THE EXILED WARLORD

Chapter 8: The Gift of Fear

“Sir, I already told you. No entry beyond this point without a personal invitation.”

Adrian stood still, hidden beneath a black suit and a half-mask that only revealed his eyes. 

His voice was calm but his fingers twitched with tension.

“I was invited. I’m a distant cousin of the groom,” he lied, flashing a forged silver badge.

The head guard narrowed his eyes. “We’ve got a list. You’re not on it.”

“I traveled across borders to be here. I missed the wedding rehearsal, the pre-events... just let me in for a few minutes. Please.”

“Name?”

“Liam Vale.”

The man squinted, motioned to another guard. “Check Liam Vale.”

Adrian’s heart was pounding. He could feel other guards watching now. One already had his hand on the comm unit. 

His time was running out. If they found out who he really was, this would turn ugly fast.

He backed away slowly, raising both hands. “You know what? Forget it. I’ll just send a gift.”

“Yeah, you do that” the guard muttered, still watching him.

Adrian turned and melted back into the crowd, his jaw clenched.

Too many eyes. Too soon.

But if they wouldn’t let him in… he would make himself unforgettable.

Hours later, Judge Halvorsen one of the three men who passed Adrian’s conviction was driving down a quiet, forest lined road in his black SUV. 

He didn’t notice the figure leaning against the twisted oak near the bend.

Not until the tires screeched.

Adrian stepped into the path with a metal pipe and swung it through the windshield. Glass shattered.

 The judge screamed. Seconds later, Adrian ripped open the driver’s door, dragged him out and smashed his elbow into the man’s nose.

The chase wasn’t easy.

 Security vehicles that trailed high-ranking officials were notified.

Adrian led them into the back roads, over an abandoned quarry route where he dropped a homemade spike trap.

Two of the black jeeps crashed into each other. Adrian’s stolen car swerved off into the trees, leaving behind a trail of dust and confusion.

In a rusted underground container lit by a single bulb, Judge Halvorsen groaned, tied to a steel chair.

“You… you’re supposed to be dead.”

Adrian’s voice was cold. “Disappointed?”

“You don’t know what you’re doing.”

Adrian lifted the judge’s chin.

“Then educate me. Tell me how I ended up in Blackstone. And don’t lie to me… I’ve waited six months to burn the truth out of your mouth.”

The judge coughed blood, eyes darting.

“It wasn’t supposed to be you,” he mumbled.

 “Marcus wanted you out of the way. Evelyn didn’t object. Damien’s family agreed to cover her father’s debts if she married him. You were the obstacle. The orders to remove you… came from the top.”

Adrian stepped back, his face tightening.

“Evelyn knew?”

“She didn’t fight it. She approved the psyche report… the one that said you were unstable. She wanted out.”

Silence.

Adrian turned to the corner of the room where his tablet sat, recording. The confession was live.

To Marcus.

Adrian hit send.

Seconds later, a camera from outside the judge’s villa lit up. An explosion rocked the walls. Flames swallowed the mansion behind them.

Adrian stared at the fire for a long time.

“I’m not the one hiding anymore.”

In the luxury bridal suite, Evelyn poured herself a glass of wine. She trembled, her mind full of whispers.

She had just come back from final dress fittings when a maid entered quietly and placed an envelope on her table.

“Someone left this for you, ma’am.”

Evelyn opened it slowly, heart hammering in her chest.

No pictures. No blood. Just five words in bold black ink:

You smile in white, but you’ll bleed in red.

Her hands shook. She stared into the mirror.

“Why won’t you stay dead?” she whispered.

Her phone buzzed again.

Breaking news: Villa Explosion Linked to Former Judge. Authorities Investigating Possible Retaliation.

Her legs gave way.

She collapsed to the floor, the letter clutched in her hand, as Damien knocked gently on the door.

“Evie? Are you okay in there?”

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

She covered her mouth and whispered, “Why didn’t you die, Adrian?”