The factory was eerily silent after the chaos. The bodies of Carlos Moretti's men were scattered across the floor, and the acrid stench of gunpowder lingered in the air. Logan leaned against a pillar, breathing heavily, his once-pristine appearance now disheveled and streaked with dirt and blood.
"Well," he panted, running a hand through his messy hair, "that was.... something."
Aura didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed on the shadowy figure of Carlos, who stood at the far end of the room, a pistol in one hand and a twisted smirk on his face.
"You think you've won? Aura?" Carlos taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "Killing me won't change anything. There's always another monster waiting to take my place."
Aura's lips curled into a humorless smile. "Then I'll keep hunting them. Starting with you."
Carlos raised his pistol, but Aura was faster. In a blur of motion, she threw one of her daggers, the blade embedding itself in his shoulder. He cried out, the gun slipping from his grasp and clattering to the ground.
"You are a thorn in my side, Aura," he growled, clutching his wounded arm.
"And you are a stain in this world," she replied coldly, advancing towards him with deadly precision.
Carlos lunged at her, pulling a hidden knife from his boot. The two clashed in a violent struggle, each move a calculated attempt to end the other
Aura's speed and agility outmatched Carlos's brute force, but he fought with the desperation of a man who knew his time was running out.
Logan watched from the sidelines, his arrogance momentarily replaced by awe. Despite his exhaustion, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the lethal dance unfolding before him.
"Remind me never to get on her bad side," he muttered to himself.
Carlos lunged one last time, his knife aimed at Aura's throat. She sidestepped effortlessly, her movements as fluid as water, and drove her remaining dagger into his chest. Carlos gasped; it came so suddenly, his eyes wide open as he stumbled back, collapsing to the ground.
Aura knelt beside him, her voice low and emotionless. "You should have stayed in the shadows, Carlos. The light doesn't suit you."
Carlos's lips moved as if to speak, but no words came. His body went limp, his lifeless eyes staring into the void.
Aura stood, wiping the blood on her dagger with practiced ease.
"Is it over now?" Logan asked, his voice laced with sarcasm as he pushed off the piller.
She turned her attention to Logan, who, despite his earlier bravado, looked utterly spent. His coat was torn, his face bruised, but the defiance in his eyes remained intact.
"It's over." Her expression unreadable.
"You... saved me because you are a fan or are you attracted to me because of my handsome face?" Logan muttered, his voice laced with fatigue and arrogance. "You could not resist, could you?"
Aura rolled her eyes, pulling a small vial from her pocket. "Arrogant as ever. Don't flatter yourself, Logan." Before Logan could retort, she uncorked the vial and waved it under his nose. The strong scent overwhelmed him, and his body went limp as he lost consciousness.
Aura crotched beside him, checking his pulse to ensure he was merely out cold. Satisfied, she pulled out her phone and typed a quick email to Liam.
Subject: Location Update
Message: Your boss is safe. Pick him up at the following coordinates. Be discreet.
She included the address of an alleyway on the outskirts of the city, ensuring it was far away from prying eyes.
After sending the mail, Aura stood and took one last look at Logan. His features were peaceftin unconsciousness, a stark contrast to the cocky arrogance he usually exuded.
"You are welcome, " she muttered under her breath before turning on her heel and disappearing into the night.
********
Liam was at his wit's end. It had been two days since Logan disappeared, and the stress was wearing him down. His normally neat designer coat was wrinkled, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his usually calm demeanor had given way to frantic desperation.
He had contacted the police, filing a missing person report despite knowing the chaos it would cause if the media caught wind of it. He had begged Samantha, the actress Logan embarrassed, for any information. Samantha had laughed in his face, feigning innocence while mocking him.
"Maybe Logan finally realized he's not invincible," she sneered, her voice dripping with malice.
Liam clenched his fists, resisting the urge to snap back. He had more pressing matters to deal with.
Back at the office, he struggled to keep Logan's disappearance under wraps. Cancelling Logan's shoot and appearances was no easy task, especially with rumors swirling online. Fans noticed Logan's absence almost immediately, and hashtags like #WhereisLigamMason and #Loganmissing began trending. Liam worked overtime crafting excuses, ranging from illness to an extended private vacation, to keep the public at bay.
Despite his efforts, the company was growing suspicious. Logan was their top star, and every day of silence risked losing millions. Liam could only hope for a miracle.
That miracle came late at night, as Liam sat slumped over his desk, surrounded by empty coffee cups and crumpled papers. His phone buzzed, jolting him awake. Groggily he reached for it and opened his email.
Then he saw,
Subject: Location Update
Message: Your boss is safe. Pick him up at the following coordinates. Be discreet.
Instantly grabbed his attention. His heart raced as he read the message, detailing a location and nothing more.
"Is this real?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes. But the desperation to find Logan outweighed any doubts. Grabbing his keys, he rushed out, speeding towards the empty streets towards the pinned location.
*****
When Liam arrived at the alleyway, his breath caught in his throat. There, slumped against a wall was Logan. His coat was disheveled, his pretty face pale, and he bore several bruises and scratches.
"Logan!" Liam exclaimed, rushing to his side.
Logan groaned, his eyes fluttering open briefly before shutting again. He was alive but clearly exhausted.
Liam quickly lifted him into the car, his mind racing. Who had sent the email? Why hadn't they stayed to explain? And what exactly had happened to Logan?
He didn't have time to dwell on these questions. Logan needed medical attention, and fast.
At the private VIP hospital, Liam paced the waiting room, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. He had managed to convince the staff to keep Logan's identity confidential, but it wasn't easy. The nurse's excited and curious glances and whispered questions didn't help.
Hours later, the doctor emerged, assuring Liam that Logan would recover with rest and care.
Relief washed over Liam, but the mystery of the email still nagged at him. Who had gone to such lengths to save Logan? And why had they chosen to remain anonymous?
As Logan rested, oblivious to the world around him, Liam vowed to uncover the truth. Whoever saved Logan was no ordinary person, and Liam had a feeling that this was just the beginning of a much larger story.