They sprinted down the narrow passage, dust and debris crunching underfoot. They tore through the narrow passage, every step echoing off the tight walls as dust swirled in their wake. Brandon led the charge with Liam secured on his back, moving like a shadow with purpose, while Daphne and Malia pushed themselves to keep pace behind him, breathless but determined.
Suddenly-Brandon stopped.
Everyone collided into him, momentum and panic.
"Brandon, what are you doing?!" Malia snapped, eyes wild. "We have to keep going!"
Liam's voice trembled.
"Y‑yeah... what's wrong?!"
Brandon didn't answer at first-his gaze was already scanning the tunnel entrance behind them.
"They found us."
Malia froze. "That's impossible! We were sure this route was secure-unless-"
"Unless someone gave it away," Brandon finished.
Malia's eyes snapped to Daphne.
"You mean Nanali?!"
Brandon offered a quick, grim smile.
"Looks like the serpent finally cracked."
He lowered Liam gently to the floor.
"You four need to get out now. I'll slow them down."
He turned-but Daphne reached for him, voice breaking.
"No! Brandon, come with us! We leave together!"
Brandon's expression softened, touched by her desperation.
"It's good to see that spark again," he murmured. "That caring I thought you lost."
"No!" Daphne's grip tightened on his arm, tears falling hot and fast.
"You can't just leave! What am I supposed to do without you?!"
Brandon lifted her shoulders gently but firmly, voice calm and resolute.
"There's more strength in you than you realize.Now go. Head for the extraction point by the old airstrip. That's where the plane was destroyed. I can hear them closing in."
Daphne's eyes screamed conflict-until Malia took her hand and pulled firmly.
"Now!" Malia commanded, urgent and fierce.
Liam stood beside them.
"We go now!"
Reluctantly, Daphne turned-but not before looking back one last time.
Brandon smiled at her-steady, confident, heartbreaking.
Then she ran.
Once they were out of sight, Brandon drew a small dagger-blade gleaming in the faint light.
Before he moved on, a promise flared in his eyes.
"Nanali... this ends with you I swear it."
He darted forward.
At the opening of the passage, guards waited-rifles raised, eyes cold and trained.
BANG! BANG!
Bullets screamed down the corridor.
Brandon flipped backward behind a concrete pillar, metal clanging around him. The shockwaves rattled the walls, dust falling like rain.
He rose-dagger in hand, eyes locked and fierce.
No fear. Just the fury of someone with no other path left.
Just then, Jinx emerged from the shadows, cracking his knuckles with a wild grin.
"I haven't seen you before, but that doesn't matter... I'm still gonna tear you apart."
Brandon stood firm, spinning his dagger once before gripping it tight.
"Let's find out who breaks first."
Meanwhile, Malia, Liam, and Daphne reached the end of the tunnel. Gasping for air, they burst into the open forest clearing. But Daphne skidded to a stop as sharp gunfire echoed behind them.
Her eyes widened.
Brandon...
She clenched her fists, heart pounding, but forced herself to keep moving.
They sprinted into the thick woods, when suddenly Liam stopped and looked down the slope behind them.
His eyes locked on a group of guards dragging a bloodied figure toward the black SUVs.
Jason.
"Big bro...?" Liam whispered, then broke into a sprint down the hill.
"Liam!" Daphne shouted, chasing after him. She managed to grab him just before he got too close.
"Liam, what's wrong?!"
Liam turned to her, panicked, tearful.
"It's him! It's big bro! They caught him-he's hurt! I-I have to tell them he's my friend! Maybe they'll stop-maybe they'll let him go!"
He pushed her aside and bolted downhill.
"No-Liam!" Daphne called out, but Malia tackled her.
"Daphne, wait! You can't-he's already exposed himself!"
"Let me go!" she screamed, struggling. "I made a promise! I told him I'd protect him!"
Malia held her tighter, voice trembling, "It's too late! You run now, or everyone dies. We have to go!"
