The sun had barely risen when James's nightmare returned to his doorstep — darker and more merciless than ever.
The once-vibrant compound was now a shell of its former glory. Overgrown grass crept around cracked pavements, and the rusting gate creaked ominously in the breeze. Inside, James sat with his head bowed low, his hands buried deep in his hair. His skin was clammy with sweat, his eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep. Days had passed since the loan sharks' last visit, but their threat echoed louder with each tick of the clock.
Rita was gone. No trail, no phone number, no friends who could betray her new location. He had scoured social media, contacted her former acquaintances—even tried hacking into her old emails—but there was absolutely nothing. It was as though she had vanis
