Within the deserted confines of the old factory grounds, figures moved like shadows, patrolling the perimeter and securing the central structure with caution. Each was armed—some with baseball bats, others with blades, and a few carrying compact firearms fitted with silencers. The use of silencers wasn't just a preference—it was a necessity. Any loud noise would alert the nearby urban zones, and their operation would be compromised.
Away from the main group, two men casually walked side by side. One carried a blade, the other swung a bat with idle ease. Their footsteps echoed softly as they drifted apart, turning opposite corners of the outer wall.
"Hey, I'm heading to the restroom. Be back in a sec," one of them muttered before disappearing around the corner.
"I told him not to guzzle that much soda... Now he's off again. If the boss catches us slacking, we're toast," the other grumbled, nervously glancing around.
A sudden voice, calm yet chilling, cut through the quiet."But you'll die now... and not at your boss's hands. Mine."
Before the man could scream or turn, a gloved hand clamped over his mouth, and in one swift, surgical motion, his throat was slit—cleanly and precisely, leaving not a single drop of blood on the ground. In under ten seconds, the attacker dragged the lifeless body into a secluded area.
The surroundings returned to silence.
"Hey, where'd you go, Bob?" the second man, Nick, called out. He sighed. "I told him to wait. Idiot. Looks like I'll have to teach him a lesson later... maybe with a rod this time."
As he began walking away, something caught his eye—a boot sticking out from behind the wall. Narrowing his gaze, he noticed faint drag marks in the dust. Alarm rising, Nick followed the trail.
Then he saw the body.
Bob lay slumped against the wall, throat ripped open, eyes wide with horror. Nick stumbled backward, panic overwhelming him—until he sensed a presence behind him.
Before he could react, a dagger drove straight into his heart. He gasped. A heavy punch landed against his jaw, sending him sprawling forward. Groaning, Nick clutched at his wound, pain wracking his body.
He raised his bloodshot eyes to the figure looming over him—a masked and hooded man, expression unreadable.
"Wh-Who... who are y-you?" Nick gasped, pain lacing every syllable.
The figure crouched."Just someone who needs something from this place. You're in the way. Those you work for... are my prey. I am their Nemesis."
"Please... don't... I don't want to die..." Nick begged, grabbing the man's leg desperately.
"Sorry. The strong prey on the weak. If our roles were reversed, you'd show me no mercy."Without hesitation, the masked man plunged the dagger into Nick's chest once again, right into the same spot.
Nick's eyes glazed over, his last expression one of bitter regret.
The killer stood up, shaking his head.
"I don't have much time left. Five minutes and a few seconds before he regains control... and I've already wasted too much. Seventeen more remain—but it's doable."
The man wasn't Rey.
It was Aiden, having possessed Rey's body to infiltrate the facility.
He wiped the blade clean in a swift motion."I hope I can prevent him from seeing any of this."
Meanwhile, within Rey's consciousness, he found himself trapped in a boundless white room, featureless and silent. Panic set in quickly as he banged on invisible walls, trying to escape—but to no avail.
Just when despair began to settle, he noticed a faint outline—a hidden door embedded in the far wall. Hope surged. He sprinted toward it and tried everything to pry it open, but it wouldn't budge.
Exhausted, he collapsed onto a couch, gasping for breath. "What... is this place...?"
Outside, Aiden moved like a phantom.
Every kill was swift, deliberate, and without a trace. Sometimes he used distraction, other times stealth. When necessary, he fought openly, taking down his enemies with cold efficiency.
The body adapted more smoothly now—Rey's body was learning to move the way Aiden did.
As he approached the central building, Aiden ensured each corpse was hidden, every blood trace removed. His movements were clinical.
Back in the white room, Rey sat up, wiping sweat from his brow."I hope everything's okay..."
Suddenly, his vision swam—and he fell forward, gasping.
When his eyes opened again, he was back in his body.
Confused, Rey looked around. Aiden's face—pale, strained—floated into view.
"Hey... how did we get inside...? You look like crap."
Aiden let out a weary breath. "I temporarily possessed your body to sneak in. It drained a lot of my energy."
Rey blinked, heart pounding. "You... possessed me?"
"Yeah. We can talk about it later," Aiden said quickly. "What matters now is that the relic is nearby. I can sense it."
"Okay... give me a moment," Rey muttered, pressing a hand to his chest. His whole body ached. Whatever Aiden had done, it had taken a toll on him too.
"Hurry," Aiden urged, scanning their surroundings. "If their boss finds you, you're dead."
Minutes passed. Rey stood and followed Aiden's directions, searching frantically.
Fifteen minutes later, he still hadn't found it. He was about to give up when Aiden suddenly stiffened.
"Rey, that way. I feel something—energy. It's close."
Rey rushed forward and reached a stack of cardboard boxes. He began tearing through them until one tumbled over, and a strange, cube-like object rolled out.
"There! That's it!" Aiden said, a rare urgency in his voice.
Rey reached for the relic—but something caught his eye. Turning his head slightly, he noticed a few men nearby, clustered around a chair... with ropes.
He shifted positions for a clearer look—and his heart stopped.
It was Evan.
Beaten. Bound. Bloodied.
His friend had been captured.
And now, everything was about to change.
Hey readers! Hope you enjoyed this intense chapter! Things are heating up, and secrets are beginning to unravel. If you liked the chapter, don't forget to support the novel.
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