Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Risa felt as if she were drifting in space; her body was light and airy, like she was being carried by unseen forces. It soothes her. She felt comfort and security, like being enveloped in a warm, protective embrace.

But then something changed.

She felt it—a pressure against her back as if she were being pushed forward by the unseen forces. Panic surged through her, shattering the peaceful stillness. Her body jerked, her breath hitched, and in an instant, she was wrenched out of the unknown space.

Her eyes flew open, heart pounding. She looked around at her surroundings. Dim light filtered through cracks in the walls and broken slats in the ceiling, casting thin beams that illuminated floating specks of dust. The wooden floor was uneven, with patches of dirt and old straw scattered across it. This must be a barn—probably an abandoned one, judging by its state and the musty smell lingering in the air.

In the corner, three figures huddled together—a woman, likely around Risa's age, holding two little girls protectively. Even in their disheveled state, there was no denying their beauty. The woman's long white hair was tangled and matted with dirt, her pale skin smudged with grime, and her clothes torn and stained, as if she hadn't bathed in weeks. Yet her striking blue eyes, filled with worry.

The two girls clung to her, their tiny hands gripping her tattered clothing. They looked to be around four years old, mirroring the woman with their white hair, though it was just as tangled and dirty. However, unlike her, their eyes were a deep, vivid red—an unnatural contrast against their pale faces. Those crimson irises, dulled by exhaustion and fear, peeked out cautiously from behind her arms. Their small frames were thin beneath their ragged clothes, which hung loosely on them, as if they'd been surviving on little more than scraps. Despite the grime and desperation, they carried an undeniable elegance—reflections of the woman who held them close, her grip tightening protectively as she watched Risa with wary concern.

Risa was starting to question how she had ended up in this situation. She recalled the dream she had earlier—floating aimlessly through space—but that didn't explain anything. Trying to piece things together, she strained to remember what had happened before that.

The last clear memory she had was the undercover drug bust operation. She had been deep in enemy territory with her partner, both posing as buyers to take down a major supplier. The operation had been meticulously planned—surveillance, wiretaps, and careful setup to ensure a smooth takedown. The deal was supposed to go down quietly, with backup teams waiting just outside.

But then, everything went wrong.

One of the dealers suddenly stiffened, his sharp gaze locking onto Risa's partner. Recognition flickered in his eyes, and before Risa could react, the man's expression twisted in rage. "You! I know you!" he had snarled, reaching for his weapon.

Their cover was blown.

Chaos erupted in an instant—shouting, gunfire, bodies scrambling for cover. Risa barely had time to draw her weapon before bullets ripped through the air. Her partner had lunged for his gun, but it was too late. The cartel enforcers were already on them. The last thing she remembered was the deafening crack of gunfire, pain blooming through her side—then darkness.

And now… she was here. In an abandoned barn. With no memory of how she had gotten from that bloody warehouse to this eerie, dust-filled place.

"What should we do now?" Risa looked toward the woman who had just spoken, her voice barely above a whisper, "They might find us here soon."

"Who's following us?" Risa asked, clearly confused as to why they were being pursued.

"What do you mean, who?" The white-haired woman's voice was sharp, her blue eyes flashing with anger—or maybe fear. "Douglas and his men."

The way she said that name made it sound important, like it was supposed to mean something—maybe strike fear into anyone who heard it. But to Risa, it meant nothing. She had no idea who Douglas was, so the name held no weight for her.

Risa wanted to ask why he was after them, but she hesitated. The answer might not be something the kids were supposed to hear. She decided to wait—she could ask when they were asleep.

She was about to speak when a soft crunch broke the silence—the unmistakable sound of a footstep on dried leaves.

The woman's eyes widened in fear. The two little girls stiffened, their red eyes welling with tears. Risa barely had time to react before instinct took over. She raised a hand, signaling them to stay quiet, every muscle in her body tensing as she listened.

Risa moved slowly toward the sound, trying to get a better view. Shadows shifted in the dim light—multiple figures scanning the area. She counted three of them, moving deliberately, their footsteps crunching against the dirt and dried leaves. They were getting closer, almost at the barn.

