The Silent Mark!

Bangkok's sleepless skyline flickered in the distance, a kaleidoscope of lights reflecting off rain-slick streets. The storm clouds that had loomed all evening finally broke, sending a gentle drizzle cascading over the city's restless alleys. In one such alley, hidden from prying eyes, the world stood still.

A faint rustle broke the silence as gloved hands moved with calculated precision, arranging the final scene. The figure hovered over the lifeless body, every motion deliberate, every detail accounted for. The rain washed away the faint smudges on the ground, but it didn't touch the mark-the distinct X carved with unnerving accuracy into the victim's neck.

Lightning illuminated the room for a split second, casting jagged shadows against the walls. A faint smile ghosted across the figure's lips, though there was no satisfaction, no triumph-only quiet resolve. The job was done.

The city breathed around them-distant horns blaring, the hum of a passing tuk-tuk, the rhythmic tap of rain against metal roofs. But in this moment, everything else faded. This act wasn't for the victim. It wasn't for the world. It was for someone else entirely.

For a moment, the figure lingered, staring at the mark as though waiting for it to speak back. Then, with a swift and practiced movement, they disappeared into the shadows, leaving only questions and a haunting symbol behind.

Far across the city, Detective Becky Armstrong stirred in her sleep, unaware that her phone was about to ring. She would be pulled into another sleepless night, another piece of a puzzle she didn't yet understand.

And so, the silent game continued-one that neither player could fully comprehend but both were inexorably bound to.

Adapted story with Freen and Becky!!