The alarms wailed as Alex, Elena, and Sophia sprinted for the stairwell, only to find it blocked by reinforced shutters. "Elevator," Sophia barked, leading them to a sleek metal door. They piled in, blood dripping from their clothes, the air thick with tension.
Inside the cramped space, silence reigned. Alex's chest heaved, his hands still clenched, blood smeared across his knuckles. Elena stood close, her body covered in crimson, her dagger still in hand. Their eyes met, and something primal passed between them. Alex reached out, gently lifting her chin, and pulled her into a deep, hungry kiss. Blood smeared between their lips, a macabre seal of their bond. Elena melted into him, her possessive fire flaring, her fingers digging into his shoulders.
Sophia watched, her jaw tight, a mix of envy and admiration in her eyes. She leaned against the wall, cleaning her blades, but her gaze lingered on the couple.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Beyond lay the upper floor—a lion's den where the twins waited, and the shadows of Alex's past were about to collide with his present.
To be continued…