Justin staggered back, his breath catching in his throat as his eyes locked onto the image on the screen. His chest tightened, his pulse hammering against his ribs. This couldn’t be real. It shouldn’t be real.
But there he was.
Nathaniel Briggs.
Smirking. Alive.
Justin's throat felt dry as he forced out the words, barely above a whisper.
“Y-You…?”
Nathaniel’s smirk widened, his piercing eyes glinting with amusement. “What’s the matter, Justin? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Justin clenched his jaw, shaking his head in disbelief. His body was stiff, every muscle coiled like a spring. “You… should be dead.”
Briggs chuckled, the sound infuriatingly casual. “Oh, no, Justin. That was just an assumption on your part.” He tilted his head slightly, as if enjoying Justin’s shock. “I’m
