As the sharp crack of a gunshot pierced the air, Blake's senses went into overdrive. Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, a searing pain exploded across his cheek, accompanied by a powerful impact that sent him reeling backward.
The force of the blow was staggering, knocking him off balance as he stumbled backward. Heat radiated from the wound on his cheek, the intense pain searing through his senses. For a moment, everything seemed to blur as his vision swam with disorientation.
His hand instinctively flew to his face, fingers coming away slick with blood. The acrid scent of gunpowder filled the air, mingling with the metallic tang of blood. Blake's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he struggled to maintain his bearings.
