Riven stepped into the villa, his tall frame casting a shadow that swallowed the dim light, like a dark tide pulling everything into its depths. His skin was deathly pale, like marble carved from night itself – cold, hard, and unyielding, with an undertone of blue veins tracing like icy rivers beneath the surface. Eyes of frosty grey seemed to bore into the walls, radiating an aura of ruthless control that settled over the villa like a shroud, making the air thick with tension. A black suit hung perfectly on his lean frame, tailored to move with him like a shadow. A single silver pin on his lapel: a skull, its eyes tiny rubies glining like drops of frozen blood.
He entered the armory, the scent of gun oil and metal enveloping him like a familiar cloak. Racks of firearms gleamed dully in the low light, an arsenal at his disposal. Riven's fingers drifted over a case of pistols, lingering on a Glock 19. He picked it up, checking the weight, the balance, the cold kiss of the slide against his palm. Satisfied, he holstered it at the small of his back, the movement economical.
Leonard approached, dragging a trembling worker. The man's eyes were wild, darting between Riven and the guards, pleading silently. "Boss, caught him stealing bullets," Leonard said, his voice low and gravelly.
The worker fell to his knees, hands clinging to Riven's pants like a desperate lifeline. "P-please, master Riven! Mercy! I have a family – kids – I just needed—"
Riven's voice sliced through the man's panic, cold and final. "You knew the cost. You stole from me."
The machete fell, swift and brutal. The worker's scream cut short, replaced by a wet thud. Riven didn't flinch. He turned away, eyes already back on the armory inventory.
"Feed him to the dogs. Restock. Double guards tonight," he said, his tone unchanged.
Leonard nodded, gesturing to the guards. They dragged the body away, silent on the marble floor. The villa swallowed the mess, like it had countless others.
Riven's phone buzzed in his pocket. He answered, voice low. "Yes."
A voice on the other end spoke of a job – a target in Azura needing elimination. Riven's smile was a thin, cold line. "Do it. Report when done."
The call ended. Riven's eyes gleamed in the dim light, the night's work beginning. The skull pin seemed to wink, hungry.
He turned to Leonard. "Azura's governor's aide is getting too curious. Handle it."
Leonard nodded. "Got it, boss. Clean?"
Riven's gaze was icy. "Suspicious. Make it look like a robbery gone wrong."
Leonard smiled, a thin crack in his stone face. "Leave it to me."
Riven turned back to the armory, planning the night's moves. The villa's shadows seemed to deepen, waiting.
The skull pin glined once more, like a promise.Riven stepped into the villa, his tall frame casting a shadow that swallowed the dim light, like a dark tide pulling everything into its depths. His skin was deathly pale, like marble carved from night itself – cold, hard, and unyielding, with an undertone of blue veins tracing like icy rivers beneath the surface. Eyes of frosty grey seemed to bore into the walls, radiating an aura of ruthless control that settled over the villa like a shroud, making the air thick with tension. A black suit hung perfectly on his lean frame, tailored to move with him like a shadow. A single silver pin on his lapel: a skull, its eyes tiny rubies glining like drops of frozen blood.
He entered the armory, the scent of gun oil and metal enveloping him like a familiar cloak. Racks of firearms gleamed dully in the low light, an arsenal at his disposal. Riven's fingers drifted over a case of pistols, lingering on a Glock 19. He picked it up, checking the weight, the balance, the cold kiss of the slide against his palm. Satisfied, he holstered it at the small of his back, the movement economical.
Leonard approached, dragging a trembling worker. The man's eyes were wild, darting between Riven and the guards, pleading silently. "Boss, caught him stealing bullets," Leonard said, his voice low and gravelly.
The worker fell to his knees, hands clinging to Riven's pants like a desperate lifeline. "P-please, master Riven! Mercy! I have a family – kids – I just needed—"
Riven's voice sliced through the man's panic, cold and final. "You knew the cost. You stole from me."
The machete fell, swift and brutal. The worker's scream cut short, replaced by a wet thud. Riven didn't flinch. He turned away, eyes already back on the armory inventory.
"Feed him to the dogs. Restock. Double guards tonight," he said, his tone unchanged.
Leonard nodded, gesturing to the guards. They dragged the body away, silent on the marble floor. The villa swallowed the mess, like it had countless others.
Riven's phone buzzed in his pocket. He answered, voice low. "Yes."
A voice on the other end spoke of a job – a target in Azura needing elimination. Riven's smile was a thin, cold line. "Do it. Report when done."
The call ended. Riven's eyes gleamed in the dim light, the night's work beginning. The skull pin seemed to wink, hungry.
He turned to Leonard. "Azura's governor's aide is getting too curious. Handle it."
Leonard nodded. "Got it, boss. Clean?"
Riven's gaze was icy. "Suspicious. Make it look like a robbery gone wrong."
Leonard smiled, a thin crack in his stone face. "Leave it to me."
Riven turned back to the armory, planning the night's moves. The villa's shadows seemed to deepen, waiting.
The skull pin glined once more, like a promise.
The next day, Riven stepped into the dimly lit office, the neon glow of "OmniCorp" casting an eerie light on his pale skin. He moved with silent purpose, the guards at the door nodding as he passed.
Inside, Leonard waited with a sleek tablet. "Boss, Azura's contact is confirmed. Governor's aide, Elena Marquez. Works late nights at Sector 4 HQ."
Riven took the tablet, eyes scanning the data. "Sector 4's security?"
"Heavy. Cameras, patrols, biometric checks. We need precision."
Riven's smile was a cold slash. "Precision's my business."
He handed the tablet back. "Gear up. Tonight."
Leonard nodded. "Team's waiting."
Riven turned to leave. The skull pin glined.