The stillness of the night felt unnatural, almost oppressive. Elena stirred awake, sensing something off. Damien's even breathing beside her usually brought her comfort, but tonight, an eerie silence seemed to press down on her chest.
She sat up slowly, careful not to wake him, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. The faint glow of moonlight streaming through the window cast long shadows on the walls, making the room feel larger, emptier.
Her unease grew.
Elena swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet touching the cool wooden floor. She moved toward the window, her eyes scanning the estate's perimeter. The guards Damien had stationed were doing their rounds, their flashlights cutting through the shadows.
But something felt wrong.
A flash of movement caught her eye. Quick, almost imperceptible, but enough to send her heart racing. She leaned closer to the glass, her breath fogging the pane as she tried to make sense of what she'd seen.
"Damien," she whispered, her voice trembling.
He stirred, his sharp instincts waking him instantly. "What is it?" he asked, his voice low as he sat up.
"I saw something," she said, pointing out the window. "Someone."
Damien was on his feet in an instant, his hand reaching for the gun he always kept close. He moved to her side, his posture tense as his eyes scanned the grounds.
"I don't see anything," he said, his voice calm but edged with caution.
"It was there," Elena insisted. "I know I saw something."
Damien turned to her, his gaze softening for a moment. "Stay here. Lock the door behind me."
"No," she said firmly, grabbing his arm. "I'm not letting you go out there alone."
"Elena," he began, but the look in her eyes stopped him.
"We're in this together, remember?" she said, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her.
He nodded, his jaw tightening. "Then stay close."
They moved quickly, slipping out of the bedroom and into the hallway. Damien's movements were silent, his gun raised and ready. Elena stayed close behind, her heart pounding with every step.
As they descended the stairs, the faint hum of the estate's security system caught Elena's attention. Damien paused, his sharp eyes scanning the control panel near the front door.
"It's been tampered with," he said, his voice low but laced with anger. "They're already inside."
Her blood ran cold. "How?"
"I don't know," he said, his tone sharp. "But they won't get far."
Before she could respond, a loud crash echoed from the other side of the estate. Damien's head snapped toward the sound, his body tensing like a coiled spring.
"Stay behind me," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.
They moved toward the noise, the air thick with tension. The hallways felt endless, each shadow a potential threat. As they approached the source of the commotion, Damien raised his hand, signaling Elena to stop.
He peeked around the corner, his gun steady. After a moment, he turned back to her, his expression grim. "It's the storage room. They're looking for something."
"What could they want?" she whispered.
"Anything they can use against us," Damien replied. "Stay here."
Before she could argue, he slipped into the room. The silence stretched on, every second feeling like an eternity. Elena clenched her fists, fighting the urge to follow him.
Then, the sound of a struggle erupted, followed by a sharp shout. Her instincts took over, and she rushed forward, ignoring Damien's earlier warning.
She burst into the room to find Damien grappling with a masked intruder, the two of them locked in a brutal fight. Another figure lunged at her from the side, and she barely had time to react.
"Elena!" Damien shouted, his voice filled with panic.
She ducked just in time, the intruder's swing missing her by inches. Adrenaline surged through her as she grabbed the nearest object—a heavy lamp—and swung it with all her strength.
The man staggered back, his mask slipping enough for her to catch a glimpse of his face. But before she could process what she saw, another shout rang out.
"Damien!" she cried, turning to see him pinned against the wall by the first intruder.
A gunshot shattered the air, and everything seemed to freeze. Elena's breath hitched as the masked man slumped to the floor, blood pooling beneath him. Damien stood over him, his gun still smoking, his chest heaving.
But the danger wasn't over. The second intruder lunged at Elena again, and this time, she wasn't fast enough.
"Get down!" Damien yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.