Chapter 0036 – Shadows of the Past
The city was eerily quiet as Alexander followed the man in the black suit toward the sleek car idling by the curb. A chill ran down his spine—not from the cold, but from the unshakable feeling that something was terribly wrong.
The door to the car clicked open, and Alexander slid inside, his muscles tense as the man settled beside him. The dim interior light flickered, casting ominous shadows over the stranger's unreadable face.
Alexander's patience wore thin. "Enough with the theatrics. Tell me why I'm here."
The man pulled out a thick folder and placed it on Alexander's lap. "This is about your past… and your future."
Frowning, Alexander flipped it open. His breath hitched. The pages inside weren't just documents—they were records, photos, and letters that should have never seen the light of day. They detailed things he had long buried. His grip tightened as his eyes scanned a familiar name, one he hadn't spoken in years.
"Where did you get this?" His voice was low, dangerous.
The man smirked. "The real question is—why is it resurfacing now?"
Alexander's blood ran cold.
Meanwhile, back in the penthouse, Claire couldn't shake the unease that had settled in her chest like a heavy stone. She paced the living room, her fingers hovering over her phone. After a hesitation, she dialed Alexander.
Straight to voicemail.
Her heart thumped harder. She tried again.
Still nothing.
Then, the lights flickered.
Claire froze. The air in the apartment seemed to shift, charged with an unseen presence. The silence stretched unnaturally, pressing in on her ears.
A soft creak.
The sound came from the hallway.
She turned, her breath caught in her throat. The shadows near the doorway seemed to ripple. She wasn't alone.
Her pulse roared in her ears as she reached for the nearest object—a heavy glass vase—her fingers tightening around it.
And then… a whisper. Low. Unfamiliar.
"You should have left when you had the chance."
The lights went out.
The Edge of Darkness
The world outside was a blur as the car sped through the city streets. Alexander barely noticed the neon lights streaking past, his focus locked on the folder still in his lap. His hands clenched into fists.
This wasn't just about his past—it was about Claire, too. Someone had been watching them. Someone who knew far too much.
He turned to the man beside him, his voice sharp. "Who sent you?"
The man gave a slow, knowing smile. "You already know the answer to that."
Alexander's jaw tightened. There was only one person who could have gone this far. Someone he had long considered a ghost from his past.
Sebastian Hale.
The name alone sent a chill through him. A man who never forgave. Never forgot.
Before he could press further, the car jerked to a sudden stop. Alexander's instincts flared as he glanced out the window. They were in an abandoned parking lot, surrounded by darkness.
"Get out," the man ordered.
Alexander hesitated for only a second before stepping out. The cool night air felt sharp against his skin. The man followed, adjusting his suit as he gestured toward the other end of the lot.
There, standing in the shadows, was a figure.
Tall. Still. Waiting.
Alexander's pulse quickened. He knew that silhouette.
Sebastian stepped forward, his smirk barely visible in the dim light. "It's been a long time, Knight."
Alexander's fists clenched at his sides. "Not long enough."
Sebastian let out a chuckle, slow and deliberate. "I have to admit, I didn't think you'd settle down so easily. Love has made you soft."
"Cut to the point," Alexander growled. "Why are you here?"
Sebastian tilted his head. "Because you have something I want."
Alexander's breath hitched. This wasn't just about him.
This was about Claire.
Meanwhile, back at the penthouse, Claire stood frozen in the darkness. The whispered warning still echoed in her ears.
A shape moved in the shadows.
A presence.
She swallowed hard, her grip tightening around the glass vase in her hand. "Who's there?" Her voice was steadier than she felt.
Silence.
Then—
A sudden rush of movement.
Claire swung blindly, the vase shattering against something—or someone. A low grunt followed, and then a hand caught her wrist, yanking her backward.
She gasped, struggling, her pulse hammering wildly. Strong fingers closed around her arm, pinning her in place.
A voice whispered near her ear. Cold. Menacing.
"You should've run when you had the chance."
Her blood turned to ice.
A Dangerous Game
Claire's breath came in ragged gasps as she struggled against the iron grip holding her in place. Her pulse pounded in her ears, every instinct screaming at her to fight.
"Let me go!" she hissed, twisting violently, but the man was stronger.
