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114

Before Jane could retort, a well-dressed waiter appeared at their table, clearing his throat. His expression was carefully neutral, but the tension in his stance was unmistakable. He had clearly been sent to intervene before things escalated any further.

“Sir, madam,” he said, his voice smooth but firm, “I must ask you to keep your voices down. We strive to maintain a peaceful atmosphere for all our guests.”

Jane scoffed, her eyes narrowing at the man as if he had personally offended her. “A peaceful atmosphere?” she sneered. “You should be more concerned about the kind of people you’re letting in here.”

Bobby leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Exactly. How did you even let a pauper like him into this place?” His gaze flicked toward Dylan with open disdain. “You should be kicking them out immediately, not lecturing us about volume.”

The waiter, to his credit, didn’t react to the blatant insult. His expression remained composed, but there was a slight tightening of his j

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416
A nervous-looking executive whispered to the man next to him, “Does… does he have a gun?” “Maybe. Doesn’t matter,” the other replied. “It’s the look in his eyes… that’s worse than any weapon.” Dylan’s hand lifted slightly, tilting Rico forward. “Rico… every scream, every plea, every attempt to delay… it’s a mark against you. You had a choice.” “I—” Rico coughed, blood spilling from his mouth. “I made… mistakes!” “Every one of them has consequences,” Dylan said. “You see what I am, and you still think you can ignore me? That’s a gamble you’ve already lost.” Clara’s father whispered again. “Dylan… do you have to show them all this?” Dylan’s eyes flicked to him, sharp. “Sometimes, to stop the monsters, you have to show you’re no less than they are.” Marcus muttered, almost under his breath, “Monsters… he’s become one too.” Clara’s eyes widened. “No… he’s not a monster… he’s… he’s…” Dylan’s gaze swept across the room one more time, catching every stunned face. “Heed this,” he sai
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Clara stepped closer and took Anna’s hand with surprising firmness. “Then prove it. Walk with us. If they want to make us reckless, we’ll teach them what happens when they try.” Dylan’s eyes flicked to the exit of the mall where sunlight pooled. He checked the sky through the cracked skylight as if measuring time itself. “We move. Now. Tell us everything you know. Every detail.” Anna nodded, voice still small. “Cross… he’s alive. Your father—Clara’s father—he’s in the city. They didn’t move him here. The corporation… they’re trying to draw you out. To make you reckless.” Clara froze. “He’s… he’s alive?” “Yes,” Anna said, voice trembling. “They want you to chase shadows, make mistakes, so they can capture you… or worse. I… I can’t go back. I’ll help you. I swear.” Dylan looked at her, cold eyes softening just slightly. “Good. We use that. But we trust actions, not words.” Anna nodded, swallowing. “I understand. I’ll help. I’ll tell you everything I know.” Clara grabbed her fathe
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“I—I didn’t—” she stammered.Dylan barked, “Get down! Now!”Anna obeyed like a puppet cut free, dropping behind a clothing rack. Her eyes fixed on Dylan, guilt and fear tangled together.An attacker moved in, trying to flank the group. He slashed at Marcus, who blocked and took a blow to the arm. Marcus growled and answered with a swing that sent the man reeling into a mannequin display. The attackers were disciplined—military precision in their movements—but Dylan had the environment: exposed wiring, broken escalator treads, narrow sightlines. He used them.“Which one of you sent her?” Dylan demanded as he parried a knife and answered with a short, brutal jab to the ribs that doubled the attacker over.The leader barked an order in a clipped tone. “Take the girl. Quiet the old man. The rest of you, sweep.”Clara’s father made a move, lunging toward Anna, but Dylan blocked him with a hard shove. “Stay with your daughter,” he snapped. “You’re a target right now. Your son survives becau
413
The abandoned mall was quiet. Broken glass glimmered in the sunlight that filtered through the cracked skylights. Rusted signs swung gently above empty shops. Dylan moved carefully, leading Clara and her father along the tiled floor, Marcus just behind them.Clara’s father whispered, “Are you sure about this?”Dylan didn’t answer right away. He scanned the shadows, every corner, every stairwell. Finally, he nodded. “We meet her. But stay sharp. Something feels… off.”Clara glanced at him. “Anna? The waitress?”“Yes,” Dylan said. “She said she has information about Cross.”Marcus muttered under his breath, “Information usually comes with trouble.”They reached the center of the mall. A faint movement caught Dylan’s eyes. A woman stepped out from behind a fallen pillar—Anna. She looked smaller than he remembered, shoulders slumped, eyes full of worry.“Dylan,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “You came…”Clara stepped forward. “Anna… what is it?”Anna glanced nervously over her shoulde
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The tunnels ended at a massive, steel-reinforced door. Red lights blinked above it, humming softly. Dylan crouched, checking the floor for traps or sensors.Clara whispered, her voice trembling, “This… this is it?”“Yes,” Dylan said quietly. “Stay close. Watch everything.”Eli peered over Dylan’s shoulder, pointing at the keycard in his hand. “This… this will open it?”Dylan nodded, sliding the card into the reader. The door hissed, groaning, then swung open.They stepped inside, and the black site revealed itself: cold, sterile, and buzzing with fluorescent lights. Computers hummed. Strange machines blinked with green and red lights, cables snaking like vines along the walls. A few guards patrolled in pairs, their boots clicking against the polished floor.Clara’s breath caught. “Dad…”Dylan motioned for silence, pressing a finger to his lips. “We move slow. We watch. Nothing stupid.”Marcus leaned close, whispering, “How many guards are we talking about?”“Too many to count,” Dylan
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They took a tunnel…The tunnel ended at a rusty metal staircase. Dylan led Clara and Marcus up, careful, every step slow. The city noise was back, faint, but it felt dangerous. Every shadow seemed alive.Clara whispered, “Do we… do we take the train now?”“Yes,” Dylan said, glancing around. “We can’t stay in the streets. Too many eyes.”Marcus frowned. “Too many eyes everywhere. How do we know we’re even safe?”Dylan didn’t answer. He only scanned the platform, eyes sharp, body tense.They reached the train station again, but this time it felt wrong. Every face seemed to follow them. A man in a gray hat kept his distance, but Dylan noticed him.“They’re watching,” Dylan muttered. “Stay calm.”Clara grabbed his arm. “Why do they want us so badly?”Dylan’s jaw tightened. “Because we know too much. Because some people can’t lose.”Marcus looked around nervously. “We should just get on the train.”They moved forward, but the man in the hat suddenly stepped closer. His movements smooth, de

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