Amidst the mix of scents, there was a faint, bitter trace of herbs. It was so subtle it was nearly buried by everything else.
Felicia’s eyes snapped open. She climbed back into the back seat and pointed ahead. “Tumleft, then make <b>a </b>right —‘
Before she could finish, the car door on the other <b>side </b>suddenly opened. A cool night breeze swept in as someone slipped into the passenger <b>seat</b>.
Felicia instinctively <b>nced </b>up and saw a sharp, chiseled profile. Hisplexion <b>was </b><b>pale </b><b>and </b>cold, his features strikingly defined. She could even see his <b>Adam’s </b>apple shift when he spoke.
“Drive. I’ming with you,” came the deep, resonant voice.
It was <b>Stephan</b>. Felicia hadn’t expected him to show up, hut considering the unusual bond between him and Mike, it <b>wasn’t </b>exactly shocking.
Stephan, now in the passenger seat, directed his words at Mike. He didn’t even seem <b>to </b>notice Felicia in the back.
It <b>wasn’t </b>until Mike, who kept one hand on the wheel, nced back and asked, “What’s next?” that Stephan realized someone else was there.
“Head to the bridge. Keep going straight. I’ll let you know when to turn, Felicia instructed.
She rolled down the window, letting the wind toss her hair as she focused on the faint, lingering scent. Stephan caught her unusual behavior and shot her a surprised look<b>, </b>but she ignored him.
Following Felicia’s guidance, the car weaved through the streets until it finally arrived at an abandoned fireworks factory.
The factory looked like it had been shut down for years. Wild grass had overgrown the <b>area</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>there were no streetlights—just the pale, eerie glow of the moon. The darkness inside was stifling. It was impossible to tell whether the windows had beenpletely boarded up or if the building was empty
<b>Felicia </b>Inhaled deeply, sensing the scent still hanging in the air. “This is it. The trail hasn’t faded.”
Mike didn’t hesitate. He stepped out of the car with deadly intensity and headed straight for the factory’srge, misted gate.
A heavy lock hung on the door, but it didn’t stand a chance. After a few brutal kicks, the metal twisted, and the lock shattered
The gate creaked open. novelbin
Before following Mike <b>inside</b>, Stephan tomed to Felicia. His tone was calm but left no room for argument. “Stay in the car and lock the doors.”
Staying behind would have been <b>the </b>safer choice, but Felicia couldn’t sit still she bent down, picked up a loose brick from the ground, and tested its weight in <b>her </b>hand before quietly slipping in after them.
Inside the factory, Mike found the power box. He showed the lever upward, and a blinding spotlight suddenly nickered to life, nooding the <b>area </b>with harsh, unforgiving Light The sudden brightness was disorienting, leaving everyone momentarily blinded.
Mike instinctively shat his <b>eyes</b><b>, </b>but the split–second pause gave his enemies an opening
A steel pipe caine swinging down toward his head with temlying force.
Reacting purely on instinct, Mike dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow. But he didn’t realize there was another attacker behind him.
Aknite glinted in the harsh light as it shot toward his lower back
Before the de could strike, another hand intercepted it inmid–air.
In one swift motion, the attacker holding the <b>knife </b>was sent thing backward, his body <b>bending </b>unnaturally as he crashed <b>into </b>the ground like a ragdoll Stephan hat kicked him hard.
The force of the lick was so brutal that the man twitched <b>a </b>few times before fallingpletely still.
The other attacker, clutching the steel <b>pipe</b>, went pale with fear. He stumbled backward, his courage rapidly draining. But after a moment’s hesitation, he let out a roar and charged at Stephan in desperation.
Stephan sighed, making <b>a </b>sharp, annoyed sound as <b>his </b>patience wore thin. He sent the unlucky man flying with a single sweeping kicktoo