Her hand instinctively went to her weapon. She was still wearing the same clothes from her last mission—her undercover disguise. A simple black jacket, a red shirt, and jeans. But something was off. If her last memory was correct, she should have been riddled with bullet holes, her clothes soaked in blood. Yet now, they were just tattered, worn from time rather than violence.

A voice called out from outside.

"We know you're in there," a man announced, his tone eerily casual. "Just hand over your wife, and I'm sure Douglas will give you a place in our group. In times like these, food and shelter are a luxury and you'll have them if you hand her over."

Risa's grip on her weapon tightened. 'Your wife?' she thought, shooting a glance at the white-haired woman. The woman's face was pale, her blue eyes wide with fear, but her jaw was clenched, as if trying to hold herself together.

One of the little girls whimpered, barely suppressing a sob. The woman immediately pulled both children closer, her arms tightening around them protectively.

Outside, the man let out a slow, mocking chuckle. "Don't make this difficult. You know how Douglas is—he doesn't like waiting. Just come out, and no one has to get hurt."

Risa scanned the barn for an escape route. The front entrance was out of the question—those men were armed and expecting them. The only other way out was a broken section of the barn wall near the back, just barely wide enough to squeeze through.

She turned back to the woman, keeping her voice low. "Can you run?"

The woman hesitated, then nodded.

Risa looked at the kids. They were trembling, eyes glistening with unshed tears. Running wouldn't be easy with them, but staying was worse.

There were only three men outside for now, but more could be on the way.

Outside, the voice grew sharper. "Last chance."

Risa took a breath. They had to move. Now.

A sudden bang echoed through the barn as the door was kicked open.

Risa barely had time to react before a man stepped inside, his silhouette outlined against the fading light. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried a rusted machete in one hand, tapping it lazily against his palm. Two more men followed close behind, each gripping crude weapons—one with a crowbar, the other with a wooden bat wrapped in barbed wire.

The white-haired woman sucked in a sharp breath, instinctively pressing the children behind her. Risa stepped in front of them, her body tense, hand hovering near her weapon.

The first man smirked. "There's no point in running. Douglas just wants what's his. Hand her over, and no one has to get hurt."

Risa's eyes flicked between them, searching for an opening. Three of them. Melee weapons. If they rushed her all at once, it'd be trouble—but they were cocky.

The man with the crowbar chuckled. "What's the hesitation? You've had your fun with her, yeah? Douglas won't mind sharing. Hell, maybe we get a turn before bringing her back."

The words sent a sharp pulse of fury through Risa. Her jaw clenched.

The woman behind her trembled, her breath ragged, but she didn't make a sound. The kids clung to her, eyes wide with terror.

The man with the machete took a step forward. "Enough games. We're taking her—"

He moved to grab the woman. Big mistake.

Risa's gun was in her hand before they could blink.

A single gunshot shattered the air.

The nearest man jerked back, a stunned look flashing across his face before he crumpled to the ground. Blood spread beneath him, his weapon slipping from his fingers.

The gunshot hadn't even finished echoing when Risa adjusted her aim.

The second man—the one with the barbed-wire bat—was still reeling from shock, his eyes flicking from his fallen comrade back to her. That hesitation cost him.

Risa pulled the trigger.

The bullet slammed into his chest, cutting off whatever curse he was about to spit out. He stumbled back, mouth open in a silent gasp before collapsing onto the dirt floor.

Two down. One left.

The last man—the one with the crowbar—had barely registered what happened. His weapon was raised, but he hadn't even moved yet.

Risa's gun was already aimed at him.

His eyes widened. "Wait—"

She fired.

A single, precise shot straight between the eyes.

The force snapped his head back before his body crumpled like a puppet with its strings cut.

And just like that, it was over.

Three bodies lay motionless at her feet, the scent of gunpowder hanging thick in the barn.

Risa exhaled slowly, lowering her gun. She didn't have time to dwell on it.

She turned to the white-haired woman, who was still clutching the children, eyes wide with shock.

"We need to go. Now."