Location: Outskirts of Swindon Military Base – 4:01 AM
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The room stank of rust and stale blood. A low-hanging bulb flickered above Kiaan's head, casting a sickly yellow light on his bruised face as he panted through gritted teeth, still kneeling with his wrists bound tightly behind his back. Blood trickled down the back of his head where the killer had struck him hours ago. But Kiaan's eyes—burning with fury—remained sharp, alive.
He heard footsteps.
Measured. Calm. Predatory.
Then a voice, low and laced with eerie calm.
Killer (masked): "You shouldn't have been there, cadet."
A pause.
Killer: "I saw you at the seminar. You don't belong… you're not one of them."
Kiaan tilted his head, forcing a crooked grin despite the pain.
Kiaan: "And yet… you tied me up like one of them."
His voice had mockery, but his eyes scanned the room—window behind him, one door, no visible weapons. The killer was careful.
The masked figure chuckled darkly, stepping closer.
Killer: "You're smart. I like that. Too bad smarts won't save you from the rules I play by."
A knife glinted in his hand now.
Killer: "And the game's almost over."
Suddenly—
CRASH!
A thunderous blast broke the silence as the back wall exploded open, brick and plaster collapsing in a storm of debris. Smoke and dust clouded the room. Voices shouted. Flashlights cut through the chaos.
"HOSTILE IN THE ROOM—GET DOWN!"
Zid burst through the smoke first, gun raised. Rehaan was close behind, eyes scanning the target like a predator unleashed.
The killer cursed and threw a flash grenade to the ground.
BOOM—WHITE FLASH—SMOKE!
Kiaan instinctively dove sideways despite the pain, yelling—
Kiaan: "He's escaping—BACK DOOR!"
Rehaan rushed to him, slashing the ropes from his wrists.
Rehaan (shouting): "Zid, move—he's out the rear!"
Zid bolted like a bullet, leaping through the collapsing frame of the exit, but by the time he reached the alley—empty. No footsteps. No shadow. Just silence… and a single bloodied military badge nailed to the door.
Zid (growling into comms): "He's gone. Ghosted."
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Inside, Rehaan helped Kiaan up, supporting his limp weight.
Rehaan (relieved but sharp): "You alright, genius? Or should I punch you for pulling this solo stunt?"
Kiaan (grinning weakly): "I'd take the punch… if I didn't feel like I've already been hit by a train."
Tara's voice crackled through the comms.
Tara: "Arav's tracking, but he says the killer vanished into a blind zone—must have had an exit tunnel or drone pickup. He's one step ahead… for now."
Kiaan winced as he stood, his bloodied shirt clinging to him.
Kiaan (grimly): "We looked for a ghost... and found one. But he's not done. Not yet."
He turned to Rehaan and Zid.
Kiaan: "Tell Arav to enhance the badge image we found. That wasn't a threat—it was a clue. He left it on purpose."
Zid: "And what do we do now?"
Kiaan's eyes gleamed in the darkness.
Kiaan: "Now? We make the ghost bleed."