He tore down his previous empire and started fresh with a completely new identity. The Hazard King everyone knew? He was gone. No one had a clue where he was, no na, no face to go after.
Rumors buzzed around, with so saying he was hiding out in the streets of Tokyo, while others thought he had legit died during the Karza war. But in reality, only two people knew the full story: the Hazard King himself and the woman whose na was etched on the final page of his encrypted USB, Lunel.
*****
After six months in Istanbul, Aylin was finally feeling at ho. She stood outside Nebula Teknoloji Ltd., the sun setting and casting a golden glow on the shiny building. It felt like she was stepping into a whole new world, away from the chaos of her past life.
Walking through the security gates, she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, feeling a mix of excitent and relaxation. Gone were the days of worrying about code nas and encrypted ssages; now, she was just Aylin Monroe Alston, tech specialist, ready to tackle the day.
The sound of her heels clicked against the pavent as a gentle breeze danced around her, carrying the delicious slls of roasted chestnuts and the salty air from the nearby Bosphorus. A smile crept onto her face as she thought, "Another day, another normal life." It felt good to embrace simplicity.
Pulling out her Turkish SIM phone, she checked the weather and saw that tonight promises clear skies, perfect for a walk before grabbing dinner. She decided to call Ayla, wondering if she wanted to et up near Beşiktaş Pier for dessert.
When Ayla answered the phone, Aylin asked, "Are you coming for dessert?" Ayla confird and added, "Okay, bring Liam along." Aylin was uncertain about Liam; Ayla had once told her that he had a tendency to disappear without a word, only to reappear later as if nothing had happened. Aylin had a gut feeling about his flakiness. Ayla also ntioned a girl nad Layla, and Aylin speculated that Layla might be Liam’s sister, a theory that Ayla agreed with during their conversations.
Aylin opened her ride app and booked a cab. After a quick ten-minute wait, she hopped in. The ride was smooth, and in about twenty minutes, she arrived at Beşiktaş Pier, where Ayla and Liam were already hanging out.
They headed to a dessert shop, looking over the tasty treats and making light conversation as they waited. When their orders finally arrived, they dug into the deliciousness, savoring every bite together. Afterward, they walked ho, sharing laughs until they reached their corners. Liam waved goodbye and headed off while Ayla and Aylin continued on to their place, enjoying the mont and looking forward to more hangouts.
After a crazy week packed with etings and deadlines, she found herself at the end of the long, shiny table in her office’s bright conference room. Her colleagues were all ears, their eyes glued to her as she walked them through an important presentation. She spoke confidently, her voice steady as she laid out the strategy, went over the data, and painted the vision she had worked so hard on. When the last slide went dark and the session wrapped up, a wave of relief hit her. She gathered her notes, still buzzing from the adrenaline, and headed back to her cubicle.
Once in the quiet of her space, the second phone suddenly started ringing. This wasn’t just any call. It wasn’t the Turkish phone for official stuff, the burner phone for secret chats, or even her sleek work phone holding her professional life. No, this one was an old relic, small enough to slip into her bag, equipped with an Arican SIM card and so dusty history.
The ringtone, a creepy sound she hadn’t heard in over a year—cut through the silence, causing her to tense up as dread and urgency gripped her. What if it was news about her sister? That thought made her shiver.
With shaky fingers, she picked up the call. The line crackled to life, filled with static at first before bursting into a girl’s desperate scream.
"Aylin! Aylin!"
Her heart dropped, and she nearly choked on her breath.
"Ayla?" she exclaid, that na spilling out like a prayer as she gripped the phone tighter.
Then, a distorted voice broke through the noise, sending chills down her spine. It was Alpha Dark, a na that sent shivers of dread through her. "Your precious little sister. Already crying? Didn’t think she’d give up so easily."
Aylin froze, unable to respond as fear washed over her.
"If you hurt her," she finally managed to say, her voice shaky with anger and fear, "I swear..."
Alpha’s laughter rang out, cold and taunting. "Hurt? Oh, no, no, no... I cherish her. She’s stunning. But let be clear, this isn’t a puzzle. Just you. And us."
Panic raced through her as she shouted into the phone, "Let her go!"
The laughter echoed back, icy and cutting. "You know how this goes. You set the rules. We just changed them."
"Where is she?!" she demanded, her voice shaking but stronger now despite the fear gripping her.
Alpha replied in a disturbingly calm tone. "You’ll get the address soon. Co alone. No weapons. Not even your clever tricks will save you this ti."
"Alphaa...." she started, desperation creeping into her voice, but before she could finish, the line went dead with a sharp click.
She muttered a curse under her breath, feeling like the walls of her cubicle were closing in on her. The weight of her helplessness hit her like a tidal wave, and she just wanted to break free.
She carried her belongings and bolted out of the office, her heels clicking against the floor as she rushed through the doors. Standing on the crowded sidewalk, she was surrounded by the chaos of the city.
Cars zipped by, and a guy nearby was shouting prices for flowers in Turkish, the whole scene buzzing with life. Yet, she felt completely stuck, unable to move.
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