At Sergei's headquarters, the atmosphere was filled with the scent of luxurious food, contrasting with the cruelty that dominated the place. The hanging lights sparkled, casting a yellowish glow that reflected the cold luxury of the room. In the middle, Sergei sat at a long table piled with food, eating greedily like a king unaffected by the chaos he had created.
The large door creaked open. Dimitri entered with heavy steps, holding a gasoline canister, his face expressionless. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the silent room.
"It's all done, Boss," he said in a low but firm voice, his eyes filled with a mix of loyalty and fear as he looked at Sergei.
Sergei paused, staring coldly at Dimitri. "Good," he said, then continued scooping food into his mouth, unaffected. "No one can play with me. Right, Dimitri?"
Sergei lifted his head, gazing at Dimitri with a sharp look. "Have you ever hunted, Dimitri?" he asked as he continued eating.
Dimitri, usually cold and unwavering, responded flatly, "It was a long time ago."
Sergei slowly placed his fork down, his voice carrying an ominous hum that seemed to linger in the air. "You know," he said while wiping his mouth with a white cloth, "I really enjoy hunting."
He stood up, his steps calm yet intimidating, and casually walked toward the wall where a row of firearms were neatly displayed. His hand caressed one of the rifles as though it were a precious object.
"Have you ever felt the adrenaline and dopamine rush when hunting?" he continued, his voice growing quieter, yet every word carried a hidden threat. His grin was sinister. "When you chase your prey, watching them fall... their faces filled with fear, writhing in desperation..."
He stopped, letting his words hang in the air before turning to Dimitri. His cold eyes gleamed with madness. "That's the most... thrilling moment, Dimitri."
Dimitri didn't respond. His face remained flat, but cold sweat began to bead at his temples. He didn't move, standing stiffly, suppressing the fear he dared not show.
Sergei chuckled softly, a hollow and cold laugh. He returned to his seat with leisurely steps, as if nothing unusual had just transpired. Sitting back down, he resumed eating as if the conversation had never happened.
Dimitri stood still, his body frozen. Sergei's words continued to echo in his mind, leaving a fear that gripped him. He knew Sergei wasn't just talking about hunting animals. This time, they were hunting humans.
Sergei glanced briefly at Dimitri. "Why are you still standing there? Leave."
"Yes, Boss," Dimitri replied as he turned and quickly headed for the door.
Outside, as the steel door closed behind him, one of Dimitri's men approached hesitantly. His face was pale, sweat dripping down his temple. He leaned in and whispered, "You're not going to say we lost that little girl, are you?"
The next moment, Dimitri moved like lightning. His hand grabbed the man's throat, slamming him hard into the wall. The sound of his body hitting the wall silenced the other men who passed by, freezing in terror.
"Shut up!" Dimitri hissed, his eyes blazing with deadly anger. "If you dare mention that again, I'll rip your head off."
The man coughed, choked, his eyes wide with fear. He nodded frantically, unable to utter a word.
Dimitri roughly released his grip, letting the man drop to the floor, gasping for air. He turned to the other men who stood frozen in the hallway.
"Find that girl!" he yelled, his voice full of threat.
His footsteps echoed down the cold, dimly lit corridor. Behind him, his men hurried without a word, terrified of Dimitri's explosive rage.
Dark shadows loomed over the corridor, signaling the terror that was about to unfold.
In the quiet, dark forest, only the sound of the wind rustling through the fallen leaves could be heard. Sunlight, obscured by a meteor, filtered through the gaps in the trees, creating eerie shadows on the ground. Rick stood uneasily, staring at Abraham, who sat on a stump of an old tree, motionless. Abraham's face was empty, his eyes fixed on the ground as if searching for answers among the scattered leaves.
"Abraham, how long are you going to sit there?" Rick's voice broke the silence, no longer patient but still full of deep concern.
Abraham didn't look up, remaining silent, his eyes hollow. He seemed like a statue made of wounds and sorrow, lost in an unmeasurable grief.
Rick sighed heavily and took a step closer, his face tense. "I know you're grieving," he said, his tone softening. "But we can't stay silent. We're in a dangerous position. Sergei's men won't stop. They'll keep searching until they make sure we're dead."
No answer. Abraham remained silent, his eyes dull, trapped in painful memories—the image of fire consuming his house, the unheard scream of his daughter, Anastasia. The wound was too deep, like a thorn embedded in his heart.
Rick rubbed his face in frustration. "Listen," he said more firmly, his voice echoing through the trees, "there are only two choices. You destroy them first... or they'll find us."
Abraham still didn't respond. Rick moved closer, lowering his voice. "I know you've lost everything. I know the pain... But if you die here, who will avenge Anastasia's death?"
The words were like a dagger piercing Abraham's heart. His lips trembled slightly, his breath heavy. But still, he didn't move. He remained submerged in an ocean of unspoken loss.
Rick sighed once more, then squatted down in front of Abraham, staring into his friend's face. "Abraham... you're not alone. I'm here. But we have to move. For Anastasia."
Abraham slowly lifted his head, his eyes glassy, but now something was slowly emerging within them—not hope, but a small flame of anger burning behind the sadness. Rick saw it, and he knew... the hunt had just begun.
Abraham slowly rose from the stump, his steps heavy but determined. Without a word, he walked toward the remains of his home, now just a pile of ash and charred debris. The last wisps of smoke still hung in the air, leaving a scent of sorrow that cut to the heart.
"Hey, where are you going?" Rick called out, his face filled with worry as he tried to catch up with Abraham. But the man didn't turn, ignoring his friend's call.
In determined silence, Abraham continued through the ruins, lifting away pieces of wood and charcoal. Rick followed, still confused but beginning to understand that something serious was on Abraham's mind.
"What are you doing?" Rick asked, still unsure but starting to realize there was more to this than just grief.
Then, amidst the piled ash, a steel door appeared, still sturdy. The door was covered with heavy debris, but the peeling paint showed it had survived the flames.
Abraham stopped in front of the door, his face still cold and expressionless. He took a deep breath, extended his hand, and pulled the door's handle with all his strength. His muscles tensed, while Rick stood frozen, watching as Abraham cleared the debris blocking the way.
"We need weapons," Abraham said flatly, his voice low and resolute.
When the steel door opened, a small, dark room was revealed, filled with neatly stored weapons. Assault rifles, pistols, ammunition, grenades, and even larger combat equipment. Rick could only stare in awe.
"Wow..." Rick muttered in amazement, his eyes lighting up as he gazed at the contents of the armory. "Are you a Terminator or something?"
Abraham shot him a cold glance, then looked back into the basement room. This wasn't admiration. This was war. "Take whatever you can carry," he said emotionlessly. "They won't stop... and this time, neither will I."
Meanwhile, far away, in a dark room lit only by a single hanging lamp, the atmosphere was suffocating. The light swayed slowly, casting long shadows that danced on the cold, damp concrete walls.
In the corner of the room, a small girl with silvery-white hair lay asleep on a rusted iron bed. Her face was peaceful, unaware of the darkness surrounding her.
But behind her, a shadow slowly approached. Its footsteps were slow, almost silent, like a gentle breeze, yet full of menace. The shadow moved toward the little girl, leaving a chilling question... was this a savior or a danger lurking in the dark?