Ethan and Madison ran parallel to each other along the morning trail.
Being new to long-distance road runs, Madison was already breathing heavily, her rhythm faltering slightly. Ethan noticed her strained pace and slowed down to a walk.
"We should take a break."
Madison offered a breathless nod of gratitude, heading straight for a nearby bench. Ethan unclipped his water bottle and handed it over.
She looked at the bottle, then up at him hesitantly.
"I haven't drunk from it," Ethan reassured her with a faint smirk.
Madison nodded, taking the bottle and a few eager sips.
"So, what's your plan after this?" Ethan asked, leaning against a tree nearby.
"Well, I'll head home, take a long shower, and rest for a bit," Madison replied, wiping her brow. She looked at him curiously. "What about you?"
"There's somewhere I need to visit," Ethan said. "Someone I know."
"Can I ask who?"
"That guy... you might know him," Ethan began, rubbing the back of his neck. "He goes by the name Beast."
Madison blinked, nodding instantly. "Oh! Uncle Beast."
Ethan sighed, shaking his head.
"Is something wrong?" Madison asked, tilting her head.
"Nah, it's just... that he charges a fee after every breath he takes," Ethan muttered.
Madison let out a soft giggle. Ethan couldn't help but smile, but right on cue, that same lingering sour feeling crept back into his chest.
Pushing the thought aside, Ethan stood up straight. "Shall we get back to it?"
Madison nodded, standing up, and the two resumed their steady pace.
As they ran, Ethan's mind drifted away from the morning sunlight—flashing back to the brutal, freezing nights of Siberia. The howling winds, the biting frost, and the heavy crunch of tactical boots echoing through the deep snow.
His eyes narrowed into a cold, lethal gaze.
Madison caught the sudden shift, watching in quiet surprise as his warm demeanor vanished, replaced by an unsettling focus.
Before long, the run came to an end as a sleek luxury sedan pulled up to the curb to collect Madison.
Ethan gave a small wave and turned to walk toward his apartment building, but Madison leaned out the window. "Ethan! Let us drop you off."
Ethan hesitated for a split second before offering a polite smile. "Sure. Thanks."
The drive was quiet. As the car pulled up near Ethan's apartment entrance, Ethan turned to Madison.
"Madison... I won't be coming to the gym this evening."
Madison nodded slowly, pausing for a beat. "Did something come up?"
"No, it was already planned yesterday morning," Ethan explained. "There's an event I need to attend with J—" He cut himself off instantly, his eyes widening slightly.
Madison locked eyes with him, an eyebrow raised. "J?" Is it who I think it is?"
Ethan caught himself, forcing a calm smile. "Jack. A friend of mine named Jack."
"Where is this event taking place?" Madison asked.
"Honestly, I don't know yet. He's picking me up."
Madison frowned slightly, looking at him with genuine concern. "Are you sure this 'Jack' is telling you the whole truth?"
She actually has a point, Ethan thought to himself.
"Yeah... I think so," Ethan answered aloud.
Madison tilted her head. "Can I come along?"
Ethan paused. He remembered Jake's text explicitly mentioning that he could bring friends if he wanted to.
"Can I not?" Madison pressed gently.
Ethan let out a quiet sigh. "Well, you can... but I don't think you and Jack will get along very well."
"No worries! I'll just stick close to you," Madison countered smoothly.
"I still don't think my friend will appreciate it," Ethan tried again.
"Does he know who I am?" Madison asked pointedly.
Ethan realized he was backing himself into a corner. "Well... maybe. You are the only daughter of a very powerful man."
Madison nodded, a subtle glint in her eyes. "True enough. But I'm still coming." She gave him a sweet smile. "Don't worry, I actually have a few things I need to discuss with 'Jack' myself."
Ethan frowned, staring at her suspiciously. Madison simply offered a serene, innocent smile.
"Fine," Ethan conceded with a dry laugh. "I'll pick you up in the evening then."
Madison gave him an enthusiastic double thumbs-up as Ethan stepped out of the vehicle.
As the car pulled away, the personal driver glanced at Madison through the rearview mirror. "Miss, should I inform your bodyguard, Mr. Allen? He can accompany you to the evening event."
Madison looked up from her phone. "No, that won't be necessary. Besides, where is he right now?"
"The last time I saw Mr. Allen, he mentioned he was heading out for training," the driver replied. "He seemed like he was recovering from a dangerous situation."
The Third Branch of Loop... Madison thought silently, her gaze darkening.
Pulling out her phone, she dialed a secure line. The moment the call connected, she spoke authoritatively. "Inform the head maid to prepare my attire for tonight's event."
"Understood, Miss," the voice responded before cutting the line.
Later,
Across the city, inside a heavily fortified private office...
Henry and Beast sat across from each other at a wide mahogany desk.
"So, why did you drag me all the way over here?" Henry asked, leaning back in his chair.
"Your student, Ethan," Beast replied, taking a slow sip from his glass. "He wants intel on Loop's Second Branch."
Henry nodded slowly, his expression growing stern. "The Second Branch... that's going to be a challenge for him."
Beast let out a low laugh. "Exactly. That's where we'll see what he's truly made of. Real power only awakens when a man is pushed against the wall."
"Just like Damian," Henry remarked softly.
Beast nodded, standing up from his chair and walking over to the floor-to-ceiling glass window, looking out over the city skyline. He shook his head, a heavy sigh escaping his chest.
"Damian, my brother..." Beast muttered quietly. "You left the rest of us behind and just vanished into thin air."
Henry stared down at his glass, his voice dropping into a somber tone. "I still wonder... how on earth did a monster like him actually die?"
Beast gripped the edge of the window frame. "Damian's death... it's one of the mysteries no one's been able to solve."
"There isn't a single paper trail or piece of intel on his fall," Henry added firmly. "And I know for a fact it had nothing to do with The Great Threat."
"Agreed," Beast said, turning back toward Henry. "Whatever took him down, even The Great Threat was completely in the dark about it. In their final moments, they legitimately believed Damian was still alive and hunting them. But we know the truth—he died years ago. The real question is... how?"
Knock! Knock!
The abrupt knocking on the heavy wooden door broke the somber silence. A operative's voice called out from the hallway:
"Leader Beast! Ethan has arrived."