SHADOW PLAY (SYLUS)

1

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Regina is an ordinary college student burdened with a significant amount of debt left behind by her deceased father.

Now it falls upon her to pay off this obligation. Each day feels like a struggle as she navigates a hellish existence, constantly evading relentless debtors.

Regina takes on various gigs to get by. Like any other night, she wrapped up her shift at the convenience store at 2 a.m. After bidding farewell to the next employee, she stepped out into the dimly lit alleyways.

As she walked through the shadows, she noticed her debtors waiting for her.

In an instant, she spun on her heels and took off, heart pounding. The men caught sight of her and surged after her like wolves on the hunt.

Regina raced through the maze of alleys, adrenaline fueling her speed, until she burst onto the main road, searching for a moment of safety amidst the chaos.

She sprinted at full speed as they closed in on her.

Spotting a dark alley, she quickly turned into it, hoping to lose them in the shadows. But the debtors followed her, unaware that it led to a dead end.

Panic surged within Regina as she realized her mistake, and she could hear their footsteps getting closer.

"You thought you could escape, little mouse," the gang's leader taunted as he closed in on her. Regina's breath quickened, and her heart raced like a drum, echoing the fear coursing through her veins.

"I already paid this month's interest. What more do you want from me?" she gasped between breaths. The gang leader chuckled, his ominous aura intensifying as he stepped closer.

"Little mouse doesn’t understand how things work between us," he said, his voice dripping with taunt as he lifted her chin with his index finger.

Regina flinched as her sling bag slipped from her shoulder and thudded to the ground. "Do as we say," he commanded, his voice raspy and filled with menace, sending chills down Regina’s spine.

"What?" Regina asked, her voice laced with panic. "Get her," he ordered his men, his tone leaving no room for disobedience.

The men seized her arms, gripping her tightly and leaving no room for escape. "Let go of me! Where are you taking me?" Regina shouted, struggling to break free from their hold.

They ignored her pleas and roughly shoved her into the backseat of their vehicle.

Regina felt utterly helpless, the weight of her despair crashing down on her as she realized the gravity of her situation.

"You'd better not do anything stupid if you want to stay alive," the leader threatened from the front seat. Knowing how dangerous they were, Regina remained silent, fear gripping her tightly.

They arrived at what appeared to be a massive corporate building, towering ominously over them. The other men pulled her out of the vehicle, their grip on her arms unyielding.

As they led her through the hallways toward the elevator, Regina observed her surroundings. The men in the corridor glanced at her with a mix of curiosity and intrigue.

“Sir, we’ve arrived,” the gang leader said into his phone as they reached the 22nd floor.

Regina watched everything with a mix of panic and confusion. What are they going to do to me? she thought anxiously. They halted in front of a massive door that led to an office, where two men stood guard outside, scanning the hallway.

The two men opened the door, and they stepped inside.

It was a spacious room, lavishly decorated, with dark wood paneling and plush carpeting that muffled their footsteps.