The hands of the clock had stopped at 2:30 AM.
The streets were deserted, only the headlights of the black SUV shone in the darkness.
Tyson Knight—a name filled with dread.
Cruelty was his identity, and secrecy his shield.
Tonight, he was going with his team to an underground basement to retrieve something—a secret file.
The SUV stopped in front of an old factory. Romy checked his watch, then looked at Tyson—"Boss, everything is ready inside."
Without a word, Tyson opened the door and stepped out.
There was no one there, but Tyson had already guessed—"We're being watched."
He moved forward, his black boots clanging against the cold iron stairs.
As he opened the heavy basement door, the stench from inside assaulted him.
The odor of rotting corpses… the smell of blood… the echoes of screams…
The basement walls were stained with filth and dried blood.
There were iron cages… in which not humans, but shadows were trapped… some groaned, some didn't even move.
Human experiments took place here—people were used as living test subjects.
Tyson's face was completely impassive, as if none of this affected him.
His black shirt and leather jacket looked even more menacing in the darkness.
"Where's the file?" Tyson asked Romy.
Romy pointed—"In the safe room, at the far corner."
Tyson activated his spy cameras, which gave him a clear footage of every corner.
He could anticipate everything… that's why no one could outsmart him.
Tyson entered the safe room… a black folder lay on the table, secured with a security code lock.
But then his gaze fell on her, making even him pause for a moment.
A girl…
Long brown hair… skin as white as milk… and olive green eyes… She was kneeling on the ground.
There were injury marks on her bare feet… her clothes were covered in grime.
But the strangest thing was—her eyes.
No feeling, no fear… as if she were already dead while still alive.
"Name?" Tyson asked in a cold voice.
The girl said nothing.
Tyson went to her and grabbed her hair roughly… lifting her face up.
Tyson spoke again—"Asking for your name."
The girl's breaths quickened, but she gave no answer.
Tyson's grip tightened further.
The girl's lips trembled… and she said in a shaky voice—"Ha… Hana…"
Tyson looked into her eyes… then smiled and said—"Interesting…"
And in the very next moment, he had picked her up in his arms.
Hana's eyes slowly closed… perhaps from fear, perhaps from exhaustion…
But one thing was certain—she had escaped one prison, only to be confined in another.
Hana's breaths were shallow, as if she was swaying between unconsciousness and awareness.
Tyson had already put her in his black SUV.
Romy sat in the driver's seat, with Tyson and Hana in the back.
Only darkness was visible through the SUV's windows.
"Boss, who is this girl?" Romy asked.
Tyson didn't reply… his deep grey eyes were fixed on Hana's face… a clean face, but filled with pain… "The girl who knows nothing."
As soon as the SUV stopped, Tyson picked up Hana and went inside his private mansion.
He took her straight to his bedroom—a lavish room where everything was expensive and perfect.
Laying Hana down on the soft bed, Tyson walked towards the balcony—the air was cold, but Tyson's mind was racing.
Who was this girl? Why didn't she cry or scream like the other prisoners? Why was there no emotion in her eyes?
"Interesting…" Tyson said to himself.
The night had passed…
"First Morning"
Morning light filled the room. Hana was slowly opening her eyes… a white ceiling… a large window… and an unfamiliar place… her mind was numb.
Hana said softly—"Where am I?" and started to get up, but…"Ah!" a soft cry escaped her lips. There were still wounds on her hands and feet.
Just then…
Tyson's voice came—"You survived."
Hana turned her head—and saw Tyson!
He was sitting on the sofa, a coffee cup in one hand and a file in the other. His eyes were cold… utterly ruthless.
"Stand up," Tyson said.
Hana said nothing.
Tyson spoke again—"Shall I repeat myself?"
There was such sternness in Tyson's voice that Hana trembled. She barely managed to put her feet down.
Tyson said—"Now tell me, how did you get there?"
Hana lowered her head.
"Speak!" Tyson's voice echoed.
There was fear and confusion in Hana's eyes—"I… I don't know…" she said softly.
Silence fell in the room.
Tyson got up and came to her, saying—"Don't know anything?"
Hana nodded her head.
Tyson grabbed her chin, lifted her face, and looking into her eyes, said—"You may not know anything, but I will find out everything."
Tyson let go of Hana, went to his wardrobe, and pulled out a shirt. Tyson threw the shirt at Hana and said—"Change."
Hana looked at the clothes, then at Tyson, and said softly in a trembling voice—"How?"
Tyson raised his eyebrows and then said—"You don't even know how to wear clothes?"
Hana shook her head.
Tyson let out a bitter laugh and said—"Then it will be fun teaching you."
Hana's heart started beating rapidly.
Looking into her eyes, Tyson said—"Now you are in my world, and here everything happens my way."
There were no expressions on Hana's face. She couldn't even understand what the man standing in front of her wanted.
Tyson took a deep breath and, stepping back, ordered, "Go and take a shower."
There was confusion in Hana's eyes. She stood still, completely motionless.
"Go now!" Tyson said in a loud voice. There was so much sternness in his voice that she trembled. But her confusion did not lessen.
Hana said softly—"How?"
Tyson frowned. Then, seeing her innocence, a slight mischievous smile touched his lips. Tyson said—"So you don't even know that?"
Hana shook her head.
Tyson took a deep breath and, without saying anything, took her hand and led her straight to the bathroom.
The bathroom was cold, with marble walls and a glass-like floor.
Hana looked around; she had never been in such an open space before.
Tyson turned on the shower and stood her underneath it.
As the cold water fell on Hana's body, she shivered violently, and a soft cry escaped her lips—"Ah!"—and she instinctively grabbed Tyson's shirt tightly.
In the very next moment, she pulled herself incredibly close to Tyson, hugging him tightly. Her body was trembling with fear, and her delicate arms were wrapped tightly around his back.
This was unexpected for Tyson. His eyes widened for a moment, but then the same mischievous smile returned to his lips.
Tyson said softly—"Scared?"
Hana nodded her head, but she still didn't let go of Tyson.
Tyson gently ran his fingers through her hair and then… stood her under the shower again. And said—"Now stand still."
Hana once again closed her eyes, trembling.
Water was slowly flowing down Hana's body, but she was still standing rooted to the spot, as if she didn't know what to do next.
Tyson looked at her clothes—they were completely clinging to her body, soaked.
He showed no hesitation. Slowly, he started to remove Hana's clothes.
There were no expressions on Hana's face—no shame, no discomfort.
Tyson observed her closely and said—"Don't you even know what shame is?"
There was no reply from Hana. The same emptiness was on Hana's face.
Tyson's mind started racing.
Who exactly is this girl? So beautiful, so innocent… but completely feelingless?
He gently wiped the water from Hana's body and then took a clean towel. Tyson carefully dried her and made her wear one of his white shirts.
The shirt was long, reaching up to Hana's knees.
The fabric looked even bigger on her small and delicate body.
Tyson looked into her eyes once more. The same emptiness… the same void… Tyson gently patted her cheek and said—"Now you have a lot to learn, Hana."