Chapter 2 Drug

Scarlett's chest was torn open by a bullet.

Blood surged from the wound, soaking through her clothes as she staggered backward.

"Go in." From the top of the abandoned high-rise across the street, Shane Waston, the captain, gave the order, his voice calm and clipped. There was no hesitation in his tone, just cold precision. His eyes remained locked on the target through the scope.

The instant his finger tightened on the trigger, the stillness shattered. The crumbling building opposite them exploded into chaos.

"Get her outta here!"

"Move it! Keep her safe!"

"Sniper! Someone's shooting at us!"

Scarlett let out a cold smirk and cursed the sniper who had shot her.

Her face went pale, and that deep, throbbing pain in her chest just kept spreading.

She glanced up, but the light above felt way too bright, almost blinding.

Blood filled her mouth with a sharp, metallic tang, and the harsh smell of gunpowder lingered thick in the air.

The fire was creeping closer, way too fast.

A loud boom went off-someone had tossed a grenade nearby. Her ears rang like crazy, and her head felt like it was splitting open.

That sniper's bullet had only been the opening act. Moments later, a volley of gunfire erupted, and the building turned into a war zone.

What was already tense inside that broken-down place turned into total madness-bullets flying, people fighting up close, and just pure destruction everywhere.

It wasn't long before approaching footsteps echoed through the chaos, growing louder and more threatening.

Scarlett's team was dropping fast. One by one, they went down in the middle of the gunfire, their bodies hitting the ground in awful ways.

Scarlett didn't move-her brain was spinning, trying to figure out who these attackers were and how they were hitting so hard and fast.

She couldn't believe that even with over a hundred guards protecting Faulas' central experimental base, none of them had been able to stop the attack.

Within minutes, Scarlett was completely surrounded.

"Trying to run away?" a man growled, charging at her with his gun up. He kicked her hard in the stomach, making her stumble back while holding her chest.

"Ugh!" The hit pulled at her wound and sent a fresh wave of pain shooting through her.

She was trapped, backed into a corner with nowhere left to turn.

"Don't move!" a voice barked, and she felt the freezing metal of a gun pressed to the side of her head.

They were really good.

Realizing there was no way out, Scarlett resigned herself to fate. She was so weak that she needed some rest.

Her hand went to her chest again. Blood kept coming out, soaking her fingers red.

She leaned against the cold wall. Her face had gone pale, drained of color, and her eyelids fluttered closed as exhaustion pulled at her.

The blast had filled the air with smoke, and everything had gone quiet. Then, through the thick haze, a man slowly appeared, his figure outlined by the light behind him.

He walked straight toward Scarlett.

She let out a small cough. That nasty, bloody taste still felt bitter on her tongue.

Her tired eyes fluttered open just enough to see a tall figure blocking her view.

It was Shane, standing there with his sniper rifle, his icy stare locked on Scarlett-the woman he had just shot.

"Captain! She's still breathing?" Albin, who had been right behind Shane, stopped in his tracks, totally shocked.

He seriously thought Shane's shot would have finished her off. No way he saw this coming.

Shane didn't say a word.

His thin lips tightened into a straight line as he kept staring at Scarlett, his face cold and emotionless.

The sun was blazing hot over Faulas, making the heat feel suffocating.

But even with the heat, the air near the old building felt weirdly cold, like a chill that seemed to seep deep into the bones.

Everything was dead quiet, the nasty smell of blood hanging around.

It was a harsh reminder that Scarlett's men were all dead.

She was completely trapped, with no way out.

Scarlett lifted her head and met Shane's eyes.

He was wearing a black tactical uniform, the badge on his arm catching the light. His broad shoulders and slim waist showed through the tight clothes tucked into his pants that showed off his long, strong legs.

He stood tall, looking tough and distant, like he didn't care about anything.

From where Scarlett was, Shane looked almost like he wasn't from this world, glowing in the light. His short hair framed a sharp, perfect face-like a statue. His nose was high, and his deep eyes made him seem untouchable.

His lips were tight, but when he looked at her, a little mocking smile showed up on one side. His eyes were cold, heavy, and a bit scary, but kind of magnetic too.

Scarlett stared back, her pale face tightening into a small frown.

She felt like he was way too powerful, too wild, and way too dangerous. He was clearly someone not to be trifled with.

"Feeling like heaven, huh?" His voice came out low and cold, with a mocking edge that sent a shiver down her spine.

Scarlett's heart dropped-he had heard what she said before.

Shane narrowed his eyes slightly. A slow, cruel smirk played on his lips, yet his stance held a powerful, commanding presence.

It was clear he was there to avenge his subordinates.

Scarlett had already suspected that the man who cursed her before was part of his crew. And the man in front of her hadn't removed his badge like those she had caught.

He didn't even try to hide who he was.

Scarlett couldn't help but find it bold, almost reckless, since it was so unusual for anyone to come to Faulas without covering their tracks.

Snapping back, Scarlett challenged, "What exactly do you want?"

She guessed he was here to make her pay for the drug she had forced into his captured men.

"Where's the antidote?" Shane asked, his deep voice sounding both magnetic and threatening. He rested his sniper rifle on his bent knee, his long fingers tapping it lightly in the sun.

"Captain, we still can't identify what she injected into Hoke and Brent," Albin said, sounding annoyed.

Albin looked over the two captured guys. One was barely hanging on after severe torture, and the other had a deep stab wound in the chest. But what worried him most was the strange substance Scarlett had injected into them.

"What did you give them?" Shane asked, his eyes dark and never blinking.

His stare dug into Scarlett's pale, bloodless face as he waited for her answer.

Scarlett gave a cold laugh. "No idea."

Then she raised her chin and added boldly, "And even if I did, why on earth would I tell you?"

One of Shane's men sneered. "Everyone knows Estrella Spencer is notorious for her ruthless and cruel ways. She's done countless terrible things. How could she possibly just hand over the antidote? Ha! Pretty face, but a heart as poisonous as a viper's."

Scarlett stayed calm, unaffected by their jeers.

She understood her status protected her, so killing her wasn't an option.

Being a Spencer gave her leverage-they needed her alive for the secrets she held.

Shane didn't bother arguing with her. Her confident attitude didn't faze him.

Instead, he gave a subtle signal to his team.

Moments later, one of his men stepped forward carrying a sleek silver briefcase.

The moment Scarlett saw it, her gaze sharpened. She instantly recognized what was inside.

"Captain, why didn't we think of this before?" one man exclaimed. "The drug she used on our men is here. If we inject her with it, she'll spill everything."

Scarlett couldn't help but admire Shane's cunning. Knowing she wouldn't cooperate, he was ready to turn her own tactics against her.

Shane was confident that once she felt the drug coursing through her veins, she would have no choice but to confess.

Her arm was pinned firmly, giving her no chance to resist.

The needle slid into her skin, drawing a thin line of blood before the cold liquid was injected into her veins.

She winced from the pain, her eyes shutting tight as a sharp hiss escaped her lips.

Meanwhile, Shane's eyes narrowed, his stare razor-sharp and merciless.