Alden arrived at his apartment unit, still gasping for air. Once he managed to regulate his breathing, he sensed something was off. There was no sound.
Without hesitation, he quickly entered the password to his unit. As the door swung open, he jogged toward the kitchen and saw the scene he had feared was about to unfold.
A man dressed entirely in black—black mask, black hat—was standing in front of the cabinet where he had told Aira to hide. The man had already opened the cabinet door partway with one hand, and Aira was inside, seemingly unconscious.
The man turned around in shock at Alden’s sudden appearance and was nearly punched in the face. With swift reflexes, he dodged the blow.
He stepped back a few paces and pulled a knife from inside his jacket. Among all weapons, he had chose
