The Rise Of Richard Bentley

longer in the elevator. Instead, he found himself tied to a chair in the middle of what looked like an abandoned industr

dark shades. Their expressions were hidden, but their body language screame

rd, a cigarette dangling from his lips, smoke swirling arou

oice rough and gravelly, "you're t

disoriented state. Black Widow? The name didn't ring a be

ut," Richard stammered, still groggy from

wing the smoke directly into Richard's face. "Don't play dumb with me, boy

other part of Katherine's plan? Was "Black Widow" a codename for someone in he

hard protested, pulling at the rope

close, his eyes narrowin

ette before flicking it aside. Without saying a wo

him a l

another word, the first blow landed hard across his face, sending a sharp jolt of pain throu

" Richard tried to protest, but his words were cut

o the edge of consciousness, but Richard held on, refusing to black out despite the searing p

nd, signaling the men to stop. The attackers stepped back, leav

, and Richard slumped forward, his body weak and aching, but he refused to

d mocking. "Consider this a warning. Next time you'll face worse. St

echoes of their footsteps fading into the distance. Richard, bloodi

with each movement. With barely enough strength, he began to crawl, his hands scraping against the dirty floor. Gri

king five unsteady steps

A

verberating off the walls. Richard's heart raced, his body tense as adrenaline s

of the industrial space. His breath was shallow, his body

ossibilities. Was someone hunting him? Was this part of the gang

started moving again, this time slower, more cautious. Each step was a ba

ted him, but he was dete

the silence, louder a

as a searing pain tore through his chest. He staggered, looking down to see bl

aded. His mind screamed at him to keep moving, but his body betrayed him. Within sec

beneath him, and his vision started to darken at the edges. His hands instinctively pressed agains

d the sound of his own heartbeat fading, Richard struggl

arkness crept in further. He fought to stay a

his mind slipping deeper into unconscio

System

. 45%... 66%... 81..

, his thoughts scattered, but the mechanical voice c

nalyzing

Richard

000,000,000,000

rd Bentley, to t

he banks around the world and the host can us

: 0.7

: 8%

ed freely, needs to

e poin

lood. But the strange voice in his mind kept going, methodically detailing things

o vast it s

d's world went black. He lost consciousness com

system was there, waiting for him when he would awa