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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrGASgt6TC
She kept looking over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the darkness behind her — as if something, or someone, was following her.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqy9NHWGid
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. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncrIU0G26t
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. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOvjGdiTQ9
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIOMdqVmRr
Suddenly, headlights cut through the darkness like knives — a car was approaching.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77klJ4ut9Z
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z4oaSTfmF
Everything that could save her.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk7vsJAhqa
Everything that could prove she wasn’t guilty.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ym6ADCU0j
Everything they would kill to hide.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAmOVAEFxj
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:152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnfG5hBblJ
“Run! Save yourself! Go, now!”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt20GQsmII9
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. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28DCDFfSrz
“Better to face the night than the people hunting me,” 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH3ua9i0KC
she thought, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth. She would find a place to hide.... Somewhere no one would look.....152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZONwWQoPdc
Somewhere she could breathe… at least for a little while.
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXueHhgNbuT
..........................................
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpfu429PWW
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZZyWkAkMK
He didn’t turn. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxAbC9RAEb
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. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W607LGMBC
His other hand rested on the armrest, fingers tapping slowly — rhythmically, like a man lost in deep calculation.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFulVwvny5
His face remained hidden in shadow, but his silence spoke volumes. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrTrAoMyGK
Not a flinch. Not a word.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXDU6JudUQ
As if the chaos on screen… had nothing to do with him.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzD0D1ojZXU
Suddenly, the phone on the sleek glass coffee table beside him began to ring.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GtM3CPlAk
He didn’t glance at the screen. With practiced ease, he tapped to answer and switched on the speaker.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjMCOrGXKV
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZFVUJfIIH
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlZKYINeNS
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYsS3vFO8d
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNmNRXz6u7
He was tall — towering at 6’3" — with a naturally powerful build that hinted at both strength and discipline.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMWCM4rYfl
A man of beauty… and danger. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJMbisYcvv
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8yvfzVUjx
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 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTyvlXzTte
Suddenly, a groggy, annoyed voice came through the phone, thick with sleep and irritation. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nbkgglf93
"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." 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCBAFz34qy
The voice on the other end sounded like someone who had just been pulled from a deep sleep — disoriented, yet unmistakably familiar.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbfuyiglzt
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt8yDGF5q3
"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.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjWqYJNUMA
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbrEPw9l4r
Max let out a dramatic sigh and replied, 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhXA5Qw5me
"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!"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByhbUn8unM
His voice was teasing, full of mock misery — but it was clear he was used to this. Grayson calling at odd hours? Typical. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ecCzC1bDq
"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?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2dnfKKfZw
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaor3XOEYHO
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,152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGt8A96O6p
"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.?"152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7m7gmt7RW
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. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAEwWHe9Pb
Max let out a sleepy grunt in response… and then fell silent.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHCHFLKkwM
Grayson didn’t wait for more. He ended the call without another word, slid the phone into his pocket, and stood up.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFCcghmHDc
With calm, measured steps, he walked out of the TV lounge and towards the staircase leading upward. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JsRoVuAx8
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k0dqk0m5y
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEWf6BRgkD
But it didn’t take a trained eye to know — these weren’t just for show.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFqVgxRAlt
There were subtle signs: worn grips, faint scratches, a few cases left slightly ajar. These guns had history. They had been used.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGEo8eXUhd
And the man standing in the middle of it all?152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbW4yy6yDv
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNkb7PmnoK
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORQSVtkK0m
This was his weapon of choice for tomorrow's hunt. The perfect balance of power, precision, and reliability.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLHkfQS6Pc
"Tomorrow," he muttered to himself, running a finger along the barrel, "it’ll be this one."152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zBSv1JAI0
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeBDz5gth1
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxifbSWqIsq
They had been best friends since childhood, and everyone in the agency knew it well. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2XAJiXQcH
Their bond wasn’t just strong — it was legendary.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylHkEntJmY
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJajVJ1Lfn4
He walked into his bedroom — a space that reflected both discipline and comfort.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26Ved8Im1q
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZByxX11Ai
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xW9A7Fwm0
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSirbdrVGNR
On the bedside table to his left sat a framed photo of him and Max — a frozen memory of laughter and brotherhood.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bn8fHKYNp
On the other side, another frame stood silently: a picture of his parents...........That was it.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61lCxishPw
His people. His home. His heart. 152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURc6R6ooYH
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfsVfC2i8k
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.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAJu1M5LYC
And soon...152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThHYtIx8Fw
Grayson was fast asleep.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1LPRWmLxf
...................................................152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVdEo8rNXd
152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9qQS5xA2g
and then Add to home screen.