Ethan and Daniel's footsteps echoed softly on the marble floor of the grand house.
The main door had closed behind them. The air inside felt warm, yet there was something cold an unseen tension hanging between the high walls.
Marcus Sterling walked a few steps ahead of them.
Calm.
Confident.
As if he wasn't facing two men who had come to uncover the truth about a dangerous past.
Ethan watched every move Marcus made.
No sign of nervousness.
No hint of panic.
That only made Ethan more alert.
Marcus stopped in the middle of the large living room and turned around.
"I didn't expect you to come so soon."
Ethan replied flatly.
"When someone kidnaps an important witness, it usually draws attention."
Marcus raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Interesting. You immediately assume I'm the one who kidnapped him."
Daniel stepped forward half a pace.
"Victor Hale disappeared from his home."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"I heard."
Ethan stared at him sharply.
"And now you're saying he's here."
Marcus smiled faintly.
"I didn't say that."
Ethan didn't move.
"But you didn't deny it either."
Marcus let out a small laugh.
"Alright. I'll admit one thing."
He walked toward a small table and poured himself a drink.
"Victor Hale is indeed in this house."
Daniel tensed up.
But Ethan remained calm.
Marcus swirled the glass in his hand.
"Though the reason for his presence here may not be what you imagine."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"Try explaining."
Marcus looked at him for several seconds.
"He came on his own."
Daniel spoke immediately, his voice cold,
"That doesn't make sense."
Marcus shrugged.
"He came because he was afraid."
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"Afraid of who?"
Marcus took a sip of his drink before answering.
"Of you two."
A brief silence fell.
Daniel shook his head.
"That's nonsense."
Marcus looked at Ethan.
"Victor knows you've been looking for him."
He continued in a casual tone.
"And he knows what will happen if the secret of that night is finally revealed."
Ethan said softly,
"He's afraid of someone."
Marcus nodded.
"Correct."
"But not of me."
Ethan stared at him sharply.
"Then who?"
Marcus didn't answer right away.
He walked toward the large window overlooking the backyard.
"Twenty years ago…"
He paused for a moment.
"…that night wasn't just about the Helios project."
Ethan waited.
Marcus went on,
"It was the night when several powerful people made irreversible decisions."
Daniel said,
"Decisions to kill Elena Ward."
Marcus turned around.
His gaze was sharp.
"Many people make far too simple assumptions."
Ethan said softly,
"Then correct those assumptions."
Marcus looked at him for several seconds.
But before he could answer, footsteps could be heard from the corridor.
A guard appeared at the door.
"Sir."
Marcus turned.
"Yes?"
The guard said,
"Dr. Hale asks to speak with you."
Marcus smiled faintly.
"It seems he's starting to lose his patience."
He looked at Ethan.
"Do you want to see him?"
Ethan didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Marcus gestured to the guard.
"Bring them in."
The corridor leading to the study felt long.
Their footsteps echoed softly.
Daniel walked slightly behind Ethan and whispered,
"I don't like this."
Ethan replied without turning around,
"Neither do I."
Marcus walked ahead casually.
As if everything was under his control.
They stopped in front of a large wooden door.
The guard opened it.
Ethan entered first.
And inside the room, a man sat in a chair with his hands bound.
His face was pale.
His eyes were tired.
But when he saw Ethan.
his expression changed.
Fear.
Victor Hale.
"Ethan…" Victor's voice trembled.
Ethan walked closer.
"You look like someone who didn't come here voluntarily."
Victor shook his head quickly.
"I had no choice."
Marcus entered the room calmly.
"I already explained that to them."
Victor glared at Marcus angrily.
"You forced me!"
Marcus shrugged.
"Matter of perspective."
Ethan looked at Victor.
"I only want one thing."
Victor closed his eyes for a moment.
"The truth."
Daniel said coldly,
"What happened the night his mother Sophia died."
Victor took a long breath.
His hands were shaking.
Marcus stood by the window with a calm expression.
He didn't try to stop the conversation.
On the contrary.
As if he too wanted to hear what Victor would say.
Victor finally opened his eyes.
"You don't understand…"
Ethan said softly,
"Try explaining."
Victor looked at the floor.
"Back then… Elena was almost finished with the Helios project."
Daniel said,
"We know that."
Victor shook his head.
"No."
He looked at Ethan.
"You don't know what that technology could actually do."
The room fell silent.
Victor continued in a low voice.
"It wasn't just regenerative therapy."
Ethan narrowed his eyes.
"Then what was it?"
Victor hesitated for a few seconds.
But finally he said,
"It was technology that could change how the human body recovers from damage."
Daniel said,
"That sounds like a major medical breakthrough."
Victor let out a bitter laugh.
"More than that."
He looked at Marcus.
"The people who came that night didn't want the technology used for treatment."
Ethan felt his heart beat faster.
"They wanted to control it."
Victor nodded.
"Helix wanted to use the technology for something far bigger."
Daniel asked,
"Who led Helix back then?"
Victor opened his mouth.
But before he could answer.
a loud sound came from outside the house.
BANG!
Everyone immediately turned around.
Daniel moved to the window.
"What was that?"
The guard in the corridor shouted,
"Attack!"
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting."
Ethan looked out the window.
In the front yard, several black cars had just crashed through the house gate.
Armed men got out of the vehicles.
Victor immediately turned pale.
"No…"
Ethan looked at him.
"You know who they are."
Victor whispered in a trembling voice,
"They came sooner than I thought."
Daniel turned around.
"Who are they?"
Victor stared at the room door with a terrified face.
"People who never wanted that secret to come out."
Outside the house, gunshots began to ring out.
