2026-01-22 12:17:38The men who had been watching Heinrich and Jonas earlier rose from their table and left the bar.
Meanwhile, Heinrich and Jonas were already facing the meals they had ordered, preparing to eat.
“Where are you staying?” Jonas asked after taking a bite.
“I don’t know,” Heinrich replied briefly, then did the same.
“Don’t sleep out on the road or you’ll—” Jonas didn’t get to finish his sentence. Heinrich suddenly stood up and hurried outside. Not knowing what was happening, Jonas rushed after him.
“Hey!” Heinrich called out to a man approaching his car, his movements suspicious.
The man glanced back briefly. He said nothing, showed no sign of guilt, and simply walked away.
As soon as the man was gone, Heinrich moved quickly toward his parked vehicle and inspected it carefully. His hands moved with practiced precision, as if he already knew which parts were usually targeted for sabotage.
“What’s wrong?” Jonas asked as he approached. “Who was that man?”
Heinrich didn’t answer right away. His hand stopped when he felt something about the size of a lighter attached beneath the rear bumper. He pulled it free.
At the same moment, a shot rang out from a passing SUV—but it was deliberately aimed at the bar’s window, shattering the glass. A waitress screamed. Several men dove under their tables.
“Take cover!” Heinrich shouted, followed by a second shot that destroyed the restaurant’s windows, glass scattering across the floor.
People who had been relaxing moments earlier scrambled for shelter. Panic was unmistakable. The place fell eerily silent.
“Do you know who they are?” Jonas asked, taking cover beside the car with Heinrich.
“No,” Heinrich replied. He restrained himself from drawing his weapon and returning fire.
“What do they want?” Jonas asked.
Before Heinrich could answer, a third shot was fired, striking the car’s side window.
“Damn it,” Heinrich growled as he moved toward the door.
“What are we going to do now?” Jonas asked, his voice tense.
“Run,” Heinrich said as he opened the door. “Get in, Jon,” he added quietly.
Jonas crawled to the left and climbed in through the rear door. Even inside the car, the tension was etched clearly on his handsome face. The gray-eyed man took several deep breaths.
Before Jonas could fasten his seat belt, Heinrich slammed the gas pedal. The car surged forward at high speed, even though he knew the road ahead was far from smooth.
“You’re sure you don’t know them?” Jonas asked, glancing back repeatedly to check if they were being followed.
“No,” Heinrich answered curtly.
“Could they be hunting you?”
Heinrich didn’t respond. His focus was entirely on the road. Moments later, the car came to an abrupt stop, making Jonas stare at him in confusion.
“Why did you stop?”
Once again, Heinrich said nothing. He stared straight ahead. His headlights illuminated fresh tire marks etched clearly into the road.
“Is there another route?” Heinrich asked without turning his head.
“There isn’t. This is the only way out of the area—” Jonas didn’t finish as Heinrich suddenly hit the accelerator again. “Good God! Do you always drive like this?”
“You talk too much.”
Heinrich drove at high speed despite the cracked, uneven road. The jolts didn’t faze him, nor did he care that Jonas hadn’t managed to buckle up yet.
The road grew worse by the minute—no asphalt, no warning signs. To the left was a deep ravine without guardrails; to the right, a dense pine forest.
“Morksti,” Jonas said, gripping the handhold.
“What?” Heinrich asked coldly.
“The name of this route,” Jonas replied. “You need to be careful because—”
Before Jonas could finish, a tree suddenly fell across the road, blocking their path.
Heinrich slammed on the brakes. He knew the tree hadn’t fallen on its own.
“Vokter,” Jonas murmured, his gaze tense.
Heinrich glanced at him briefly but said nothing. His eyes shifted toward the pine forest. Through the thin fog, he caught faint movements among the trees as the light began to fade.
“They’re here?” Heinrich asked quietly. His hand slipped toward the inside of his jacket, ready to draw his weapon. At the same time, several dark figures burst out of the forest and swiftly surrounded the car.
Jonas froze. “We’re doomed,” he whispered.
Heinrich, however, remained cold and expressionless. He studied the men standing in front of the car and to its left. All of them wore face coverings, making identification impossible.
The man standing by the left side of the car slammed the window with the butt of his rifle, signaling Heinrich to step out.
“Hide if you’re afraid,” Heinrich said before getting out of the car.
“Don’t be insane, Erik,” Jonas whispered, trying to stop him.
But Heinrich ignored him. He stepped out anyway—it was the only way to confront them directly.
“Take off your jacket first. Then raise your hands and turn around.”
