THE HUNTER BE COME the HUNTED
720 Words
The city’s neon glow had barely begun to fade from Zonair’s memory when he found himself back in the depths of chaos. The streets were no longer just a battleground; they were a chessboard, and he had unknowingly stepped into a game far more dangerous than he had imagined.
Zonair had planned to disappear after Viktor’s fall, but the underworld never let go of its own. The Crimson Hand may have lost their leader, but power vacuums never remained empty for long. A new force was rising, one that viewed Zonair not as a ghost but as a target.
The Warning
It started with whispers. A shadowy figure, known only as "The Wraith," had taken control of The Crimson Hand’s remnants. Unlike Viktor, The Wraith was faceless, his real identity unknown even to his own men. But one thing was clear—he wanted revenge, and he wanted Zonair’s head on a platter.
Zonair received his first warning in the form of a burning car outside his safe house. The vehicle, once his only mode of escape, was now reduced to twisted metal and smoke. A note was pinned to the nearby wall: "You’re next."
The hunt had begun.
The Ambush
Zonair had never been one to run from a fight. Instead of hiding, he went looking for answers. His first stop was the underground fight club in the heart of the city, where The Crimson Hand’s foot soldiers often placed their bets. If anyone had information, it would be them.
The moment he stepped inside, he knew he had walked into a trap. The dimly lit warehouse, reeking of sweat and blood, fell silent. Dozens of eyes locked onto him, and in an instant, weapons were drawn.
A dozen men lunged at him, knives flashing under the flickering lights. Zonair moved like a shadow, dodging, twisting, and striking with lethal precision. He disarmed one, used his weapon against another, and within moments, bodies littered the floor. But the real challenge was yet to come.
A towering figure emerged from the back—a giant of a man known as Cassius, The Wraith’s Right Hand. He cracked his knuckles, smirking. "You’re a tough one, Zonair. Let’s see how long you last."
The fight was brutal. Cassius was faster than he looked, his blows heavy, each one capable of breaking bones. But Zonair was smarter. He played to his agility, using Cassius’ strength against him. A well-placed kick to the knee, a strike to the throat, and finally, a precise jab to the temple sent the giant crashing down.
Gasping for breath, Zonair turned to the last remaining man—a terrified informant who had watched the c*****e unfold.
"Where’s The Wraith?" Zonair demanded, pressing a blade against the man’s throat.
"He… he’s waiting for you," the informant stammered. "Downtown… The Crimson Tower… But it’s a trap!"
Of course, it was a trap. But Zonair had never backed down from one before.
The Crimson Tower
Zonair arrived at The Crimson Tower under the cover of night. The skyscraper, once an abandoned corporate headquarters, had been transformed into The Wraith’s personal fortress. Guards patrolled every floor, snipers lined the rooftops, and security was tighter than he had ever seen.
He needed a way in—one that wouldn’t set off alarms. He spotted an old maintenance tunnel running beneath the building. It would be risky, but risk was something Zonair had embraced long ago.
As he moved through the darkened tunnel, he felt the weight of unseen eyes watching him. The Wraith wasn’t just waiting—he was prepared. The moment Zonair emerged, gunfire erupted from all directions.
Diving for cover, he returned fire, taking out several guards in rapid succession. He moved like a specter, silent and deadly, making his way up the building, floor by floor, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
Finally, he reached the top floor, where a single steel door stood between him and The Wraith.
Zonair pushed it open, only to find… nothing. An empty room, a single chair in the center, and a recording device. A distorted voice crackled through the speaker.
"Well played, Zonair. But the game has only just begun."
Before he could react, the entire building shook with a deafening explosion. The Crimson Tower was coming down.
To Be Continued…
- Writer
