At Selen's House
Rain whispered against the windows, casting slanting shadows across the sleek but cozy apartment. Outside, the world blurred into gray, but inside, warmth lingered. The soft scent of simmering spices drifted from the kitchen, where Elira stirred a pot of noodles with calm precision.
Selen sat curled on the couch beside Nyra, a blanket tugged up to her chin. Her stomach growled loud enough to cut through the hum of the television.
"Eonni, make some for me too," Selen called out, voice teasing but hopeful.
Elira didn't glance over. "Why? You said you weren't hungry," she replied, sarcasm threaded through her tone.
Selen pouted, sighing dramatically. "I wasn't. But now I am. You always cook like it's a five-star kitchen. Everything smells... sinfully good."
Nyra giggled, nestling deeper into the cushions. "Don't forget, you're broke, baby. Eonni, feed us both." She laughed again.
Elira poked her head around the corner, eyes narrowed. "If you two don't shut up and wait, I swear-"
They snorted, struggling to contain their laughter.
"Yes, ma'am," Selen said, mock-saluting.
Soon, Elira returned with steaming bowls and a tray of snacks. The girls dug in, letting warmth and food temporarily soothe the tension.
Between mouthfuls, Nyra's tone shifted. "We should've gone to the cops after that night," she said casually, though her eyes slid to Selen with weight.
Forks paused midair. Elira and Selen stared at her, the silence sharp.
"We don't even know who they were," Selen said flatly. "You think the police can protect us from... men like that?"
"They weren't ordinary," Elira murmured. "I saw it in their eyes. They kill-and vanish."
Nyra opened her mouth to speak again, but Elira cut her off-her voice sharper now.
"And don't forget, you shot someone, Nyra. If we go to the cops, they'll arrest you first."
That hit harder than expected.
Nyra went quiet. Her hands dropped to her lap, and the cereal bowl in front of her suddenly didn't seem so interesting.
Selen let out a slow breath. "Thanks to Dad, we can defend ourselves. But we're not ready to take on... whoever those men really are."
"Exactly," Elira added. "They were huge. Trained. All armed. Military vibes. Way out of our league."
A chill crept through the room.
Nyra swallowed. " Uncle Lee, always trained us. No wonder he always protective. "
"Yeah," Selen replied with a dry laugh. "Dad trained us well. But we're still not ready to take on black-suited assassins from a Bond movie."
"They were huge... tall, trained, armed." Elira frowned. "Military. Way out of our league."
"But we made it out," Nyra added. "One of them even got shot. That's something-right?"
Selen stared at her. "Are you out of your mind?"
"Don't be proud of that," Elira snapped. "They were hunting us. With guns. Not paintball markers."
Then-
Ding-dong.
A knock echoed through the apartment. Sharp. Sudden.
They froze.
"Did anyone... order something?" Elira whispered.
"No," Selen said, standing slowly.
"Be careful. This could be bad."
Her bare feet moved silently over the tile. She peeked through the peephole.
Nothing.
She opened the door.
Only one thing waited.
A black envelope, lying on the floor like a warning. No name. No sound.
Selen bent to pick it up. Her fingers trembled.
She closed the door.
The girls leaned in as she opened it-slowly, carefully. Inside: a letter. Handwritten. Slanted, sharp strokes. Cold. Precise. And tucked beneath it, a formal, gold-embossed invitation card with an ornate crest.
Her voice dropped into a whisper as she read aloud:
" Do as I say, or watch your old man bleed out like the hero he thought he was.
I'm sure Mommy didn't leave by choice when you were five. Funny how history repeats. You've got a decision to make.
Choose wisely.
And don't you dare to tell anyone, Selen. Or you'll find out what 'worst' really means.
- see you soon, sweetheart."
Silence collapsed over the room.
Selen's heartbeat thundered in her ears. Elira turned pale.
"What does that mean?" Nyra gasped. "Your dad... Selen, your dad?"
"And why only mention Selen?" Elira asked, voice suddenly low. "Why not me instead?"
Selen stared forward, blank, as if the words were still crawling through her skin.
"He's... all we have left," Elira whispered, tears in her eyes.
Nyra snatched the card and flipped it over. "It's for some kind of elite gala," she said breathlessly. "The one the city's been buzzing about."
"They want us there?" Elira frowned. "Why?"
"Maybe they're watching us. Testing if we follow orders."
Selen folded the letter carefully. Her hands shook.
"We're in this now," she murmured. "Whoever they are... they know us. They know me."
Her eyes lifted-fear replaced by something colder. Harder.
Fire.
"Where's Dad?" she asked, voice clipped with resolve. "He's at the café, right?"
Elira nodded.
And just like that, everything changed.
" They want me there."
______
Unknown Location - Safe House - Night
A fluorescent light buzzed quietly overhead, casting a clinical glow on the concrete walls. No windows. No comfort. Just shadows and steel.
At the center of the room sat a sleek desk, cluttered like a war table-maps, classified papers, surveillance stills. Red string connected cities. Dots. Names. Lives.
In the middle of it all-her.
Dozens of photos pinned to a corkboard. Some grainy. Some high-res. One of her walking into her apartment. Another laughing with Elira. One hugging her father outside the café.
One... inside her room.
A lighter flicked.
In the low light, a man leaned forward-broad shoulders tense, sleeves rolled up, veins raised along his forearms. A cigarette burned slowly between his fingers. Ash curled into the air and vanished.
He stared at her photo like it was art. Or a curse.
Then, he spoke-his voice gravelly, almost amused.
"You really thought I wouldn't find you...didn't you?"
He stepped toward the board, dragging a single finger across her image. His touch lingered.
But there was no warmth in his gaze.
Only possession.
" Maybe you've grown...fearless. Fire in your eyes. Just like her."
A pause.
Then a laugh-low and broken.
The kind that makes monsters uncomfortable.
" But fire burns. And i like to watch things burn."
He opened a drawer. Inside: a small velvet box.
A necklace rested inside- an old, faded photograph pinned to the board.
He lifted it delicately.
"You don't know me yet, Selen. But you will."
Silence.
"Funny thing is...you already do. You saved me once - thought i doubt you realized it."
Another joyless chuckle.
" You think you could stepped into my world and walk out like it means nothing? , that I wouldn't make you pay for it ? "
" you will for every breath you took like you were untouchable -
You'll pay for all of it."
He picked up a tablet from the desk.
A live feed flickered to life.
Selen's apartment. The front hallway.
Her face. Not fear-no. It wasanger, pure burning. The way her fingers clenched the latter like it owned her blood....
God, she was beautiful when she burned.
He smirked and watched.
Waited.
Eyes dark with obsession.
"You're already marked."
____×___
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Go on ...take a wild guess. Who do you think is lurking in in the shadows
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