A low chuckle echoed in the darkness. "Now, now, we wouldn't want to make a mess, would we?"
The voice was unfamiliar, but the threat in it sent a chill down her spine. She couldn't see his face—only the faint outline of his figure in the dim light.
Claire's mind raced. Alexander wasn't here. She was alone.
No. Not alone.
Her eyes darted toward the side table where she had left her phone. If she could just reach it—
As if sensing her thoughts, the man yanked her back, his grip tightening. "Ah, ah. No sudden moves. We need to have a little chat."
Claire's heart hammered. "Who sent you?"
The man sighed. "You ask too many questions."
Then, before she could react, a cloth pressed over her mouth. A sharp, sickly-sweet scent filled her nose.
No.
She thrashed, fought, tried to scream—
But the darkness swallowed her whole.
Meanwhile…
Alexander took a slow, deliberate step toward Sebastian. "If you think you can threaten me—"
Sebastian held up a hand, cutting him off. "Threaten? No, Alexander. I don't need to threaten you. I already have what I want."
A cold weight settled in Alexander's chest. "What are you talking about?"
Sebastian smirked and pulled a phone from his pocket, pressing a button. The screen lit up.
A photo.
Claire.
Unconscious.
A masked figure standing over her.
Alexander's vision blurred with fury. His fingers curled into fists.
"If you've hurt her—"
Sebastian tsked. "Hurt her? Not yet. But that depends on you."
Alexander forced himself to stay calm. Losing control wouldn't help Claire. "What do you want?"
Sebastian's smile widened. "A simple trade."
Alexander's jaw clenched. "For what?"
Sebastian leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper.
"Your life."
The Deadline
A sharp, suffocating silence filled the dimly lit office as Alexander locked eyes with Sebastian. The air between them crackled with tension, both men standing like loaded guns, ready to fire.
"You expect me to believe you'll let her go?" Alexander's voice was low, controlled—but beneath it lay a storm.
Sebastian smirked, leaning back against the mahogany desk, fingers lazily tracing the edge of his whiskey glass. "Believe whatever you want. But the clock is ticking."
From his pocket, he withdrew a phone and tapped the screen. A new image flashed before Alexander's eyes.
Claire.
Bound to a chair. A single bulb cast harsh shadows over her pale face. Her wrists were tied cruelly behind her back, and just below her chin—a blade.
A gloved hand held it, pressing the cold steel just above her collarbone.
Alexander felt his pulse hammer against his ribs.
Sebastian chuckled. "You have twelve hours. Midnight. The old harbor. You come alone, no tricks, no backup." He took a slow sip of whiskey before meeting Alexander's burning gaze. "Or I'll send her back to you… piece by piece."
The glass in Alexander's hand shattered.
Blood dripped from his palm, but he didn't flinch. His focus was locked on the man before him, his mind already calculating.
"You're making a mistake," Alexander said, his voice dark and edged with lethal promise.
Sebastian only laughed, standing up and buttoning his suit. "Am I? Or am I simply playing the game better than you?"
He tossed the phone onto the desk. The screen flickered—a live feed.
Claire struggled against her restraints. Her breathing was heavy, her eyes darting around, searching for a way out. Then, suddenly—a masked figure stepped into the frame.
The feed cut to black.
The air in the room felt like it had been sucked out.
"Tick-tock, Alexander," Sebastian murmured, patting him mockingly on the shoulder before walking away.
Somewhere in the darkness…
Claire woke up to the stench of damp metal and decay.
Her body ached. Her arms were numb from the tight restraints.
Panic clawed at her chest, but she forced it down. She couldn't afford to lose control. Not now.
She tested the ropes. Too tight. No give.
A creaking sound.
She froze.
Footsteps. Slow. Deliberate.
A shadow passed outside the door.
Claire's breathing hitched as the heavy steel door groaned open. A figure stepped inside, their face hidden behind a smooth, emotionless mask.
"You're awake," the voice murmured. It was calm. Too calm.
Claire swallowed hard. "Where am I?"
The masked figure knelt beside her. "That depends." A gloved hand brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "On whether he makes it in time."
The fear she had been suppressing crashed through her like a wave.
No. She couldn't just wait for Alexander.
She had to escape.
Before the clock ran out.
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(To be Continue...)