Gunshots.
Loud. Violent. Relentless.
Rina's scream was swallowed by the chaos as Damien dragged her down, his arm wrapping tightly around her as shattered glass rained across the floor.
"Stay down!" he barked.
Her heart pounded wildly as the sound of footsteps filled the room—fast, coordinated, deadly.
They weren't random attackers.
They were trained.
Marek had already moved.
Gone from where he stood moments ago, like a ghost disappearing into the shadows.
"Of course…" Damien muttered under his breath. "He knew this would happen."
"What is happening?!" Rina cried, her hands shaking as she clutched his shirt.
"They're here for you," he said sharply.
Her breath caught.
Another gunshot exploded, closer this time.
The door burst open wider as dark figures stormed in—dressed in black, faces hidden, weapons raised.
Rina froze.
Her body refused to move.
Everything Marek said echoed in her head.
Your real family.
No…
This couldn't be them.
"Move!" Damien snapped, pulling her up.
He didn't give her time to think.
Didn't give her time to panic.
He dragged her through a side door just as bullets tore through the space they had been seconds ago.
The hallway was dim.
Narrow.
Silent—except for the chaos behind them.
"Where are we going?" she gasped.
"Somewhere they won't find you," he replied.
But there was tension in his voice.
Even he wasn't sure.
They ran.
Footsteps echoing.
Breaths uneven.
Fear chasing them.
Then—
A figure dropped from above.
Right in front of them.
Rina screamed.
The man moved fast—too fast.
A knife flashed.
Damien reacted instantly.
He pushed Rina behind him and blocked the attack, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it hard.
A crack echoed.
The attacker didn't even flinch.
Instead, he smiled.
A cold, knowing smile.
"You found her," the man said calmly.
Rina's blood ran cold.
His eyes shifted to her.
Sharp.
Intense.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
"Rina," he said softly.
Her heart stopped.
How did he know her name?
"Stay away from her," Damien growled.
The man chuckled.
"That's not your decision to make," he said. "She belongs to us."
Rina's hands trembled.
"No…" she whispered.
The man took a step forward.
"You don't remember us," he said, his voice almost gentle now. "But we've been watching you for a long time."
Her chest tightened.
"Why?" she asked weakly.
His eyes darkened.
"Because you are one of us."
Her world shattered again.
"No…" she shook her head. "I'm not—"
"Yes," he cut her off. "You are."
Damien stepped forward, placing himself between them again.
"She's not going anywhere," he said coldly.
The man sighed.
"You're making this difficult," he muttered.
Then suddenly—
More footsteps.
More shadows.
They weren't alone anymore.
They were surrounded.
Rina's breathing became erratic.
There was no escape.
No way out.
"Damien…" she whispered, fear breaking her voice.
He didn't look at her.
But his hand found hers.
Held it tightly.
"I won't let them take you," he said quietly.
Her heart twisted.
Even now…
Even after everything…
He was still protecting her.
"Last chance," the man said, his tone colder now. "Hand her over."
Damien's eyes darkened.
"Come and take her."
Silence.
Then—
Violence.
The attackers moved all at once.
Damien pushed Rina back.
"Run!" he shouted.
But she couldn't move.
She couldn't leave him.
And in that one second of hesitation—
Someone grabbed her.
Hard.
A hand wrapped around her arm, pulling her back.
She screamed.
"Damien!"
His head snapped toward her.
Their eyes met.
And in that moment—
Everything froze.
Fear.
Pain.
Something deeper.
Then—
She was dragged away.