While the world slept in peaceful silence beneath the silver glow of the full moon, a girl limped down a tree-shrouded road, her breath shallow, her eyes wide with fear.
The night was still, almost too still — as if the darkness itself held its breath.
Barefoot and trembling, she stumbled forward, her long shadow chasing her in the moonlight. Her heart pounded like a drumbeat in her ears, drowning out the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc9TwF2Cc4
She kept looking over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the darkness behind her — as if something, or someone, was following her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1jMJwiqLa
The road was empty, but her terror made it feel crowded — with memories, with danger, with whispers that only she could hear. The echo of police sirens still rang in her ears — distant, yet sharp enough to stab through the silence of the night. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzh9AwXJq8
She kept running, her steps uneven, her breaths short and panicked. She didn’t know where she was… or where she was going. All she knew was that she had to keep moving. Terror had taken full control of her body. Her legs were trembling, her throat was dry, and despite the biting cold of the winter night, sweat trickled down her forehead and spine. Her clothes clung to her skin — damp, heavy, and cold. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRgCv1W77O
Her mind was a blur, flashing only one desperate thought: “Don’t stop. Don’t let them catch you.” But the darkness stretched endlessly ahead, and every shadow seemed like a threat waiting to pounce.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAib251QR4g
Suddenly, headlights cut through the darkness like knives — a car was approaching.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwHhleCriS
Her breath hitched. Without a second thought, she darted off the road and threw herself behind a cluster of trees, the cold earth biting into her knees as she crouched low. She didn’t dare move. She pressed herself tightly against the bark, clutching her bag to her chest as if it were her only lifeline — because it was.............. Inside that worn, dirt-stained bag was everything.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvMYRoUZib
Everything that could save her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qj3mvnuDN
Everything that could prove she wasn’t guilty.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP4VAWZjdY
Everything they would kill to hide.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRb5V39lWc
Her pulse thudded in her ears louder than the car engine now rolling past. She didn’t blink. She didn’t breathe. The night was still again, but her world was anything but. Clutching the bag tightly in her hands, she shut her eyes — trying to block out the world, but her mind betrayed her. Images from just hours ago came crashing back like a tidal wave. She could still hear it. Her grandfather’s voice — broken, desperate, screaming in her ear:56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoYCK5LHs0
“Run! Save yourself! Go, now!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKcasjVGod
The memory tore through her like a blade. His cries echoed in her head, louder than the wind, sharper than the cold. Her chest rose and fell with shaky breaths, her nails digging into the fabric of the bag like it was the only thing keeping her anchored to this moment. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. She couldn’t afford to break now. She was alive. But at what cost? Instead of returning to the road, she rose slowly from behind the trees and turned toward the forest. The shadows between the trees felt safer than the headlights of any car. She knew it was dangerous. The woods were cold, wild, and full of unknowns. But something about the road — exposed, open, vulnerable — felt far more terrifying. At least in the forest, she could disappear. Each step into the underbrush was like stepping deeper into another world — a world of rustling leaves, whispering branches, and hidden things that watched from the dark. But she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDojMPtHFj
“Better to face the night than the people hunting me,” 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlprieQq1N
she thought, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. She would find a place to hide.... Somewhere no one would look.....56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkC07Fe9gn
Somewhere she could breathe… at least for a little while.
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..........................................
