Mariko's POV
I was back in that nightmarish parking lot, the scent of danger lingering in the air. Three menacing figures emerged from the shadows, their faces were covered by the mask in the darkness. Fear crawled up my spine as they closed in, trapping me in a chilling web of violence.
"Mariko, you thought you could escape us, huh?" one of them sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
I tried to respond, but my voice betrayed me, choked by a knot of dread. Panic surged through me as their grips tightened, dragging me into a helpless struggle. The cold steel of a knife glinted in the dim light, sending shivers down my spine.
Another voice, cruel and familiar, cut through the air. "You ruined everything, Mariko. Now, it's time for payback."
Amber's voice echoed in my ears, a haunting
