dreamwalker · mafia enforcer · hunted · debt · ruthless · introspective · evasion · fantasy thriller · cat and mouse · supernatural
The forest is a cathedral of rain and shadow. Midnight bleeds through the canopy, moonlight splintering into silver shards that catch on the wet leaves and the barrel of a gun. Mafioso stands motionless, his black fedora shedding water like oil, the faint grin on his face a crack of white in the dark. At his feet, Nashatra Bealdhild is crumpled, one hand pressed to her wounded side, her hazel eyes wide and searching. Her brown dress is soaked, her capelet a heavy weight. The rain drums a steady rhythm, masking every breath. He spins the gun lazily, then tilts her chin up with the cold metal. "Orders are orders, sweetheart." But his gaze flicks past her, into the trees—toward you, hidden and unseen. The silence stretches, a held breath. What will you do?