The moment Dun saw it, his breath hitched. His eyes constricted into sharp slits, his body going rigid, hands gripping the air so tightly that his knuckles whitened. The tab in his hand trembled ever so slightly before, with a swift and violent motion, he flung it to the ground. The screen shattered on impact, broken glass scattering across the basement floor. A tense silence followed, thick and suffocating.
"Ring the alarm," Dun's voice came low and steady, yet carried the weight of absolute command. "Tell everyone to come out. Now."
Tarl, standing a few steps away, didn't hesitate. His hand shot into his coat, reaching for the concealed communicator. His movements were sharp, fast, no wasted motion.
Dun then turned to Tingnim, whose face was already pale, sweat beading at his temple. "Get the route ready. We're leaving."
Tingnim swallowed hard before nodding. "Yes, Boss," he managed to say. He pivoted, already reaching for the set of keys strapped to his belt.
But before anyone could take another step..
BOOM!
The basement door exploded inward, the force sending a shockwave through the underground space. Dust and smoke billowed out in thick clouds, swallowing the room in a choking haze. The steel door, now a mangled wreck, crashed to the ground with a deafening clang.
Tarl and Tingnim reacted instantly. Tarl's hand shot out, and an invisible force rippled from his body, distorting the very air around him. Chaotic energy crackled to life, wrapping around his limbs, the sheer pressure of it making the concrete walls tremble. Tingnim, though less imposing, reached for his firearm, his breath ragged.
But then..
"Freeze."
A voice. Smooth. Lethal. Not loud, yet it cut through the chaos with the force of a blade.
And suddenly..
They couldn't move.
Dun felt it first. A crushing weight settled over him, not physical but absolute. His body refused to obey, muscles locking in place as if held by an invisible chain. His fingers, which had been curling toward his coat, remained frozen mid-motion. Tarl, who had been preparing to strike, found his energy snuffed out in an instant. His knees nearly buckled under the unseen force pinning him. Tingnim, halfway to drawing his gun, could only stand there, his lips parted in silent horror.
The smoke swirled, parting like a curtain. Two men in black suits stepped through the ruined doorway. They moved with eerie precision, stepping aside to hold the entrance open as though welcoming royalty.
Moment later as time seemed to stretch like an eternity.
She entered.
Her stride was unhurried, calm, the heels of her boots clicking softly against the floor. Her black furry coat draped over her shoulders, the dim lighting casting long shadows across her frame. Her dark hair cascaded loosely, framing a face that was impossibly young yet carried a weight that did not belong to youth.
Gina.
She surveyed the basement with cold detachment, her crimson eyes gleaming like embers in the dim light. Slowly, she inhaled, taking in the scent of damp concrete, sweat, and blood. Then, a small, amused chuckle escaped her lips.
"Beautiful," she mused, her voice light yet carrying a cruel edge. "A very nice place for torturing, I'll say."
She moved forward, her coat shifting with her steps, until she stood before the upside-down, bloodied man still hanging from his restraints. His body was battered beyond recognition... drills, fists, whatever Dun and his men had used to break him. Yet despite his condition, the man's lips twitched into something that resembled a smile.
Gina barely spared him a glance before lifting a hand in a casual flick.
"Pick him up and go," she ordered, her tone devoid of emotion, as though discussing the disposal of trash.
One of the men in black, standing near the door, responded immediately. "Yes, Boss."
He stepped forward, his movements swift and precise, and began unfastening the chains. The moment the last restraint clicked free, the man's limp body collapsed forward, but before he could hit the ground, the suited man caught him effortlessly. Without hesitation, he turned and carried the bloodied prisoner out, disappearing beyond the ruined doorway.
Gina remained where she was, her gaze still sweeping the room, taking in every detail with lazy amusement.
And then she chuckled.
"Oh, Dun Dun," she sighed, shaking her head. "Look how low you've stooped."
Dun's jaw clenched, his expression darkening, but he remained frozen, his body still unresponsive to his will.
"To think you'd go for the weakest first," Gina continued, her voice carrying a mocking lilt. "To attack someone who couldn't even fight back. How poor of a man you've become."
Dun's breathing was slow, measured, an attempt to mask his frustration. He could feel the eyes of his men on him, their fear barely concealed beneath tense expressions. Finally, he forced his voice to work.
"What did you do to me?" he demanded, his voice hoarse but steady.
Gina tilted her head, the corners of her lips twitching in amusement.
"A little secret," she said simply, offering nothing more.
Then, she turned slightly, her attention shifting to the last remaining man in black.. GJ.
"GJ," she called, her tone casual, almost indifferent. "Hand me the tool."
GJ nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Boss."
From inside his tailored black suit, he withdrew a weapon. A pistol. A short revolver with an aged, dull metal frame that carried the wear of time.
GJ stepped forward and placed the gun into Gina's waiting hand.
She accepted it with the same ease one might accept a cigarette. There was no ceremony, no shift in expression. Just a quiet, effortless motion.
The weight of the room seemed to grow heavier.
Dun, Tarl, and Tingnim remained locked in place, their bodies unresponsive under the force that held them captive. Their minds, however, were racing, calculating, dreading.
Gina flipped the pistol up into the air.
The gun spun, glinting under the dim basement lights before she caught it midair, her fingers wrapping around the grip with fluid ease.
Turning her gaze back to the three men, she smiled.
"Let's play a game," she said, her voice light. Almost playful.
And just like that, the world around them grew unbearably quiet...