Tears flooded Daphne's eyes. Her chest tightened.
Liam...
And just then-
"THERE THEY ARE! DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!"
Guards poured out from the tunnel behind them, rifles raised.
Daphne's heart froze.
If they're here... then Brandon...?
Her mind raced. No... he's vortex. He couldn't be...
Then Jason's voice echoed in her mind.
"He's not an S-rank because of skill... If he were ranked by combat alone, he'd be Lower A... maybe even B."
Her stomach dropped.
No... Brandon... you didn't...
"DAPHNE!" Malia shouted, snapping her back. She grabbed her arm. "We have to MOVE-NOW!"
With no choice, Daphne wiped her tears and turned.
They vanished into the forest under the rain of bullets behind them.
Meanwhile, Liam tore through the trees, sprinting straight toward the line of black SUVs. His lungs burned, but he didn't stop-his eyes locked on the bloodied figure being dragged by guards.
Jason.
Aiden had just stepped out of the motel, brushing dust off his coat when he spotted Liam. His eyes widened.
"Liam?!" he called out, kneeling with open arms, mistaking the charge for a reunion.
But Liam didn't even glance at him.
"Big bro!!" he cried, rushing past Aiden like he wasn't even there.
Jason's head snapped up.
"Liam?! No-what are you doing?!" He thrashed against the guards' grip, adrenaline flooding his veins.
"Let me go!" he growled.
But one of the guards slammed the butt of his rifle into Jason's spine, forcing him to the ground.
"Liam!!" he shouted, voice strained and pained.
Aiden moved fast, grabbing Liam just as he reached the guards.
"Let go!" Liam kicked and screamed, tears streaming.
"Big bro's not a monster! He's my friend-he saved me! Stop hurting him!"
"Big bro?..." Aiden's eyes narrowed. Did he just say big bro? He stepped forward, voice firm but low, "Liam, listen to me. That man isn't your friend - he's a trained killer. He was sent to take you."
Liam thrashed in Aiden's arms, fists pounding. "You're lying! He saved me! He protected me!"
Aiden tightened his grip, pulling Liam closer to shield him as more guards surrounded them, weapons raised. "Calm down! You're not thinking straight-he's dangerous!"
"I don't care!" Liam shouted, tears mixing with dirt on his face. "He's my big bro! You have to let him go!"
In the chaos, Jason was still pinned to the ground by the guards, struggling against their grip despite his injuries. "Liam, stay back!" he barked, blood on his lips but fire in his eyes.
"Move him now!" Aiden ordered sharply.
Two guards lifted Jason roughly. Liam broke free for a second, sprinting toward him. "Big bro!!"
But Aiden caught him again just in time, slamming him behind cover as gunfire erupted in the distance.
"We're done here!" Aiden barked into his comm. "Secure the targets. We're leaving-now."
Liam kept struggling.
"You're lying! He's not bad! Stop lying!"
Aiden turned to the guards. "We're moving now-secure the perimeter."
At that moment, another group emerged, dragging a beaten and barely-conscious Brandon between them.
"Commander, what about this one?" a soldier asked.
Aiden's eyes narrowed at Brandon, who was still breathing despite the state he was in.
"He comes too. Interrogation later."
"And the girls?"
"Squad 3 is tracking them through the forest. If they're smart, they'll surrender."
Aiden didn't wait for a reply. He turned, Liam still squirming in his grip.
"Load up. We're done here."
The convoy engines roared to life.
And just like that... they vanished into the dust, leaving nothing but bloodstains and echoes behind.
Inside the SUV, Liam sat silently beside Aiden. His small fists were clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. His eyes shimmered, holding back tears that threatened to fall any second.
Aiden glanced over, trying to ease the tension. "Hey... your mom's been worried sick. She practically lost her mind when you disappeared. She-"
"That's a lie," Liam cut in, voice trembling but firm. "She never cared. Not really.So don't pretend she did."
