The Game Is On

The clock struck 4:45 PM, and Mia stood anxiously at the center of the hospital, her mind racing with doubt. The figures around her were disguised—doctors, patients, and hospital staff—all of them heavily armed and poised for action. Among them was David, who watched her with a calm smile, but Mia couldn't shake the unease settling in her stomach. What have I done? She thought, recalling her earlier decision to tell Vardan to meet her at the rooftop, not the center. She hadn't meant to betray him, but now she feared the worst.

The seconds ticked by as 5:00 PM arrived. All eyes in the room shifted to Mia, but she remained frozen, unable to move, her heart pounding. Meanwhile, Vardan waited on the rooftop, unaware of the unfolding trap.

As the minutes passed, Mia's anxiety grew.

At 5:30 PM, David finally broke the silence, his gaze locking onto Mia. He could see her nervousness. She's hiding something.

Then, at 6:00 PM, the tension was unbearable. David's smile faltered as his patience ran thin. He subtly nodded to one of his men, signaling it was time.

Mia's blood ran cold as the man with a knife in his hand began to step toward her. This is it, she thought, barely able to breathe.

Just as the man raised his blade, ready to strike, there was a sharp movement from the crowd. The man was hit square in the face, sending him stumbling backward, blood spraying. Mia gasped, and every eye in the room snapped toward the person who had just saved her.

It was Vardan.

He stood there, calm and unshaken, his eyes locked on David. "I figured something was off when you told me to meet you at the rooftop," Vardan said, his voice steady, revealing no trace of the panic Mia had felt.

David, stunned by the sudden appearance, regained his composure. "What are you doing here? You were supposed to be part of my team," he said, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Vardan flashed a smile. "I joined your team to learn about you, Doctor. Now, it seems like it's time to finish this little game."

David's eyes darkened. "So, you're betraying the organization?" He sneered. "Do you think you can defeat all of us? There are over a hundred men here, all armed to the teeth."

Vardan's grin only widened. "I expected this. That's why I'm prepared."

David's face twisted with anger as he barked orders to his men. "Kill him. Alive or dead—it doesn't matter."

The men rushed toward Vardan, weapons drawn, but they didn't get far. In a flash of movement, five of them collapsed, blood spraying from their necks. The room was stunned into silence as the cause of their downfall stepped forward—an old man, one hand gripping a sword, a smile on his face. It was Old Man Johan, a legendary figure who had been missing.

Vardan nodded to Johan. "I knew this could happen, so I called in a favor. Johan came through, just like I knew he would."

David's face twisted in shock, his mind racing. "You brought him here?"

Johan's sword dripped with the blood of the fallen men, but his expression was calm, almost amused. The remaining men hesitated, their fear palpable.

David regained his composure and, with a chilling smile, ordered his men forward again. "Catch them. Alive or dead. I want them both."

Vardan turned to Johan. "Can you handle them?"

Johan gave a simple nod. "Yes."

Vardan's gaze hardened as he set his sights on David. "Stay close, and don't let anyone catch you," he said to Mia before turning away. "Get to safety."

Mia hesitated, glancing at the chaos unfolding around her. "But—"

"Now, Mia!" Vardan urged, his voice sharp and commanding. "Go!"

Mia's heart pounded as she ran to find cover, her mind reeling from the whirlwind of events. The hospital was now a battleground, and Vardan and Johan were in the center of it all.

Vardan's pursuit of David had only just begun.