Rain slicked streets stretched before Detective Liu each step echoing sharply against empty walls. His breath came out in short, ragged bursts as he chased the criminal who had eluded him for months.
Ahead, the man darted into a place Liu knew he shouldn't follow—an abandoned tunnel, long sealed and erased from all city maps.
This is wrong, Liu thought, but instinct screamed at him to keep moving. The criminal wasn't just running from him—he was running toward something, and Liu had to know what.
He lunged forward, skidding on the wet pavement. "Stop! I know what you did!" he shouted.
No response. Only the echo of dripping water and his own pounding heartbeat.
The air around the tunnel seemed heavier, colder, almost alive.Liu hesitated at the entrance. Every law, every rule, every ounce of training screamed at him to turn back.
Then came the pull. Invisible, violent, relentless.
Before he could react, it yanked him forward. His boots scraped against the concrete as he stumbled inside.
The criminal was already there, moving like he belonged to the darkness.
Liu's eyes adjusted to the gloom. Shadows twisted unnaturally along the tunnel walls. The air tasted metallic, thick with something he couldn't name.
This… isn't real.
The ground shifted beneath his feet. Light fractured, as if the tunnel itself was alive, bending reality around him.
Liu stumbled, gasping for breath, but he pressed forward, following the criminal deeper into the unknown.
Then, just as suddenly, the tunnel spat him out Liu crashed onto solid ground, rain stinging his face, body trembling from exhaustion and the unnatural force that had dragged him through.
He tried to stand up—but only solid, unyielding presence slammed into his back making him out of balance .
The world tipped sideways. Pain exploded across his shoulder and skull.
His vision blurred, and he gasped, unable to catch his breath.
Strong arms wrapped around him from behind, steadying him, keeping him from collapsing completely. Liu's body went limp, the fight draining him out.
"You're coming with me," a calm, commanding voice said.
Before Haoqun could respond, he was lifted effortlessly, his body pressed against the firm chest of the man who had collided with him. The world spun as he was carried through the rain, streets dissolving into a blur of light and shadow.
When the carrying finally stopped, Liu realized he was inside a vehicle—safe, yet restrained. The man who had saved—or captured—him remained silent, towering and unyielding, his presence impossible to ignore.
"Headquarters," the man said simply.
"You'll explain everything there."
Liu tried to speak again, but exhaustion and confusion weighed him down. He could only stare up at the stern figure holding him, heart racing, mind whirling.
Where… am I?
Somewhere deep inside, he knew one thing: whatever this tunnel was, whatever force had pulled him here…
his life had just collided with someone—and somewhere—he could never have imagined.