Aiden blinked, caught off guard. "Liam... that's not true. She-"
"Big bro isn't a bad person!" Liam burst out, his voice cracking with emotion. "You have to let him go! Please!"
Aiden looked away, his jaw tightening. "I'm sorry... I can't do that."
The rest of the ride was silent.
When they arrived at the mansion, Aiden gave a cold signal to the SUVs behind. The ones carrying Jason and Brandon peeled off, heading toward the hidden underground prison ring - a brutal facility Mr. Hugh used for enemies and traitors. Aiden took Liam's hand and walked him to the mansion's entrance.
As they stepped in, a tall, elegant woman stopped mid-stride. Mrs. Hugh. Her eyes froze on Liam - not out of concern, but at the sight of his shining silver-white hair.
She gasped, then rushed to him, crouching. Her perfectly manicured fingers grabbed his hair, voice sharp with panic. "What is this? This color-if your father sees this, he'll lose it! Thank God he's not here now."
Liam didn't flinch. He just stared blankly at the floor, numb to it all.
She turned to Aiden, voice urgent. "Take me to the nearest salon. Now."
Aiden hesitated. "Ma'am... he was just rescued from a kidnapping. Shouldn't he rest?"
Her eyes flared. "That doesn't matter. His father cannot see him like this. Take us now."
Without a word, Aiden obeyed.
At the salon, Liam sat in the chair, unmoving. The stylist looked between the boy and his mother. "Such a rare, beautiful hair color... What style would you like?"
"Dye it black," Mrs. Hugh said coldly.
The stylist hesitated. "Ma'am, he's still very young-maybe dyeing isn't safe-"
"Do what I said!" she snapped. "You're being paid, aren't you?"
Liam sat still as the dye was mixed. The silver faded, and with it, something inside him dulled.
As the dark dye coated Liam's silver strands, he stared into the mirror. But he didn't see himself. He saw Jason - bloody, restrained, trying to call out to him. He saw Brandon, unconscious in the arms of strangers. And he saw the truth: no one was coming to save them.
The stylist finished. "It's done."
Mrs. Hugh stood behind Liam, inspecting him like a doll. "Much better. Now you look normal."
Liam said nothing.
They returned to the mansion. The halls were cold, pristine, lifeless. Liam walked beside Aiden without a word. The same clenched fists. The same hollow eyes.
At the grand stairs, Aiden paused. "Liam, I know things feel heavy now. But-"
"Don't," Liam said sharply. "You said you were my friend. But you took him away. You lied."
Aiden froze, guilt flashing in his eyes.
Mrs. Hugh looked back impatiently. "Liam. Upstairs. Now."
Liam turned away, climbing each step slowly, like his legs weighed a thousand pounds.
Behind him, Aiden stood still, watching the boy disappear into a world that cared more about appearances than people.
Far below, in the underground ring, steel doors slammed shut.
And the real story was just beginning.
Malia and Daphne finally reached the charred remains of the old plane wreck, breath ragged, boots crunching over scorched earth. They collapsed behind a broken tree trunk, hearts pounding. For a moment, silence.
Then suddenly, Daphne broke - her shoulders trembled as tears streamed down her face. "I left them... I let them go..." Her voice cracked. "How could I just leave them behind?"
Malia turned, her face heavy with guilt but trying to stay composed. "Daphne... even if you stayed, you couldn't have changed what happened. You'd be in chains too, or worse."
Then Daphne's eyes widened slightly, a memory flashing through her mind - Jason's voice, calm but firm, " People die that's what they do. You can't save everyone." Her lips trembled, holding back another wave of emotion.
Without a word, she suddenly rose to her feet, startling Malia.
"Daphne-? What now?!" Malia asked, eyes narrowing in confusion.
Daphne frantically patted herself down, searching. Her breaths grew faster, more panicked - until her knees buckled slightly.
"It's gone..." she whispered. "The bear... the one Jason gave me... I left it back at the motel..."
