LOGIN3RD POV"Then can you tell us what you have experienced, who knows, we may like your god." Nate said.The killer's expression turned hideous.His lips stretched in a slow, broken grin that didn’t reach his eyes. His eyes… they shifted, dark and hollow, like something had eaten away the man inside and left only a shell behind. A faint tremor ran through his shoulders, and the air in the cave thickened.For a moment, everyone held their breath.Even the dripping water from the cave ceiling seemed to pause.Fear crept into their bones, silent and cold. What if he attacked? What if he decided to kill Zane right there?Zane lay limp in his arms, his head tilted awkwardly, his chest rising faintly.If Zane had been awake, he could have struggled. He could have fought. But now… he was nothing more than a fragile weight.And that made everything worse.No one knew what drug they had used
3rd POVThe police stood in a loose line, their weapons lowered but ready. One of them raised a hand slowly, palm open, voice steady as he spoke.“Listen… let the child go. We can talk this out.”The man didn’t move. His grip around Zane’s neck tightened, the knife pressing closer against the boy’s skin.“Four minutes,” he said, his voice rough. “You have four minutes left.”A murmur spread through the officers. One of them checked his watch, his brows tightening.“He already gave five minutes earlier,” another whispered under his breath. “He’s counting down.”No one moved back. No one stepped away.Because walking down the mountain blindly made no sense. One wrong step, one hidden trigger, and everything could end in seconds.The possibility hung in the air.Bombs.Traps.A setup waiting for them
3rd POVDavid's team and the police simultaneously discovered that the stolen van was parked west of the capital.A low murmur spread through the officers. Radios crackled. Boots shifted against gravel.One officer pointed at the screen in the patrol car. “It hasn’t moved in hours.”
MANNIE’S POVMy hand hovered above my phone screen as I contemplated calling Dominic. Biting my lips, my eyes hazy and filled with contemplation as I wondered if this was the right thing to do.The call icon glowed faintly under my thumb. One tap. That was all it would take.My finger trembled.
3RD POVMrs. Rosalind stepped out of her house with a bunch of well-packaged flowers.She adjusted the wrapper around the bouquet, patting it neatly before placing it carefully into the basket of her small granny bike. The flowers were fresh—roses, daisies, and a few sprigs of lavender she had grown herself.Gardening had become her pride. Her quiet joy.With her children grown and her grandchildren scattered across cities and countries, silence had crept into her life. At first, it had been unbearable. The house had felt too big, and boredom was killing her. So she planted things.And in return, they grew.She mounted her little bike and began pedaling slowly out of the community, humming softly to herself.“Hm… why is that child walking like that?” she muttered under her breath, instinctively slowing down.Her sharp, aged eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head, trying to get a better look.“Oh… it’s Mannie’s child.”Recognition softened her gaze for a moment.“But why is he w
3rd POVAfter the call ended, Mannie looked at the screen and shook her head, “Tsundere,” she muttered under her breath.She lingered for a second, thumb hovering over her phone like she might call back, then scoffed softly and slipped it into her pocket. “Acting all cold like that…” she murmured, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.Mannie entered the living room to see the kids watching TV.The cartoon blasted loudly, colors flashing across the screen as laughter erupted from the characters. The children were sprawled everywhere—on the couch, the rug, even leaning against each other like a pile of sleepy puppies. Their attention was completely locked onto the screen.“Are you all through with your homework?” Mannie asked.The kids all nodded their heads without even looking at her, their eyes glued to the cartoon.Even Nate wasn’t an exception. His usual composed demeanor had melted away, his chin resting on his palm as he stared intently.Mannie folded her arms and r
Mannie’s POVAs the crowd slowly dispersed, the noise faded until only silence filled the jewelry shop. My heart still raced from everything that happened. The smell of perfume mixed with dust and tension hung thick in the air. I didn’t move.Michael finally turned to look at me. His face was calm,
Mannie’s POV“Hey babe, are you free today?” I asked the moment Kayla picked up.Her sleepy voice came through the line, rough and tired. “No sweetheart, I got work today. You know it’s a bar, so it’ll be busy tonight. I just got home from my last shift. I need to sleep.”“Alright. Take care, babe.
Dominic’s POVRing!Ring!The sound of my phone broke through the quiet in my office. I glanced at the screen and raised a brow. Micheal—My cousin. It had been a long while since I last heard from him.“I wonder what he wants,” I muttered, sliding my finger across the screen to pick up the call.“
Micheal’s POVI finally had time to breathe. "Just some peace and quiet." I muttered, allowing myself to sink into the sofa.Finally, I could think of what really mattered to me. And when I did, one name came to me again.Mannie.I leaned back on the couch, staring at the faint light from my phone







