-quality fresh milk, premium beef, fresh fruits, and bottles of nutritional supplements. It was an intoxicating luxury. A very painful contrast compared to the leaky roof and bland oatmeal in their wooden cabin just days ago."These facilities are truly extraordinary, Dr. Aris," Elena replied softly. She closed the refrigerator door, rubbing her own arms wrapped in a warm sweater. "I had almost forgotten what it feels like to sleep without having to hear the night wind coming through the cracks in the wooden floorboards.""Your family deserves all of this, Elena," Aris walked alongside the woman toward the large window overlooking the AgriGen facility's indoor garden

"I am here, El. I told you I would come back for you."David Vexley's hoarse voice shattered the silence of the luxury apartment. The once-solid ebony door now lay ruined on the white carpet, splintered into sharp pieces by his brutal kick.David stood in the doorway, his breath rattling harshly, sounding like a broken whistle due to his lungs still being partially filled with residual blood. Thick red fluid dripped endlessly from his nose and chin, falling to stain the expensive carpet beneath his shoes. His left arm hung stiffly like a dead branch. In his violently trembling right hand, which sported a gruesomely broken thumb, he tightly gripped a hunting knife. The tip of the steel blade dripped fresh blood from the corporate guards he had just slaughtered in the hallway.The mortal father forced a smile onto his battered face. His muscles screamed demanding rest, but his heart was filled with overwhelmingly immense anticipation. In his head, empty of many pa