She fell to her knees, breaking down like a child clutching invisible pieces of comfort.
Malia pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing, but even she couldn't hide the emotion in her voice. "Seriously... of all times to cry over a teddy bear..." Her tone was sharp - but her eyes told a different story.
"Now what?" Malia muttered, eyes fixed on the ground, voice low.
Daphne blinked, surprised by the question. "Huh?"
"I mean... we can't just sit here and do nothing. Do we try to rescue the boys or what?"
"You'd actually do that?" Daphne asked, voice trembling, eyes wide. "No offense, but... this doesn't even involve you. And your motel- it was wrecked because of us."
Malia shrugged, a dry smile tugging at her lips. "The place was falling apart anyway. I've had more shutdown notices than guests lately."
A small, grateful smile broke through Daphne's tears. "Still... thank you."
Suddenly, Malia stood up, brushing dirt from her pants. "Alright. Let's go. My bet is that they're in the underground prison ring."
Daphne's brows furrowed. "The underground what?"
"It's where Mr. Hugh supposedly dumps anyone who crosses him. A ghost story in most circles... but if they're hiding someone off the grid, that's the place."
"But as you said it's just a rumor," Daphne said, hesitant. "Can we even trust that?"
Malia turned to her, serious now. "We don't have the luxury of certainty, Daphne. We either act, or we lose them. I say we go in undercover - pull off a classic break-in. Grab the keys off some sleeping guard, slip in and out like pros. Jason'll be free before sunrise. He'll probably say something like, 'Malia, you saved me - I owe you my life-'"
Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"
Malia coughed. "Ignore that last part. You in?"
"No. And what makes you think this is gonna play out like some spy movie? What if the guard isn't asleep?"
"Then we improvise," Malia replied. "Unless you've got something better?"
Daphne hesitated, then slowly nodded. "They probably don't know our faces yet. We're nobodies to them."
Malia's eyes narrowed. "Go on..."
"So we wait by the gate," Daphne continued, "Hide until a delivery truck or something comes through - rich people always order stuff. When it slows down, we jump 'em, disguise ourselves, slip in with the shipment. If things go south, we play dumb: say we got lost looking for a bathroom."
Malia rubbed her chin, impressed. "Risky. But clever."
She cracked a grin. "I haven't had this much adrenaline in years. Let's break into hell."
"Then let's get going." Daphne turned, determination flaring in her eyes.
But Malia grabbed her arm, stopping her mid-step. "Wait. We can't just charge in. Who knows if this'll even work. We need rest. Strength. Let's hit it tomorrow-fresh minds, sharp moves."
Daphne whipped around. "Tomorrow? What if we're already too late?"
Malia placed both hands on her shoulders. "They're not gonna kill them... not yet. Bad guys always want something first. They'll probably torture them, interrogate-" She paused as Daphne's expression crumbled. "Okay, bad example. But my point is-they're still alive. Which means we still have time."
Daphne bit her lip. Her fists clenched. Then finally, she gave a slow nod.
"We'll crash at my crazy ex-husband's old apartment," Malia added, forcing a grin. "It's dusty, reeks of whiskey and regret, but it's safe."
Daphne blinked. "Wait-ex-husband?"
"Yeah, don't ask. Whole mess lasted shorter than this war."
And with that, the two slipped off under the harsh afternoon sun, their quiet conversation fading into the dry silence as they disappeared into the light, unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hugh's sleek black car rolled to a halt at the mansion. The air around him thickened as he stepped out. Aiden greeted him at the steps.
"Well? Where's Liam?" Mr. Hugh asked, rolling up his sleeves. "Resting? Eating? I trust he's being taken care of."
"Yes, sir," Aiden nodded. "He's safe."
Mr. Hugh said nothing, but his eyes were already calculating.
"I also followed the lead on Zoukman Kai. He wasn't involved," Aiden continued. "From what we've dug up, none of our known enemies orchestrated this. The assassins are foreign-likely hired by someone outside the country. We're still pursuing that lead."
