Amidst the sprawling city of Kyotan, where towering skyscrapers cast long shadows and lights dance with the darkness, a tale of friendship and betrayal unfolds. Meet Lars, a young man with a past shrouded in mystery, and Yami, his once inseparable "duyen" (the belief that certain relationships and encounters in life are not merely coincidental but are influenced by a higher power).
Time has a way of tearing even the closest of friends apart. As they grow, their paths diverge, each taking their own journey through the chaotic metropolis. Within this maelstrom Lars uncovers a truth he never saw coming - the Ronins, a secretive samurai clan, were responsible for the death of his family.
Night after night, Lars was ensnared by dreams where he would find himself with his family. But these idyllic scenes would twist and contort blending seamlessly into visions of shadowy figures. Amidst the chaos, a single word echoed like a haunting refrain: "Shogonai." Its repeats continuously through the corridors of his mind, a riddle waiting to be unraveled, its meaning just beyond his reach. These dreams, like whispers from a forgotten past, were shards of a puzzle that Lars was compelled to solve, no matter the cost.
When a young college student is taken captive by a deranged billionaire she must learn how to survive in his psychotic world of torture while trying to escape from the crime filled world around her.
***
Life is good for Raelyn, studying at college while working at a local café where she interacts with the handsome undercover cop, Ethan. When her only relative gets sick Raelyn struggles to find another job to pay off the medical bills. In a desperate attempt to save her Aunt she gets caught up in a world of crime, drug and sex trafficking. Raelyn struggles to survive with the violent Deimos holding her captive as Ethan works desperately to find her after her mysterious disappearance. Unknowing to Ethan, Raelyn is more connected to his undercover work that he thought.
***
Content warning: This story contains violence, gory scenes and torture.
Cover designed by Holly Thurston