A Dance with the Devil

The warehouse fell into an eerie silence, the only sound being the faint creak of metal as The Hunter stepped forward. His presence was suffocating, an overwhelming force that made even the shadows seem to retreat.

Luca's grip tightened on his weapon, heart pounding like a war drum. "You talk too much."

The Hunter chuckled—a low, dark sound that sent a chill down Rayna's spine. "And you think too little."

Then, he moved.

Faster than a blink, he disappeared into the darkness.

"Spread out!" Luca ordered, but before they could react, a gunshot echoed through the warehouse.

A bullet whizzed past Julian's ear, lodging into a crate behind him. He cursed, diving for cover. Rayna followed, rolling behind a stack of wooden pallets. Vaughn, already moving, fired a shot into the dark, but it hit nothing but air.

"Where the hell is he?" Julian hissed.

Declan's voice crackled in their earpieces. "He's playing with you. Watch your backs."

Another shot. This time, it hit metal, sending sparks flying.

Rayna caught a flash of movement—a figure leaping from the catwalk above. "There!" she shouted.

Luca turned just in time to see The Hunter land like a phantom, his boots barely making a sound. He swung his gun toward him, but The Hunter was faster.

With brutal precision, he kicked Luca's weapon out of his hands and slammed a fist into his gut. Luca stumbled back, gasping for air.

Vaughn roared, charging forward with a knife.

The Hunter sidestepped at the last second, twisting Vaughn's arm and flipping him over. Vaughn hit the ground hard, groaning.

Julian took a shot. The bullet zipped through the air—

And missed.

The Hunter was already moving, already closing the distance.

Julian barely had time to react before a powerful kick sent him crashing into a metal shelf.

"Pathetic," The Hunter muttered.

Rayna, watching from the shadows, saw her opening.

With swift, calculated steps, she sprinted forward, knife in hand. She ducked low, aiming for his side—

But The Hunter turned at the last second.

He caught her wrist mid-strike, twisting it until the blade clattered to the floor. With a cruel smirk, he yanked her forward, whispering against her ear.

"You almost had me."

Then, with a ruthless shove, he sent her flying backward. She crashed into a stack of crates, wood splintering beneath her.

Luca, shaking off the pain in his ribs, pushed himself up. His vision swam, but his resolve remained unshaken.

"You can't win," The Hunter said, adjusting his gloves. "Not against me."

Luca wiped the blood from his mouth. "Maybe not."

Then, he smirked.

The Hunter's eyes narrowed—just as the explosion went off.

A massive boom rocked the warehouse, shaking the very ground beneath them. Fire erupted from one of the fuel drums near the entrance, engulfing the area in smoke and chaos.

The Hunter stumbled back, momentarily caught off guard.

That was all they needed.

Rayna, bruised but not broken, lunged.

Vaughn, despite his injuries, tackled The Hunter's legs.

Julian, vision blurred, fired again. This time, the bullet grazed The Hunter's shoulder, drawing blood.

Luca, seizing the moment, delivered a devastating punch to his jaw. The Hunter staggered, barely managing to stay on his feet.

The tides were turning.

But The Hunter wasn't finished yet.

With inhuman strength, he pushed Vaughn off him, twisting free from their grasp. His hand darted to his belt—pulling out a small, black device.

Luca's eyes widened. "Move!"

The Hunter pressed the button.

A second explosion.

A flash of light.

Then—

Darkness.