"What do you mean Callistus went missing?" Mia shouted, her voice echoing through the office. A worker had just given her the news, looking just as worried.
Mia immediately got up, contacting Ivan while searching for Star. Callistus was last seen leaving the office building for a nearby shop during lunch.
"You have to be kidding me," Ivan muttered, his face clouded with worry. The meeting was only a few days away, and this was the worst possible timing. Who else could have done this?
Danish and Isabell rushed to check the security cameras with the guards. The footage showed Callistus leaving the building, only to be intercepted by a group of people. He seemed to try and avoid them, but within minutes, they overpowered him, dragging him away unconscious. Ivan's eyes narrowed with fury as he recognized the men—it was the same group who had tried to get to Callistus before.
"When's the meeting?" Ivan asked, his voice tense.
"In two days," Pavanya replied.
Everyone knew Ivan wasn't in the mood for any more nonsense. The room went silent as Ivan stormed out into the rising evening.
"Where could Callistus be right now?" Mia asked, her worry evident.
"CloudWave would most likely keep him either in the warehouse or the meeting location," Star suggested. "They don't have many other places."
Mia nodded and quickly left. Star watched her go, knowing Mia was about to do something reckless. And she wasn't wrong.
—
"Oh, what a reunion for you both," Ryan sneered, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
Callistus blinked awake, feeling the ropes bite into his wrists. He was tied to a chair, his body aching from the rough handling. In front of him stood Ryan and Valentina, their expressions filled with malice.
"I can't imagine how it feels," Ryan continued, his tone dripping with mockery. "Your own lover, the one you'd been hired to kill. That's got to sting, doesn't it?"
Valentina crossed her arms, her face twisted in a look of betrayal. She stared at Callistus as if he were nothing more than dirt beneath her shoe.
"I don't want to see him," she spat, turning away. "Not after everything. Get him out of my sight."
With a dismissive wave, she left, a few armed men falling in behind her, their footsteps echoing through the cold, dark warehouse. Callistus watched her leave, his eyes scanning the place. The only light came from the moon, its beams casting eerie shadows over the empty crates and dusty shelves. He remembered this warehouse —it was the same one Ivan had chosen for the meeting with CloudWave. He tried to recall the blueprints Mia had shown him at the house, hoping to find some way out.
The creaking of a door snapped him back to the present. More men entered, Ryan among them, a twisted smile on his face.
"I'm a bit bored right now," Ryan said, a cruel glint in his eyes. "And with you here, I think it's time for a little late-night entertainment."
Ryan grabbed a bottle of water from a nearby table, splashing it over Callistus's face. The cold water hit him like a slap, but Callistus merely rolled his eyes, unimpressed.
Ryan's smile faltered for a moment, turning into a scowl.
"Are my eyes fooling me?" he muttered.
His expression shifted, and without warning, he kicked the chair out from under Callistus, sending him crashing to the ground.
"What the fuck?" Callistus shouted, trying to regain his composure.
Ryan leaned down, his face inches from Callistus's. "Dare talk back?" His voice was filled with a manic rage, his eyes wide with a sadistic thrill.
He straightened up, then turned to the men surrounding them. "I think it's time for the show to start," he ordered, his voice cold and filled with venom. "I want to see him broken."
The men moved, fists flying as they pounded into Callistus. He grunted with each blow, his body twisting in pain, but he refused to give them the satisfaction of a scream. Ryan watched with a sick grin, leaning casually against a stack of crates, enjoying every second of the violence.
"Faster!" Ryan barked, his laughter echoing through the warehouse. "Make sure he's almost dead."
The men obeyed, getting items around them before blowing at him, targeting his ribs and stomach, each punch landing with a sickening thud. Ryan crossed his arms, his smile widening.
"You see, Callistus," he drawled, "this is what happens when you get in our way. When you think you can outsmart me."
Callistus's vision blurred, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but he refused to back down. He glared up at Ryan through the pain, blood trickling down the corner of his mouth.
"You're... pathetic," he spat.
Ryan's smile vanished, replaced by a flash of anger. "Keep going," he commanded, "Until he's asleep."
The beating went on, each punch showing how cruel Ryan was, enjoying every moment of Callistus's pain. The men did as they were told, hitting him again and again. But one of them, although he pretended to hit hard, always seemed to miss, his face hard to read.
Finally, Ryan got bored. "Enough," he snapped. "You're all useless. Leave him. I need to rest."
The men quickly obeyed, dropping their weapons and leaving the room. One of them looked back at Callistus before locking the doors behind him.
"Fuck tarts," Callistus muttered through the pain. "I never should've gone out to buy ice cream to surprise Ivan."
The warehouse was cold, winter's chill already setting in. His jacket was confiscated, leaving him shivering in just his work shirt. The cold air felt like needles against his skin, and his breath came out in puffs of mist.
His mind drifted back to Ivan, and his heart ached with worry. "Don't do anything stupid, Ivan," Callistus whispered, his voice barely audible in the stillness. "I need you to stay safe… I need you to find me."
He closed his eyes, fighting against the chill and the pain, trying to focus on the warmth of Ivan's arms, the strength of his presence. For now, it was the only comfort he had in the darkness.
—
"Munn?" the man muttered as he spotted Mia stepping into the CloudWave building. His voice carried a hint of surprise mixed with suspicion.