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It was a lavish TV lounge — quiet, dimly lit, soaked in the golden glow of the fireplace. Through the tall glass window, one could see a man sitting with his back to the world, facing the flickering flames.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1Si4G7M0o
He didn’t turn. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdK6fNztH7
Not even as the television behind him blared breaking news, filled with urgency and chaos. His posture was calm. Too calm. A half-burnt cigar rested between his fingers, its smoke curling lazily into the air like it had nowhere to be. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMpV1urhL8
His other hand rested on the armrest, fingers tapping slowly — rhythmically, like a man lost in deep calculation.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje5PRDlUai
His face remained hidden in shadow, but his silence spoke volumes. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVuwNHmkgL
Not a flinch. Not a word.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1RjdOWw32
As if the chaos on screen… had nothing to do with him.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhp1y6HBnI
Suddenly, the phone on the sleek glass coffee table beside him began to ring.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW9McLDFFZ
He didn’t glance at the screen. With practiced ease, he tapped to answer and switched on the speaker.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7feftX9YM5
His voice broke the silence — deep, commanding, and laced with restrained fury. "I’ve seen the news. What happened… is deeply unfortunate. Find the girl. Fast. She’s the only one who can tell us how one of our most loyal, long-standing agents ended up dead." He didn’t wait for a reply.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoGdXM0Kxp
Before the voice on the other end could respond, he ended the call with a swift tap —then stood up, the dying cigar dropping into the ashtray like a period at the end of a sentence.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGMPtvW6zW
He moved toward the window, standing still as the night outside stared back at him. His hands slid into the pockets of his tailored trousers, his broad shoulders rising and falling with a quiet breath.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CebJqykQZ
Then, for the first time — his face came into view. Jet-black hair swept neatly back from his forehead, revealing intense, dark eyes lost in thought. His features were sharp and striking — a perfectly carved jawline, a high-bridged nose, and skin fair and smooth, almost glowing under the soft light.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKczuaKpQAM
He was tall — towering at 6’3" — with a naturally powerful build that hinted at both strength and discipline.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9fwvMY9uV
A man of beauty… and danger. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF0FXZ0SHo
But in this moment, he wasn't thinking about power or appearance. He stared through the glass into the dark beyond, his mind caught in a web of questions… and perhaps something deeper.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpBqOsOo7u
He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling with a hint of frustration. Without another thought, he grabbed his phone, scrolling through the contacts. His finger paused at the very first name in the list, and with a steady hand, he tapped it. The phone rang. He sat back, eyes fixed ahead, waiting for the other side to pick up 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDu5ci7UGB
Suddenly, a groggy, annoyed voice came through the phone, thick with sleep and irritation. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYyeEYlgAc
"Grayson, seriously? It’s not necessary for you to be awake at this hour. Normal people are asleep right now, not running around at 2 AM." 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi6tu2CSs9
The voice on the other end sounded like someone who had just been pulled from a deep sleep — disoriented, yet unmistakably familiar.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlPuC5WVOP
Grayson knew this tone all too well. Max Bennett, always half-awake but never without a quick comment. Grayson’s lips curled into a smirk. Grayson let out a light chuckle, his voice calm but carrying a sharp edge.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEv6gkKFaF
"When did you become the ‘good guy’?" “And come on, you're my friend. You know that aside from you, I don’t talk to anyone with this much... carelessness.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRFAy9WhBy
The sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable — a mix of teasing and a hint of deeper meaning. It was a strange comfort, this banter with Max, even in the middle of chaos.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PKkAr0KAQ
Max let out a dramatic sigh and replied, 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5RvTJw4RA
"This is what I get for being your one and only best friend, huh? First, you wake me up in the middle of the night… and now this. People say a wife makes your life miserable, but here my best friend is trying his best to fill that role himself!"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4M3FpPgb9
His voice was teasing, full of mock misery — but it was clear he was used to this. Grayson calling at odd hours? Typical. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbePAa6QoWx
"Get to the point, buddy," Max mumbled, half-asleep, "I didn’t lose my beauty sleep just to have a midnight romance with you. So if you’re done with the sweet talk, can we please talk business now?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar7FKSVoyv
His tone was dry, playful, and filled with that lazy annoyance only a true friend could get away with. He shifted under his blanket, clearly still clinging to the last bits of sleep.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOp4b0tVm8m
