Chapter 7: The Man Who Stayed
310 Words
The warehouse lights flickered on.
Slow. Deliberate.
Aria froze.
Damian pushed himself to his feet despite the blood loss, raising his weapon toward the far end of the room.
A single pair of footsteps echoed closer.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
“Well done, Damian.”
The voice was familiar.
Too familiar.
A man stepped into the light wearing a dark tactical coat, hands casually in his pockets.
Aria’s breath caught.
She knew him.
“Marcus?” she whispered.
Her editor.
The man who encouraged her to chase dangerous stories.
The man who pushed her to investigate the first anonymous tip.
Marcus smiled calmly. “You always did have good instincts, Aria.”
Damian’s expression turned cold. “You shouldn’t have come yourself.”
“Oh, I had to,” Marcus replied. “This one’s personal.”
Aria shook her head slowly. “You told me to open the file.”
“Of course I did.”
The words felt like a slap.
“You were the only journalist stubborn enough to bite.”
Her chest tightened. “You used me.”
“No,” Marcus corrected gently. “I selected you.”
Damian stepped slightly in front of her. Protective. Even injured.
Marcus’s eyes flicked to the blood on Damian’s shirt.
“You always were sentimental,” Marcus said. “That’s why you failed the unit.”
Aria turned to Damian sharply.
“Failed?” she repeated.
Marcus smiled wider.
“He didn’t leave, Aria.”
Silence fell heavy.
“We discharged him.”
Damian didn’t deny it.
“And do you know why?” Marcus continued softly.
“Because he refused to eliminate the final name on the list.”
Aria’s pulse stuttered.
Marcus’s eyes locked onto hers.
“You.”
The gunshot that followed didn’t come from Marcus.
It came from behind Aria.
And she never saw it coming.
- Writer
