In the hushed confines of a darkened room, silence reigned supreme, broken only by the faintest whisper of breath.
Suddenly, the air itself seemed to liquefy, transforming the space into a strangely familiar setting. From the shadows emerged an ominous figure, swiftly plunging a blade into the abdomen of a woman.
The sickening sound of the sword being withdrawn pierced the stillness, echoing with unforgettable agony as blood dripped, a rhythmic reminder of pain.
Collapsing to her knees, the woman clutched her stomach, desperately trying to stem the crimson tide.
(blood dripping)
Each gasp for air brought searing pain, as the faces of her assailants loomed ominously above.
(Gasp)
With a startled gasp, Mayura was yanked from the depths of her nightmare.
Beads of sweat dotted her brow as she struggled to regain composure. Rising from her bed and treading softly upon the wooden floor of her hotel room, Mayura sat in contemplative silence.
"Not again," she murmured, a sense of unease gripping her.
(Buzz)
Mayura absently traced the necklace adorning her neck, lost in thought. Her gaze shifted to the phone resting on the bedside table, its insistent ring piercing the stillness. It was her mother calling.
"Rak, dear, when will you return?" her mother's voice pleaded.
In truth, Mayura had already arrived back in Thailand several days prior, though she had chosen to keep her return a secret from her family. She wanted some time to collect her thoughts before returning.
"I'll be back soon, Mom," Mayura assured, her tone gentle.
Her mother's lamentations continued, a litany of longing and disappointment.
Seeking solace, Mayura stepped out onto the balcony, greeted by the sprawling vista of a verdant forest and meandering river below.
As a photographer, she found solace in the natural beauty surrounding her, yet recent dreams had haunted her with echoes of a tumultuous past she thought she had left behind.
Sighing deeply, Mayura descended the stairs, camera in hand, and set out to explore the nearby village, eager for distraction and the start of a new day.
The village bustled with activity, a blend of locals and tourists weaving through the narrow streets. Stalls lined both sides, offering an array of goods from souvenirs to clothing and bags, adding vibrant splashes of color to the scene.
The architecture reflected a traditional style, with quaint old houses dotting the landscape, while the villagers adorned themselves in traditional attire, adding to the charm of the village.
With each click of her camera, Mayura captured the essence of this picturesque place. While her focus had initially been on capturing models, she found herself drawn to photographing the everyday scenes of people and nature, each frame telling its own story.
Stepping into the old temple, Mayura felt a sense of peace wash over her. The ornate walls and serene Buddhist statues provided a tranquil backdrop as she offered her prayers.
Emerging from the temple, she inhaled deeply, taking in the beauty of her surroundings once more.
Outside the entrance of the temple.
Dressed in a sleek, black suit and standing tall at 185 cm, a commanding figure emerged from the car as it smoothly came to a stop.
Accompanied by his two assistants and a retinue of guards, he strode towards the entrance of the temple.
Once inside,he turned to his assistant," How's the search,any update?".
With a shake of their heads,they reported,"so far,none sir"
Frowning slightly he then asked,"What about the money,any troubles?"
The assistant answered,"No,sir. We've made the same transaction, nothing is out of the ordinary. However,there's been some recent reports of thieves in the area."
"How come Luang Por didn't mention this last time?", the man muttered.
As he contemplated the news, his attention was momentarily caught by the voice of a woman nearby selling bracelets.
"Bracelets for sale!" A lady at the stall next to a big tree yells.
Unaware of each other's presence,Mayura quietly ascended the stairs at a distance, their paths intersecting briefly without acknowledgement.
Returning his focus back to the temple, the man continued walking into the building while Mayura went her own way.
Upon reaching the stall, Mayura felt a nagging sense of unease and glanced back,sensing something amiss. However,the man had already vanished into the temple, leaving her just a few seconds too late.
"Miss,please help buy some bracelets. These are homemade, 100% guaranteed authentic and durable. I'll give you a special price of 1.50 dollar!" The lady behind the stall urged,her smile inviting.
Gesturing for 5 ,Mayura responded," I'll take 5 then".
Inside the temple, the man engaged in a conversation with the monk, his two aides standing by the door.
"Luang Por, I've sent some of my people to investigate the recent thefts and will assign more to monitor the area in case anything happens," the man stated.
Luang Por smiles serenely,replying,"There's no need for such measures. What's deem to happen will happen; we can't stop it"
The man's gaze drifted downward as he followed the monk's departure from the hall.
"Luang Por, if the temple needs any more donations please don't restrain from asking", he added.
Turning back,the monk,hands clasped together," You have been a generous benefactor for as long as I can remember. It is time you let go of whatever guilt you have"
Standing alone in the hall looking at the monk's departure,the man was left contemplating.
The individual in question bore the name of Anupong Phatipatanawong, a man of substantial wealth and influence. His riches were considerable, and his name was familiar to all. Yet, despite his prominence, Anupong remained an enigmatic figure, his personal life veiled in secrecy and cloaked in mystery.
Returning to Mayura.
(clicks)
Clicks echoed softly in the air as Mayura continued to capture pictures of the landscape and people.
Boarding the boat, she framed her surroundings,documenting the beautiful scenes and faces that surrounded her.
Stepping onto the dock,she couldn't resist the urge to snap a few more pictures before a familiar voice shattered the tranquility.
"Rak!"
The person approaches closer," Rak,is that you?!"
Mayura turned cautiously, recognizing the voice of her best friend Solada.
Attempting to slip away, Mayura was caught by Solada.
Mayura nervously asked," Da,it's you-what are you doing here?"
