The man reached forward.
Maya didn't even have time to react.
His fingers brushed against her wrist.
And suddenly—
The world exploded.
A vision.
But this time—
It wasn't like before.
It was stronger.
Darker.
Faster.
Maya saw a room filled with screens.
People watching.
Tracking.
Observing.
Files.
Names.
Faces.
Then—
She saw herself.
Her name written in bold.
TARGET
Her heart pounded.
Then—
She saw the man again.
Standing over someone.
Giving an order.
"Get rid of him."
The scene shifted.
A boy running.
Rain pouring.
Fear in his eyes.
Daniel.
Maya gasped.
The vision shattered.
She stumbled back, nearly collapsing.
Ethan caught her instantly.
"Maya!"
Her hands trembled violently.
"He…" she whispered. "He's the one…"
Ethan's expression darkened.
He already knew.
The man adjusted his sleeve calmly, as if nothing had happened.
"Now you see," he said.
Maya stared at him in horror.
"You're the reason Daniel disappeared."
The man didn't deny it.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
"Careful," he said. "Words like that can be dangerous."
Ethan stepped forward, anger flashing in his eyes.
"You've done enough."
The man's gaze sharpened slightly.
"And you," he said, "have done worse than you realize."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Maya looked at Ethan.
"What does he mean?"
But Ethan didn't answer.
Again.
That silence—
Was starting to feel like a secret of its own.
The man turned to leave.
But before he did—
He paused.
"And Maya," he said without looking back.
"If you change your mind…"
He slid a small card onto the table.
"…we'll be waiting."
Then he walked away.
Just like that.
Like a storm that passed—
But left destruction behind.
Maya stood there, frozen.
Her heart still racing.
Her mind still spinning.
"They're not going to stop," she said quietly.
Ethan didn't argue.
Because he knew the truth.
This wasn't the beginning.
And it definitely wasn't the end.
And now—
There was no turning back.