The air was thick with tension in Leonard’s hideout. Aliana stood by the window, her heart racing as she peered into the darkness outside. The dim light flickered, casting shadows that danced across the walls, and she felt a sense of foreboding creeping in. She had thought she was safe here, but now, with Leonard gone, the silence felt more like a trap than a refuge.

Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hallway, and Aliana’s breath caught in her throat. She turned, her ...