Smoke Maze

Scene 1: Uninvited Guest

The apartment was eerily quiet, the only sound being the soft thud of approaching footsteps. Raul and the masked woman exchanged tense glances, both poised for action.

A shadow loomed beneath the door.

Raul whispered, "Friend of yours?"

Clutching her knife tightly, the masked woman replied, "If they were, I wouldn't be this tense."

The doorknob rattled ominously.

Raul steadied his gun, finger resting lightly on the trigger. The masked woman pressed herself against the wall, eyes sharp, muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike. Then—

BOOM!

The door crashed open, slamming against the wall.

An imposing figure stepped inside, clad entirely in black, a mask obscuring his face. His presence exuded danger.

With a smirk and arms crossed, the masked woman taunted, "Well, well... look who it is. A mere lackey. Where's your boss? Sent his dogs instead?"

Aiming his gun at the intruder's head, Raul quipped, "Didn't your mother teach you to knock?"

The man remained unfazed, tilting his head slightly, like a predator observing its prey.

Mockingly, he retorted, "Cute. But put the gun down, boy. You don't even know who you're dealing with."

Raul smirked, pressing the barrel against the man's forehead. "Then educate me."

The man moved—swiftly.

Before Raul could react, his gun was wrenched from his grip, his wrist twisted painfully. The weapon clattered to the floor.

Raul hissed in pain but stood his ground. He threw a punch, but it felt like hitting solid steel. The man didn't even blink.

Gritting his teeth, Raul muttered, "Seriously?! What the hell do you eat, man?"

He pulled back and delivered a powerful kick. Nothing. Not even a flinch.

Staggering back, clutching his leg in pain, Raul groaned, "Okay, that's not normal. Are you even human? What's your workout routine, bro?"

Rolling her eyes, the masked woman interjected, "Move aside. Let me handle this."

Grinning, Raul replied, "Oh, come on. This is between us men."

Tauntingly, she shot back, "Yes, because clearly, your leg is screaming 'victory' right now."

Muttering under his breath, Raul asked, "Damn it, who the hell is this guy?"

The masked woman stepped forward, her eyes dark with recognition. In a low, dangerous tone, she revealed, "He's not just some street lackey... He's Ghost."

Blinking in surprise, Raul dramatically gasped, "Ghost?! A real one?! I mean, yeah, he looks dead inside, but—"

Ghost clenched his fists, his patience wearing thin. Growling, he demanded, "Who the hell are you, bitch, and why are you interfering in our business?"

The masked woman smirked. Mockingly, she replied, "Oh, darling, it's not me interfering in your affairs. It's you who meddled in my life."

Watching them both, arms crossed and utterly confused, Raul muttered, "Am I the only one here who doesn't have a dramatic past with this dude?"

Scene 2: A Piece of the Truth

Stepping between them, arms crossed, Raul demanded, "You've got about five minutes to explain before I start testing how fast you can dodge bullets. Who are you, and what do you want?"

Furious, Ghost accused, "You killed our people and now dare to ask why I'm here?"

The masked woman remained unfazed, her voice cool and steady. Casually, she offered, "Would you like a detailed breakdown of how I did it? Maybe a slideshow?"

Raul smirked, enjoying the back-and-forth.

Stepping closer, his voice a low growl, Ghost threatened, "The boss wants you two. Alive... or in pieces."

Raul clenched his jaw. No way in hell was he letting that happen.

Tilting her head and smirking, the masked woman taunted, "Tell your boss if he wants me, he better send someone stronger. Because last I checked, you were just his little errand boy, barking orders like a well-trained mutt."

Ghost's smirk faltered slightly as he adjusted his gloves. Gritting his teeth, he warned, "I don't know who the hell you are, but I'm about to find out."

Raising a hand, Ghost signaled, and a dozen armed men entered the room, guns raised. Thunderously, he ordered, "Boys, don't leave a single organ intact. Light them up."

Raul sighed dramatically. Mockingly, he called out, "Ah, ah, ah! Hold up, Mr. Hulk or Ghost Uncle or whatever the hell you are. Before you kill me, let me show you something cool."

The masked woman chuckled, knowing exactly what was coming.

Ghost's men adjusted their triggers, ready to fire.

Raul moved swiftly. He lunged toward the fridge, yanked something out, and—

BOOM!

A smoke bomb detonated.

Thick, suffocating smoke filled the room.

Screams. Gunfire. Chaos.

Through the haze, Raul stood calmly, adjusting his smoke-resistant contact lenses. Grinning, he declared, "Magic trick, motherfuckers."

The masked woman moved with precision, cutting through the smoke like a shadow. Ghost's men coughed, disoriented. Then—

A single scream pierced the chaos.

Gasping, the masked woman called out, "Raul?!"

BLACKOUT.

Who screamed?

Did someone get shot?

Will Raul and the masked woman escape, or...?

- End of the chapter -

To be continued.....