Night wrapped around the safe house like a quiet blanket, but the silence inside felt heavy rather than peaceful.
Isabella sat cross-legged on the couch with a book in her hands. At least, she pretended to read. Her eyes had scanned the same paragraph four times, and she still had no idea what it said.
Across the room, Alexander stood in front of the security panel, watching the small camera screens like a hawk.
His arms were folded. His posture straight. His eyes sharp.
He had been like that for almost an hour.
Finally Isabella shut the book with a soft thump.
"Alexander."
"Yes?" he answered immediately, not even turning around.
"You've been staring at those screens like they're going to confess a crime."
"They might," he said calmly.
She sighed and stood up, walking toward him.
"You do realize normal people relax at night, right?"
"I am relaxed."
"You look like a statue guarding a museum."
Alexander finally turned his head slightly.
"A very expensive museum."
She rolled her eyes.
"You're impossible."
"And yet you keep talking to me."
"That's because someone has to remind you that you're human."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"I'm very human."
"Really?" she said, leaning against the table beside him. "When was the last time you smiled?"
He thought for a second.
"…Yesterday."
"That was a smirk."
"Close enough."
Isabella crossed her arms dramatically.
"You need hobbies."
"I have hobbies."
"Oh really? Name one."
"Keeping you alive."
She groaned loudly.
"That's not a hobby!"
"It takes a lot of effort."
She grabbed a pillow from the couch and lightly threw it at him.
Alexander caught it easily.
"Violence now?" he asked calmly.
"You deserved it."
He placed the pillow back on the couch with perfect calm.
"I'm beginning to understand why danger follows you everywhere."
Her eyes widened.
"Excuse me?!"
"You attack innocent people with pillows."
"YOU were not innocent."
Alexander looked amused.
"You're very aggressive for someone who trips over rugs."
Isabella's jaw dropped.
"That happened ONE time!"
"Three times."
"Two."
"Three."
She grabbed another pillow.
Alexander immediately held up a hand.
"Careful."
"What?"
"You're about to prove my point again."
She tried to look angry, but a laugh escaped instead.
"You're unbelievable."
"And you like it."
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
Before she could respond
Beep.
The sharp sound from the security panel cut through the room.
Both of them froze.
Alexander turned instantly toward the screen.
"What was that?" Isabella asked.
He didn't answer. His fingers moved quickly across the controls.
One of the cameras zoomed toward the street outside.
A black car sat parked under a dim streetlight.
Alexander's expression hardened immediately.
"That car wasn't there before."
Isabella stepped closer.
"Maybe someone just parked."
"No."
"How do you know?"
"Because the engine is running."
She looked again.
Sure enough, faint heat waves rose from the hood.
Her stomach tightened.
Alexander switched camera angles quickly.
Then another.
His jaw clenched.
"They're watching the house."
A chill ran down Isabella's spine.
"Who?"
"I don't know yet."
He turned toward her.
"But someone told them where we are."
Her heart skipped.
"You mean… Lara?"
Alexander didn't answer.
But the silence was enough.
"No," Isabella whispered. "She wouldn't do that."
Alexander stepped closer and placed his hands gently on her shoulders.
"Isa," he said softly, "you trust people too easily."
"And you trust no one."
"That's how I survive."
Before she could argue
The car door opened.
Two men stepped out.
Both wearing dark jackets and caps.
Both walking slowly toward the safe house.
Alexander grabbed Isabella's hand immediately.
"We need to move."
"Move where?"
"Basement exit."
"You never told me about that!"
"There are many things I haven't told you."
He pulled her toward the hallway.
But suddenly
BANG!
A loud crash shook the front door.
Isabella jumped.
"Oh my god!"
Alexander instantly pulled her behind him.
"Stay back."
Another BANG echoed.
The door shook violently.
"They're breaking in!" Isabella whispered.
Alexander moved quickly to the wall and pressed a hidden switch.
A small compartment slid open.
Inside was a handgun.
Isabella stared.
"You had a gun here the whole time?!"
Alexander checked the weapon calmly.
"Yes."
"You never told me!"
"You never asked."
She stared at him in disbelief.
"Who casually hides guns in walls?!"
"People who expect trouble."
Another BANG echoed.
The door frame cracked.
Alexander stepped in front of her.
"Go to the hallway."
"I'm not leaving you."
"You're not leaving me," he said. "You're staying alive."
"Same thing!"
Despite the danger, he almost smiled.
"You're very stubborn."
"You're very bossy!"
Another CRACK echoed from the door.
It was about to break.
Suddenly
The door burst open.
Two masked men rushed inside.
Everything happened in seconds.
One attacker raised a weapon.
Alexander reacted instantly.
BANG!
The gunshot echoed through the house.
The attacker stumbled back and ran outside.
The second man rushed forward.
Alexander grabbed a chair and threw it straight at him.
The attacker lost balance and crashed into the table.
Within seconds Alexander pinned him to the wall.
The man groaned before collapsing unconscious.
Silence returned.
Isabella stared in shock.
"That was… fast."
Alexander checked the unconscious man.
"Too easy."
She blinked.
"You just fought someone and you're complaining it was easy?"
He stood up calmly.
"They were amateurs."
Isabella crossed her arms.
"I could have helped, you know."
Alexander looked at her.
"You almost fainted when the door broke."
"I did NOT faint!"
"You looked like you were about to."
She grabbed the nearest object a small cushion and smacked his arm with it.
"That's for insulting me!"
He looked down at the cushion.
"You're attacking me again."
"You deserved it!"
He gently took the cushion from her.
"You're very brave when holding pillows."
She pointed at him.
"I could totally fight!"
"Oh?"
"Yes."
Alexander leaned slightly closer.
"Then why were you hiding behind me five minutes ago?"
Her face turned red.
"I was… strategically positioned!"
He chuckled softly.
"Of course you were."
She shoved his shoulder lightly.
"You're annoying."
"And yet you're still standing very close to me."
She suddenly realized how close they were.
Her cheeks turned pink.
"I I wasn't"
Alexander smirked.
"You're flustered."
"I am NOT!"
"You are."
"I am not!"
"Your face says otherwise."
She groaned and covered her face with her hands.
"You're impossible."
His voice softened slightly.
"But you're safe."
She looked up.
Their faces were only inches apart.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Isabella muttered quietly,
"Next time… let me fight too."
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"You?"
"Yes."
"You'd attack the enemy with pillows."
"At least I'd do something!"
He laughed softly.
"You already do."
"What?"
"You distract me."
Her heart skipped.
"I do not."
"You do."
His voice lowered.
"Very effectively."
Her cheeks turned red again.
"Alexander…"
Before the moment could continue
Beep.
The security panel sounded again.
Alexander turned instantly toward the screens.
A new message flashed across the monitor.
Unknown number.
Three words appeared on the screen.
"That was only the beginning."
Isabella's stomach dropped.
Alexander's eyes darkened.
And in both of their minds, the same name appeared again.
Lara.
The real game had just begun.