And for the first time since Ethan had entered the house.
Marcus Sterling no longer looked casual.
He stared at the yard with a serious expression.
"It seems…"
he said softly.
"…our game has just changed."
A second round of gunshots rang out closer.
BANG! BANG!
The large window panes in the study shook.
Daniel immediately pulled the curtain slightly and peeked outside.
In Marcus's front yard, the situation had turned chaotic.
Several armed men got out of the black cars and moved quickly toward the main door.
"There are about ten of them," Daniel said quickly.
Marcus stood calmly by the desk, but his eyes were now sharp.
"Fifteen," he corrected.
Ethan turned around.
"How could you count them from here?"
Marcus pointed at the monitor screen on the wall.
Several security cameras showed different angles of the house grounds.
On one camera, two more cars could be seen stopping on the road outside the gate.
More people got out from there.
Daniel whistled softly.
"They're taking this seriously."
Victor Hale looked almost unconscious in his chair.
"We have to leave…" he mumbled frantically.
Ethan looked at him.
"Why?"
Victor swallowed hard.
"Because they didn't come to arrest me."
Daniel said coldly,
"Then what?"
Victor closed his eyes.
"They came to make sure I never talk."
Rapid footsteps could be heard in the corridor.
Several of Marcus's guards ran past the door with weapons in their hands.
One of them stopped for a moment.
"Sir! They've entered the backyard!"
Marcus let out a short breath.
"Fast work."
The guard said,
"We're holding them off, but their numbers.."
Marcus raised his hand to stop him.
"I understand."
The guard immediately ran off again.
Daniel looked at Ethan.
"This isn't a coincidence."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"They knew Victor was here."
Marcus turned off the monitor screen.
"Which means someone leaked the information."
Victor almost screamed in desperation.
"I told you! They always knew!"
Ethan stepped closer.
"Who are they?"
Victor shook his head quickly.
"You don't want to know."
Ethan said flatly,
"I've come too far to back down now."
Another gunshot rang out.
This time closer.
The sound of breaking glass came from downstairs.
Daniel immediately pulled a gun from behind his jacket.
Marcus glanced at the weapon without expression.
"Do you always carry that?"
Daniel replied casually,
"Bad habit."
Marcus walked toward a wooden cabinet in the corner of the room.
He opened it.
Several weapons were stored inside.
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"You're quite prepared."
Marcus took a black gun and checked it.
"A big house like this often attracts unwanted attention."
He tossed one gun to Ethan.
Ethan caught it easily.
Daniel smiled faintly.
"So we're temporary allies now?"
Marcus said flatly,
"Only until those people leave."
Suddenly a small explosion could be heard from below.
BOOM!
The floor shook slightly.
Victor screamed in panic.
"They're inside!"
Daniel looked toward the door.
"We don't have much time."
Ethan looked at Victor again.
"You still haven't answered my question."
Victor shook his head with a pale face.
"Not now!"
Ethan said firmly,
"Now more than ever."
The gunshots sounded closer.
This time very near.
The sound of breaking glass came from the ground floor.
Daniel turned off the room lights on instinct.
The room grew darker.
Only dim light from the window came in.
Ethan said softly,
"Does this house have another exit?"
Marcus nodded.
"Of course."
"Where?"
Marcus pointed at a small door behind the bookshelf.
"A service corridor leading to the back garage."
Daniel said,
"We need to move now."
But Victor suddenly spoke in a trembling voice.
"No…"
Ethan turned around.
"Why not?"
Victor looked at them with terrified eyes.
"If we run… they'll hunt us down until we're dead."
Marcus said coldly,
"The alternative?"
Victor whispered,
"Give me to them."
Daniel immediately shook his head.
"Not a chance."
Victor said almost desperately,
"If they get me, they'll stop chasing you."
Ethan stared at him sharply.
"Do you think we'd trust that?"
Victor bowed his head.
"I just want you to stay alive."
Daniel said flatly,
"We're more interested in the truth."
Suddenly footsteps could be heard right outside the study door.
Everyone immediately froze.
A voice could be heard in the corridor.
"Check this room."
Ethan raised his gun.
Daniel stood by the door.
Marcus remained calm by the desk.
Victor trembled in his chair.
The doorknob began to turn slowly.
Click.
Daniel took a short breath.
But before the door could fully open.
Marcus suddenly pressed a small button under the desk.
A wooden panel on the back wall of the room opened quietly.
A narrow corridor was visible behind it.
Marcus said softly,
"Now."
Ethan immediately pulled Victor out of the chair.
Daniel turned off the last light.
They moved quickly toward the secret corridor.
The next moment.
BANG!
The study door was smashed open from outside.
Several armed men entered the room.
But they only found an empty chair and a dark room.
One of them shouted,
"They got away!"
Inside the narrow corridor, Ethan pulled Victor along quickly.
Daniel closed the wooden panel behind them.
The enemy's footsteps sounded faint through the walls.
Victor whispered with heavy breathing,
"You don't understand…"
Ethan turned around for a moment.
"Then explain."
Victor said in a voice almost desperate,
"The person leading them…"
He swallowed hard.
"…is the same one who came to the lab that night."
Daniel stopped walking for a moment.
"Do you know who he is?"
Victor looked at them with a pale face.
"Yes."
Ethan said softly but sharply,
"Then you'll tell us."
Victor shook his head slowly.
His eyes were full of fear.
"The thing is…"
his breath trembled.
"…if I say his name…"
He looked at Ethan.
"…you'll realize your enemy is much closer than you think."
And the dark corridor carried them further away from Marcus's house
while the armed men began spreading out to search for them throughout the building.