Volume 3 – Revenant Rising
Chapter 1: Nowhere is Safe
The motel room smelled like stale air and bad decisions.
Aria sat on the edge of the bed, flipping a burner phone between her fingers. The dim yellow light overhead flickered, making shadows dance on the cracked walls. They had been on the run for three weeks, constantly moving, never staying in one place for more than a night.
Tonight was no different.
Zayn stood by the window, peering through the blinds. His gun was within reach. Always within reach. Imran was at the small desk, his laptop covered in cables and external drives—his digital fortress against the unknown.
And Nadia?
She hadn't spoken much since the parking garage escape. She sat on the floor, knees pulled to her chest, her eyes distant.
No one was sleeping.
Because sleep meant lowering their guard.
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A Message From the Enemy
Aria's burner phone buzzed. An unknown number.
She stiffened. The others noticed immediately.
Zayn gave her a warning look. "Don't answer that."
Aria ignored him. She pressed the call button and put it on speaker.
Silence.
Then—Rayan's voice.
"Still running, I see."
Nadia's head snapped up. Imran stopped typing.
Aria's grip tightened. "What do you want?"
"I told you before. This isn't a fight you can win."
Zayn took a step forward. "Where are you?"
Rayan laughed. A low, mocking sound.
"You think that matters? I already know where you are."
A chill crawled down Aria's spine.
Then Rayan's voice turned deadly serious.
"You're out of time."
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A Trap or a Warning?
The call cut off.
Imran swore under his breath and started typing furiously. "I need to check if he really knows our location."
Zayn wasn't taking chances. He grabbed his bag and started packing. "We're leaving. Now."
Nadia, still shaken, finally spoke. "What if… what if he's not trying to threaten us?"
Aria frowned. "What do you mean?"
Nadia hesitated. "What if he's warning us?"
A tense silence fell over them.
Then—
BOOM.
The motel room door exploded inward.
Masked figures stormed in.
And the only thought running through Aria's mind as she reached for her weapon was—
We're not running anymore.
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Next: Chapter 2 – The Fight Begins
Who are the attackers? Revenant, or someone worse?
Is Rayan truly warning them, or setting them up?
. Stay tuned