Grayson gave a small shake of his head — the kind that said “There’s no saving this guy” — and replied in a cool, effortless tone,56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDvZdk1ViY
"Let’s go hunting tomorrow. It’s been a while since the two brothers went on a proper chase together. So… what do you say? 7 a.m.?"56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S56xA5G7n
As he spoke, he walked back to the single-seater sofa in front of the fireplace — the same place he had been sitting a while ago — and sank into it again, his voice steady, eyes glowing with something deeper. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLWE8OntiU
Max let out a sleepy grunt in response… and then fell silent.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2AZ0kOiPt
Grayson didn’t wait for more. He ended the call without another word, slid the phone into his pocket, and stood up.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K2ACAFOEV
With calm, measured steps, he walked out of the TV lounge and towards the staircase leading upward. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuDoe3RyBS
The house was warm and peaceful — a stark contrast to the cold night outside — thanks to the soft hum of the central heating. Upstairs, he walked down the hallway and stepped into the room directly across from his own.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4uIXLcAJI
It was a space unlike any other in the house — lined with weapons that gleamed under soft ceiling lights. Expensive rifles, handguns, and rare collector pieces hung neatly on the walls, each displayed with care.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqxqJDLgrC
But it didn’t take a trained eye to know — these weren’t just for show.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC82ZVGX9M
There were subtle signs: worn grips, faint scratches, a few cases left slightly ajar. These guns had history. They had been used.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqt4RsuG9z
And the man standing in the middle of it all?56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL9SdIOB2a
He knew exactly how to use every single one of them. Grayson’s eyes scanned the array of weapons before him, a brief moment of admiration for the precision and power they represented.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKwhyzznKo
His gaze landed on a particular rifle — the Sako 90S Adventure. He reached out and carefully lifted it, inspecting the sleek metal and well-crafted design.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax1FwSo8MG
This was his weapon of choice for tomorrow's hunt. The perfect balance of power, precision, and reliability.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dImSKbnhy
"Tomorrow," he muttered to himself, running a finger along the barrel, "it’ll be this one."56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfdAslnVXn
The feeling of the gun in his hands was familiar, like an old friend ready for action. Grayson could already picture Max’s sulky face after losing — and just the thought of it made him smirk.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpkqP2krZE
There was a special kind of satisfaction in beating Max, especially when it came to hunting. And teasing him afterward? That was the real prize.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfZH5gVt1w
They had been best friends since childhood, and everyone in the agency knew it well. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRjdMA1HCl
Their bond wasn’t just strong — it was legendary.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlfcmoCeZ4
No matter how serious things got, there was always room for a little mischief between the two. And tomorrow, Grayson planned to enjoy every second of it. With a soft smile still playing on his lips, Grayson set the rifle back in its place and quietly closed the door to the weapon room.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl8Q1wPyDm
He walked into his bedroom — a space that reflected both discipline and comfort.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3jqwhedJa
On either side of the entrance, shelves lined the walls, filled with books of all kinds. A couch sat nearby, perfect for late-night reading or quiet thinking.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuA0pohLRg
He stepped in, shut the door behind him, and made his way to the bookshelf. Picking up a book that had been left on the table, he carefully slid it back into its place. Then, with a quiet sigh, he moved to the bed and lay down.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zixSd00jC
The room was softly lit by wall lamps placed strategically around, casting a warm golden hue. Hanging above the bed was a grand, elegant chandelier that added a touch of timeless beauty.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzguhOLhun
On the bedside table to his left sat a framed photo of him and Max — a frozen memory of laughter and brotherhood.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOsdbfu3SK
On the other side, another frame stood silently: a picture of his parents...........That was it.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXrCTSF9Rt
His people. His home. His heart. 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXilfNyWoa
He pulled the blanket over himself, letting the warmth settle in around him. With his eyes closed, the weight of the day slowly melted away.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2Li1lX18r
The quiet hum of the heater, the soft glow of the lamps, and the comfort of familiar memories all wrapped around him like a lullaby.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L4pnbFBTP
And soon...56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicrkHVFheB
Grayson was fast asleep.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUa7FMZBjM
...................................................56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzhtGKNy2h
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and then Add to home screen.