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Chapter 20 : Blood in the Fog
Jonas nodded quickly. Without saying much, he took the position Heinrich had occupied earlier. The pistol in his hand felt heavier. For someone who used to be nothing more than an expedition truck driver, a situation like this was far beyond anything he had ever experienced.Meanwhile, Heinrich moved cautiously along the side of the wooden cabin. His body was lowered, almost blending into the shadow of the building. His steps were light, barely making any sound on the ground.Bang!A shot from Jonas shattered the silence. Several women who were being held hostage in the cemetery area screamed in fear and shock. Some even began crying hysterically.Return fire came almost at the same moment. A bullet struck the trunk of a pine tree with a loud crack, splintering pieces of wood.
Chapter 19 : Lucifer Returns
Heinrich did not answer. He stared at the crowd gathered at the village hall. His gaze was intense, moving from one face to another.A moment later, several adult men lifted a simple wooden stretcher. The poor boy’s body lay stiff beneath a dull white cloth.“They’re going to place the child’s body where they did yesterday,” Jonas said.Heinrich turned. “You’re not going?”“Don’t be crazy,” Jonas replied with a shudder, recalling the disgusting sight when he helped lay Hagen’s body down.“I’m not sure you’re that cowardly,” Heinrich muttered as he returned to checking the car engine.“That’s just a human reaction,” Jonas replied without turning.Heinrich said nothing more and focused on the engine. He tightened the hood bolts with quick, precise movements. His hands worked, but his thoughts wandered.Many things crossed Heinrich’s mind, one of them everything that had happened in the village. The atmosphere, the villagers’ stares, the consecutive deaths.“No serious damage,” Jonas sai
Chapter 18 : The Line That Must Not Be Crossed
Jonas laughed softly. “Good heavens. I accompanied you from the border, and I even helped deal with the Vokter attack.”“I didn’t accuse you directly. You’re the one who assumed it was an accusation,” Heinrich replied flatly.“I’m not some clueless kid who doesn’t understand the implied meaning of a sentence.”“So who’s being overly sensitive?” Heinrich gave a small smile, sharp enough in Jonas’s eyes. “The fact is, you always disappear whenever there’s a major incident. Hagen’s death, and the boy’s.”“Weren’t you the one who wanted to pray at the church?” Jonas replied calmly, raising one eyebrow.Heinrich fell silent for a moment. His gaze stayed on Jonas. “Praying, not killing a child.”“Who would believe you? You’re a stranger here.”A heavy breath left Heinrich’s lips, then he sat down on the edge of the bed. “We need to leave this place soon,” he said quietly.“Yes, you’re right. Staying here too long will
Chapter 17 : Silent Evidence
Heinrich lowered himself and checked the boy’s pulse. From that, he confirmed that there was no life left in the child.“Rest in peace, kid,” Heinrich said softly and deeply, brushing the boy’s face until his eyes closed.For a brief moment, Heinrich’s gaze fell on the boy’s shirt pocket. A corner of paper was sticking out. Curious, he took the paper, but did not open it right away because he did not want to spend too much time there.“Forgive me, kid. I have to go.” Heinrich stood up and turned away from the place. Big trouble would follow if the villagers caught him there. Especially since just that afternoon they had lost Hagen, who was killed by a mysterious shooter.Heinrich hurried out of the church. He walked fast, but still perfectly measured. There was no hesitation, even though his emotions were in turmoil.The village road was empty. Silent.As he kept walking toward the inn, Heinrich thought hard. “Why was that child
Chapter 16 : The Silent Witness
Heinrich stepped calmly, but very carefully. His gaze was measured and his hearing sharp. Every small movement that seemed suspicious was immediately caught by his senses. Including when a shadow flickered to the side of the church building, among the adult-height plants growing thickly.Heinrich froze. His hand reflexively went inside his jacket, reaching for the pistol hidden there. In a split second, he ran toward the church entrance, then stood behind a wall forming a recess.The man with hair starting to touch his shoulders pressed his body against the wall. Heinrich looked out, trying to catch a shadow from the reflection of a small light outside the church.Heinrich noticed subtle movements. Steps arranged deliberately. Slowly approaching, but not revealing a clear shadow. And it made him raise his eyebrows in thought.However, there was no time to guess, since the mysterious movement was getting closer. Heinrich moved reflexively, grabbing
Chapter 15 : Perilous
Heinrich stared at the light brown–haired boy. He stepped closer, then lowered himself in front of him. Moments later, Heinrich’s gaze shifted to the slip of paper the boy was holding.“What is that?” Heinrich asked.The boy did not answer. He only looked at Heinrich with a strange expression.“Did someone tell you to—” Heinrich had not finished his sentence when Solveig arrived, still grumbling as she walked.The boy quickly folded the paper, slipped it into the pocket of his trousers, then ran toward the main room. He did not seem frightened by the sight of Hagen’s blood-soaked corpse. Instead, the boy stood still, staring at the body of the middle-aged man. His eyes observed it closely, as if searching for something interesting.Several men came in with Solveig. One of them was Jonas, who appeared with a questioning look in his eyes.“Get the body out of my house at once. Not because I don’t respect the dead, but because I don
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