The towering skyline of the mega project site loomed before them like a sleeping beast. Elena and Qis stepped out of the car, energy still buzzing from the morning chaos.
"Let's go. We don't want to miss the walkthrough," Elena said, pulling her lanyard over her neck.
"Yeah, let's do this." Qis nodded, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder at Zain, who was still parking the car.
But by the time he found a proper spot, they were gone — swallowed by the maze of steel, scaffolding, and heavy machinery.
Zain waited… and waited.
He pulled out his pocket. Empty. No phone.
His jaw tightened.
"Damn it. I should've followed them right away…"
He looked around the construction site entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse.
Nothing.
Meanwhile, Elena and Qis wandered deeper into the incomplete structures, looking for their designated team. The deeper they went, the less familiar things looked.
"This doesn't look right," Qis mumbled. "Where's everyone?"
Elena frowned. "The foreman said Block D. This looks more like… Block F?"
They turned a corner — and the site changed. It was quieter here, almost abandoned.
Back near the car, Zain stood tense, the sun starting to fall behind the cranes.
"They should've come back by now…"
A flicker of worry crossed his eyes. His gut twisted.
"Elena…"
Without thinking twice, he started running.
He jogged through aisle after aisle, calling their names — but silence answered. Dust swirled in the air. Lights flickered. No guards. No workers. Just silence.
Then he heard it. A voice.
Not Elena. Not Qis.
Rough. Threatening. Male.
Somewhere in the lower, unfinished levels — laughter echoed. Then a scream.
Minutes earlier…
Elena and Qis were surrounded.
"Well, well… what do we have here?" said a man with a long scar running down his cheek.
"Elena... Elena Farhan, right?" another grinned. "You look just like your father… but a whole lot prettier."
"Back off!" Qis yelled, standing in front of Elena.
But it was five against two. And these weren't just random thugs — they were after her. Elena's father had made enemies, and this was revenge.
"Boss said to end her quietly. But… maybe we play first, huh?"
Elena's eyes widened in fear as the gang closed in. One grabbed Qis and shoved her down. Elena tried to run but was dragged by the ankle.
She screamed.
"LET ME GO!"
The scar-faced man pinned her down.
"Quiet now, sweetheart…"
Suddenly—
WHAM!
A steel pipe cracked across his skull. He dropped instantly, blood splattering the floor.
Zain stood there — shirt slightly torn, sweat dripping, eyes blazing.
"Let. Her. Go."
The other four hesitated. Then, they attacked.
Zain ducked the first punch, twisted the attacker's arm, and flipped him to the ground. Another lunged with a metal rod — Zain blocked it with his forearm, gritted his teeth, and slammed an elbow into the man's throat.
"ARRGHH—!"
Third thug grabbed him from behind. Zain rammed him backwards into a wall, headbutted him twice, and spun him into a stack of bricks.
Now only two remained.
"Get him!" one screamed.
Zain took a hit to the ribs — grunted — but didn't fall.
He grabbed the thug's wrist, twisted hard — SNAP — the bone cracked audibly.
The last gangster tried to run.
Too late.
Zain grabbed a wrench from the ground and hurled it — it hit the man in the leg, dropping him instantly.
He rushed back to Elena.
She was trembling, tears in her eyes.
"You're safe now," Zain said softly, brushing dust from her cheek.
Elena looked at him — the light behind his silhouette blinding, yet his face impossibly calm. Her lips parted, but no words came. Just a single tear rolling down her cheek.
She reached for him.
But her strength gave out.
"Zain…" she whispered.
Then her eyes fluttered shut.
"Elena? Elena—!"
He caught her in his arms.
Darkness fell completely.
Sirens wailed in the distance. Backup was on the way.
But for Zain… the world had already collapsed into silence — holding her close, heart pounding, not knowing if the girl he swore to protect… would ever open her eyes again.