Junel stepped out of the store, the cold breeze biting through his thin jacket as he adjusted the bag of supplies meant for Scott. The bustling city street buzzed with the usual evening energy, people hurrying past under the dimming sky. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Scott lying in the sterile hospital bed, battling the ailment that had come so suddenly.
Just as he turned to head back, a black van sped past him, its engine growling ominously. The vehicle's windows were tinted, revealing nothing of its occupants. Junel's eyes followed the van, a strange chill creeping down his spine. There was something off about it—its speed, its direction, and the way it seemed to cut through the traffic with unsettling urgency.
Instinctively, Junel quickened his pace, almost jogging as he k