Solada's surprise was evident as she beheld her friend," What do you think? I'm a tourist guide, I'm obviously doing my job. The real question is what are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming back till next month" Solada confronts her friend.
Mayura smiles nervously," Me– oh um, it was a last minute thing (tries to avoid Solada's intense gaze then gives up) okay fine, I've been back for a week now. I just wanted some time for myself,you know.But (clasped hands together as if to beg) please don't tell mother about seeing me here,she'll kill me".
Pointing accusingly at her friend, Solada exclaimed, " you–I can't believe this! You were on the phone with me last night as well!" With a sigh, she relented, "I won't tell Auntie, but you must text me your address later."
Mayura smiled and nodded.
Crossing her arms, Solada remarked, "Auntie has been incessantly nagging you lately, going on about how much she misses you and all. Are you sure you're not just trying to dodge another one of your mom's attempts to set you up on a blind date?" She turned abruptly to Mayura, her expression curious.
Rolling her eyes, Mayura replied," That too,but mainly for personal reasons-I needed some inspiration".
Solada scrutinized Mayura, attempting to glean more information, before shifting her gaze to the text message on her phone.
"I have to leave," she said, "my senior just texted me."
Mayura smiles and asks teasingly,"Who?".
Solada interjected hastily, "My senior from the company," she clarified, pointing towards her friend, "Don't even think about it—we're just friends."
Teasingly, Mayura remarked, "Oh, really? I thought you were finally going to ditch my brother for good."
Blushing slightly, Solada retorted, "Are you crazy?" She cleared her throat before continuing, "Anyway, my lunch break is almost over, so..."
Mayura nodded and gently nudged her friend, urging, "Go on, do your job."
Reluctantly, Solada departed, emphasizing, "You better call me later."
Mayura chuckled at her friend's persistence before affirming, "I will, don't worry."
Since their elementary school days, Mayura and Solada had been inseparable friends. Mayura knew Solada had a long-standing crush on Mayura's older brother, Voropat Lekcharuthas.
At another place.
(Thunders)
In a dimly lit alley strewn with cardboard boxes and scattered trash, a motorcycle roared into view at breakneck speed.
Positioned behind the driver, a determined girl clutched a camera tightly in her grasp. Glancing over her shoulder, she spotted two men in hot pursuit, their figures looming ominously in the distance.
"Faster Ken!", the girl yelled.
Checking the rearview mirror, the man at the motorcycle's helm confirmed the presence of their pursuers.
"I'm doing my best, Kaew," he called out over the roar of the engine, "Just hold on tight!"
Debris flew chaotically in the wake of Ken's rapid maneuvering, the narrow alley barely containing the motorcycle's wild trajectory as it surged forward and onto the main road.
Quickly glancing behind them, Kaew's eyes widened in relief as she realized their pursuers had vanished from sight.
Excitedly, she slapped her friend's back, exclaiming, "Yes! We made it!"
With a sudden jolt, the motorcycle screeched to an abrupt halt in the parking lot of a building, bringing their high-speed chase to an end.
Inside the building, the voice of scolding could be heard.
"That was far too risky! You both could have been killed out there!" The man stood firmly behind his desk, one hand pressed against his forehead while the other rested on his waist, his tone filled with admonishment.
"But boss, we have the footage and it's the only one too!," Kaew interjected, her voice tinged with an attempt to reassure him of their efforts.
The man's anger flared as he pointed accusingly at Kaew.
"Footage? What footage do you speak of? Do you honestly believe we can air news with this?" His frustration boiled over as he hurled the broken object onto the desk, his pride wounded by their failed endeavor.
Kaew swiftly reached for the phone, determined to rectify the situation. "I can fix this real quick," she declared, her fingers already working to salvage their footage.
The man snorted in frustration, "Yeah, but by the time it's fixed, the news will already be widespread."
He sighed heavily before issuing his command, "Kaew, I'm ordering you to take a week off work. I don't want you involved in this case anymore."
"But boss!"
"I'm not ordering you as your boss, but as your father!" he exclaimed, his tone firm and paternal.
In a fit of anger, Kaew stomped her feet and swiftly stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her with force.
Ken offered a nervous smile. "Uh, boss, should I go after her?" he inquired, uncertainty evident in his tone.
Kaew's dad sighed wearily. "Leave her be," he said resignedly, understanding the need to give her space.
Kaew's father, Chatkrit Lerdkasemsub, is the owner of a prominent news company. The legacy of this business had been passed down through generations of their family, spanning centuries of journalistic tradition and excellence.
Chatkrit settled back into his chair, his mind consumed with thoughts of his daughter.
Despite having graduated only a few years prior, Kaew had already made her mark within his company as a courageous reporter. However, Chatkrit couldn't shake the worry that Kaew's impulsive nature and instinct-driven decisions might lead her into trouble. Her youthful vigor and determination were undeniable, but he feared they could also be her downfall.
Chatkrit sighed heavily, a mixture of frustration and concern etched on his face.
"How am I ever going to retire," he mused aloud, "when my only daughter is so incautious?"
At another place at the same time.
In the dark-gloomy room, silence enveloped the space, broken only by the flickering glow of candles illuminating the tables and desk.
Seated in a chair, a man clad in a dark blue suit exuded an aura of contemplation, his eyes closed and hands clasped together in deep thought.
Upon his weathered hand, the man wore an old-fashioned ring, its design evoking a sense of tradition and heritage. Etched into the ring was the word "Kan".
His name was Unakan Phatipatanawong.
Leaning back in his black leather chair, a subtle smirk played across his lips as he uttered in a low voice, "It's about time I go back."