Chapter 1
Darkness had claimed the sky.
The road stretched endlessly, silent and hollow—no vehicles, no voices, nothing but a single car moving under the faint glow of the moon. The night felt empty, almost lifeless.
Inside the car, Drew sat quietly. Her face was calm, her eyes gently closed. She wasn’t asleep—just resting, allowing herself a moment of peace before reaching the airport. Work awaited her, as always.
Then the silence shattered.
Her phone rang.
Drew opened her eyes and glanced at the screen. An unknown number. For a second, she hesitated—then answered.
“Hello… who is speaking?”
A voice responded.
A familiar voice.
Her breath caught. Surprise flickered across her face, followed instantly by something softer… something warmer. Joy.
The voice asked her to come to a location. Urgent. Important.
Without thinking twice, she leaned forward. “Change the route,” she told the driver quickly. “We’re not going to the airport. Take me here.”
There was excitement in her voice—something rare. Something real.
Almost an hour later, the car stopped.
Drew stepped out slowly and scanned the surroundings. It was an abandoned, unfinished structure—a building left incomplete, lifeless and cold. The walls were bare, shadows stretching across every corner.
No lights. No movement. No sign of life.
A strange unease settled in her chest.
Still, she turned to the driver. “Wait here.”
And without another word, she walked inside.
Darkness wrapped around her instantly.
The silence inside was different—heavy, unnatural. She turned on her flashlight, the beam cutting through the dark as she moved forward, her footsteps echoing faintly.
Step by step, she reached the lobby.
“Hello…? Is someone here?”
No answer. Only silence.
She frowned and tried calling the number again.
Out of reach.
Disappointment replaced the excitement that had brought her here. She turned to leave—
“Drew.”
Her name.
That same voice.
She froze, then slowly turned.
A figure stood in the darkness, his face hidden. Her heart began to race—but not from fear. From recognition.
He stepped closer.
Closer…
Until the moonlight fell across his face.
A tall man. Broad shoulders. A well-built figure. Short beard. Fair complexion. Dark browneyes that felt… familiar. Too familiar.
He opened his arms.
And in that moment, Drew didn’t think. Didn’t question. Didn’t doubt.
She ran.
Fast as she could—and hugged him.
Her arms wrapped around him tightly. For a moment, everything felt right. Her restless heart finally found peace. Her eyes closed, as if she had found home.
But peace was never meant to stay.
A loud, heavy sound echoed through the hall. Something hit the ground.
Then another.
Drew’s eyes snapped open.
The lights flickered on—and suddenly everything became visible.
Bodies.
Lying on the ground.
Lifeless.
Her breath stopped. Her body froze. Her eyes widened in shock, disbelief crashing into her like a storm.
No… this couldn’t be real.
Tears gathered in her eyes, but she couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.
Before she could react, he moved.
His hand slid gently into her hair, brushing it back, tucking a strand behind her ear. The touch… almost soft. Almost familiar.
His voice dropped, cold and steady.
“It was decided long ago.”
Her heart shattered.
She pushed against him, trying to break free—but it was too late.
Gunshots echoed.
Once. Twice.
Pain exploded through her shoulders.
Before she could even process it—two more shots.
Her legs gave out beneath her.
Her body collapsed onto the cold floor.
A broken gasp escaped her lips. Warm blood spread beneath her. Her vision blurred. Her body refused to respond.
Still, she fought.
Fought to stay awake. Fought to breathe. Fought to survive.
“Set the place on fire.”
His voice was distant now. Unfamiliar. Unreachable.
Footsteps.
Then nothing.
He left.
Flames began to rise—slow at first, then consuming everything.
Smoke filled the air, thick and suffocating. The fire crackled, growing stronger, swallowing the building piece by piece. From afar, the burning structure lit up the darkness of the night.
Inside, Drew lay helpless.
Her body weak. Her strength fading.
She tried to move. Tried to gather what little energy she had left.
But nothing responded.
Her breathing grew shallow. Her vision dimmed. The world around her began to fade.
And then—
Through the fire and smoke—
A shadow.
Moving toward her.
Slowly.
Unclear.
Unreal.
She tried to focus, to see—
But darkness claimed her first.
And everything… disappeared.
(This was only the beginning.)
✍️Author’s Note:
This is my first story. Your support and feedback would mean a lot to me.