Mr. Hugh waved a hand dismissively and handed his watch to a nearby guard. "I don't care who sent them. I'll get the truth one way or another."
He strode toward the underground prison ring.
Jason sat tied to a chair in a dim, concrete room. His head hung low, lip busted, one eye already swelling. The heavy iron door creaked open. In stepped Mr. Hugh, his presence swallowing the space.
Jason barely had time to look up before a fist crashed into his jaw.
"You better start talking," Mr. Hugh growled. "Or I'll make you wish you were never born."
Jason chuckled through bloody teeth. "And what if I've got nothing to say?"
Mr. Hugh smirked - cold and cruel - then landed another blow, harder. He grabbed Jason by the hair and yanked his head up, forcing him to look into his eyes.
"Tell me who sent you. Or your pretty face is gonna be nothing but a stain on this floor."
Jason, blood running down his chin, smirked again. "Go ahead. Make me uglier."
Without hesitation, Mr. Hugh cracked a third punch into his face. Jason's body sagged - unconscious.
Mr. Hugh straightened, still gripping Jason's hair. "Pathetic. Three hits and he's out cold?" He dropped him with disgust and turned to Aiden. "I thought this one had spine."
"He was running a fever earlier apparently," Aiden said quietly. "Still recovering."
Mr. Hugh scoffed, crouching beside Jason. "This is who they sent for my son?" He slapped Jason's face lightly, mocking. "A sick little stray?"
He stood and dusted his sleeves. "Get him treated. I want him healed. Because when I break him... I want him awake for every second of it."
Mr. Hugh stepped back into the mansion, blood drying on his knuckles. The door clicked shut behind him.
His wife greeted him from the hallway, arms crossed but tone calm. "You're back."
She glanced briefly at his bruised hand, red-stained and pulsing, but didn't comment.
"Where's Liam?" he asked, brushing past her.
"In his room. He should be asleep by now."
Mr. Hugh didn't stop walking. "Then I'll check on him."
She moved to block his path. "Darling... maybe let him rest. He's just been through a traumatic-"
He shot her a look - sharp, unwavering.
She stepped aside immediately.
Without another word, Mr. Hugh ascended the stairs.
He opened Liam's bedroom door quietly. The room was dimly lit, and Liam was sitting on his bed, poking at his food with a spoon like it weighed a ton.
Mr. Hugh stepped in and sat beside him.
"Been a long time, champ." He ruffled Liam's hair with a rare gentleness.
"I'm sorry if I made you worry, Dad," Liam mumbled. His voice was flat, lifeless.
Mr. Hugh studied him closely. Something wasn't right. The light in his son's eyes... was gone.
"Liam... what did those men do to you?" his voice low but firm. "Did they hurt you?"
Suddenly, Liam's hands shot up to his ears. His plate clattered to the ground.
"Stop it! Stop it! All of you just stop!" he cried. "They're not bad people-no one listens! Big bro's not bad! He's not-he's my best friend!"
Mr. Hugh was frozen, caught off guard.
Mrs. Hugh, who had been eavesdropping by the door, rushed in. "Liam, honey-breathe. You need to calm down, alright?"
Tears welled in Liam's eyes as his body trembled. Seconds later, exhaustion overtook him and he slumped back, fast asleep.
Both parents stepped outside, quietly closing the door behind them.
Leaning against the wall, Mr. Hugh exhaled. "Big bro," he muttered under his breath. "Those bastards really knew what they were doing. Charm him. Manipulate him. Make him think they were protecting him."
He shook his head. "And Liam bought into every damn second of it."
Then, colder-crueler-he added, "I'm starting to wonder if that boy's even mine."
Mrs. Hugh's eyes widened. "Of course he is," she snapped. "Why would you say something like that?"
He didn't answer. Just stared at the door with a storm raging behind his eyes.