William stared at the blood dripping from his axe and let out a slow breath.
"Who the hell is crazy enough to create something like this...?" he muttered.
"William!"
Vella ran toward him, panic written all over her face.
"Are you hurt?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"I'm fine," William replied calmly. "Don't worry."
He bent down and grabbed his rifle—
Then—
"Well done, William."
A voice echoed from the shadows.
William's body tensed instantly.
He spun around and aimed his rifle at the stranger.
"Who are you?! What do you want?!" he demanded.
The man slowly raised both hands.
"Whoa, whoa... easy," he said casually. "I'm not here to hurt you."
William didn't lower his weapon.
The man tilted his head slightly, studying him.
"William Smith..."he said. "Or should I say—Liam Smith. From the Philippines. The guy who disappeared without a trace six years ago in America."
BANG!
William fired a warning shot near the man's feet.
"Don't move!" he snapped. "Who are you?! How do you know my real name?!"
The man didn't flinch.
Instead, a small smirk formed on his face.
"Straight to the point. I like that."
William's grip tightened on his rifle.
"Answer me."
The man glanced at Vella for a second, then looked back at William.
"I'll help you get her out of this city," he said.
Then his tone shifted.
"But you..." he pointed slightly at William, "...you're staying here. With me."
William's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"he asked coldly. "I don't even know who you are."
The man let out a short chuckle.
"Ah, right. My bad."
He straightened up slightly.
"The name's Vincent," he said. "Vincent Miller. Nice to meet you."
William didn't respond.
Vincent stepped forward just enough to show he wasn't afraid.
"How about this," Vincent continued, a smirk returning to his face. "I'll give you something valuable. Information."
William's eyes sharpened.
"What kind of information?"
Vincent glanced at Vella again.
"First, we get her out of the city," he said. "Then we talk."
"About what?" William pressed.
Vincent turned his back slightly, taking a few slow steps away.
Then he stopped.
Without looking at William, he spoke—
"About what really happened to your family."
Silence fell.
Cold.
Heavy.
William's grip on his rifle tightened.
This time...
It wasn't just about survival anymore.