Beyond The Edge of Instincts

Chapter 5: Through the Web of Lies

"What happened?" Luna asked, her voice trembling as tension gripped her again.

"I'll explain in the car, but it's not safe here. Come on, move!" Max grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the apartment.

They rushed through the narrow hallways of the old building, descending the staircase and bursting into the underground parking garage. Luna's heart raced as she tried to make sense of what was happening, but there was no time for questions. In the corner of the dimly lit garage stood a black car—what she hoped would be their salvation.

"Get in!" Max barked, his eyes darting around the shadows as if expecting danger to leap out at any moment.

But before they could reach the car, a soft, sinister whistle echoed through the air.

Luna heard a dull thud. Max staggered suddenly, his eyes wide with shock. She gasped as she saw a dart lodged in his neck.

"Max!" she screamed, but he was already losing his balance, his body going limp as he collapsed to his knees.

Before she could react, several masked figures emerged from the shadows. Luna tried to run, to cry for help, but it was futile. One of the attackers slipped a hood over her head, and in an instant, she felt herself being dragged away.

Behind her, she heard Max collapse onto the cold concrete. His voice broke through the chaos, weak but desperate:

"Run! Don't let them—"

But it was too late. Luna was pulled into the unknown, leaving Max behind on the garage floor.

When she came to, a cool breeze brushed her face. Her wrists were bound tightly with ropes, and the faint scents of incense and tobacco lingered in the air. Slowly opening her eyes, she found herself in a dimly lit room furnished in an ornate, old-world style: rich carpets, wooden furniture, and candles that cast a soft, flickering glow.

In front of her stood a man—the same enigmatic stranger she had glimpsed in one of Max's photographs. Now, here he was, in the flesh, his presence both terrifying and magnetic.

Tall and dark-skinned, he was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, his piercing gaze cutting through her like a blade.

"Good morning, Luna," he said with a faint accent, his voice low and measured. "Apologies for the rough welcome, but it was necessary."

Luna tensed, struggling against the ropes binding her wrists. He smirked, watching her futile attempts.

"You won't free yourself, so don't waste your energy," he said calmly. "And don't be afraid. I won't harm you, as long as you listen to me."

"Who are you?" Luna rasped, panic tightening her throat. "Why did you kidnap me?"

The man didn't answer immediately. He paced the room slowly, as though carefully choosing his words, before finally meeting her gaze again.

"Call me Nikolai," he said with a serene smile. "We share a common cause, and I want to help you... understand who you are."

Luna's brow furrowed. His words only deepened the mystery, stirring even more questions.

"What do you mean? Who am I?" she asked, her voice sharper now, anger creeping in.

Nikolai chuckled softly, folding his hands behind his back.

"All in due time," he said. "But first, you need to know that everything you've believed about your life is only a fragment of the truth. There's much more to your story, Luna—more than you can imagine."

"Why does everyone speak in riddles? What cause? Who am I to be involved in all this?" Luna's voice shook as anger and despair warred within her.

Nikolai stepped closer, crouching down in front of her. His tone dropped to a near whisper, laced with a chilling calmness.