Echoes of the Unseen

with purpose. Every step was deliberate, stomping with barely restrained fury. His face was twisted in

caught his attention immediately was the small tracker lying discarded on the floor. His jaw tightened. Her footst

e men who had followed him in. "Search the ho

mall space, but it was clear she was gone. Ray st

ar," he growled, turning to

ring into the darkness as they chased after Elizabeth. Ray lin

gh the lower rooms, their voices muffled in the distance. He pushed open the door to a small, dusty b

face made his nose twitch with disgust. He was about to turn and leave wh

he old frame screeched against the floor, revealing the trapdoor fully. He crouched down

Lizzy?" he muttered to hi

uted down the hall. "Get in here! B

ack, his arms crossed, watching with cold satisfaction as they set to work

hmic pounding of metal against wood sent flashes of unwelcome memories through his mind. He

unthers death, was that pile of cash truly worth the miles he had

eth. She had killed Gunther, his master, the only man who had ever gi

n, desperate young man with nowhere to go. Gunther had taken him in, given him purpose, and shaped him into the w

head, pushing the memories aside. He couldn't afford to dwell on the pas

than to the men. Whatever was driving him, it wasn't just money. It was

s the bag stuffed with cash and a small collection of items and tokens of Elizabeth's past

hoto, pulling it from the box. It was a picture of Elizabeth and her sister, their faces lit with joy from a ti

oney anymore. It was about revenge. Years of dealing with Elizabeth's defiance, her insolence, and the fact he co

ealing a promise to himself. Taking something precious from Elizabeth wou

tened up and signaled to his men.

nts of Elizabeth's past. The smirk on his face faded into something darker.

n a small bed, its springy foam creaking slightly as she shifted. The air was tinged with the faint scent of wo

emembered was runnin

floor. Steadying herself, she crept toward the doorway and into the sitting room. There, the elderly man sat

said softly, her voice

awake," he said, standing with a gentle groan. "Sit, sit. I'll get

th replied, shaking her

ng her with quiet concern. "And

itated, avoid

lier," he said, his tone heavier. "They were looking f

ffened, her h

I couldn't help but wonder what you might've done to make them come after you like that.

didn't trust anyone, not yet but the weight of his words

was steady. She didn't want to feel emotional, and she definitely didn't want to

said, his voice firm but not unkind. "If yo

her fingers hover

s tone softening. "Young, fierce, beautiful... and just

lightly, her gaze

ntly, his voice full of quiet

s she tried to suppress the storm of emotions rising within her. Ang

head, his brow fu

beth said slowly, her tone edged with ske

e her a warm, reassuring smile, sensing th

his voice light yet inviting. "It's been a long, c

er boiling filling the silence between them. For the first time in what felt like forever, Elizabe