RUTHLESS BOND

...Chapter 1 — Escape...

The city never slept.

Even at two in the morning, distant sirens echoed through the streets while neon signs painted the wet roads with shades of blue and red.

For most people, night was a time for rest.

For Riven Hale, it was just another shift.

The cold wind bit against his skin as he stepped out of a convenience store carrying two paper bags filled with groceries. His shoulders ached after fourteen straight hours of work, but he ignored the pain.

Pain didn't pay bills.

Money did.

And money was something he never had enough of.

Riven adjusted the strap of his worn backpack and continued walking through the narrow street toward the small apartment he shared with his younger brother.

A smile appeared on his face as he remembered Eli's message from earlier.

"Don't forget the noodles."

Riven had laughed when he read it.

No matter how difficult life became, Eli somehow always managed to make him smile.

Their parents had died six years ago.

Since then, everything had fallen on Riven's shoulders.

School fees.

Rent.

Food.

Medicine.

Every responsibility belonged to him.

And he carried them without complaint.

Because Eli was all he had left.

The apartment building finally came into view.

Old walls.

Broken windows.

Rust-covered railings.

Home.

Riven climbed the stairs quietly before unlocking the door.

The moment he stepped inside, the smell of instant noodles greeted him.

Eli was sitting at the small table with a textbook open in front of him.

"You forgot the noodles, didn't you?" Eli asked immediately.

Riven rolled his eyes.

"I literally carried them all the way here."

Eli grinned.

"Then you're officially my favorite brother."

"I'm your only brother."

"Exactly."

For a brief moment, the room filled with laughter.

A rare sound.

A precious one.

Riven unpacked the groceries while Eli continued talking about school.

Normal things.

Simple things.

The kind of things Riven worked so hard to protect.

Hours later, Eli had fallen asleep.

The apartment became silent again.

Riven sat near the window, staring at the city lights.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on him.

But sleep refused to come.

His mind was crowded with unpaid bills and growing worries.

The landlord wanted rent next week.

Eli's school payment was overdue.

And recently something else had begun bothering him.

A strange feeling.

As if someone was watching him.

Following him.

Waiting.

He shook the thought away.

Maybe he was simply tired.

Outside, rain began falling softly.

Riven closed the curtain and finally went to bed.

He had no idea that this ordinary night would be the last peaceful night of his life.

---

The next evening arrived with dark clouds hanging over the city.

Riven had just finished another shift when a shortcut through the industrial district caught his attention.

Normally he avoided that area.

Tonight, he was too tired to care.

The streets were almost empty.

Only the sound of rain accompanied him.

Then—

A gunshot echoed through the darkness.

Riven froze.

His heartbeat stopped.

Another gunshot followed.

Then shouting.

Instinct screamed at him to run.

Immediately.

But curiosity made him glance toward the source.

Big mistake.

At the end of the alley, several black vehicles surrounded a warehouse.

Men dressed in dark suits moved quickly while others aimed weapons.

This wasn't a street fight.

This was something far worse.

Something organized.

Something dangerous.

Riven stepped backward carefully.

One step.

Two steps.

Three—

A loose metal pipe rolled beneath his shoe.

CLANG!

The sound echoed loudly.

Every head turned toward him.

Silence.

Terrible silence.

For one horrifying second, nobody moved.

Then someone shouted.

"THERE!"

Riven's blood ran cold.

Without thinking, he turned and ran.

Fast.

Faster than he had ever run before.

Footsteps thundered behind him.

Voices shouted.

The sound of engines roared to life.

They were chasing him.

Because he had seen something he was never supposed to see.

Rain poured harder as Riven sprinted through the maze of streets.

His lungs burned.

His legs screamed in protest.

But stopping meant death.

And dying was not an option.

Not while Eli was waiting at home.

Not while his brother still needed him.

A sharp turn.

Another alley.

Another desperate sprint.

The city blurred around him.

Then suddenly—

A black luxury car appeared in front of him.

Riven stumbled backward.

The rear door slowly opened.

Someone sat inside.

Hidden in shadows.

Watching.

Waiting.

For the first time that night, genuine fear crawled down Riven's spine.

Because whoever was inside that car felt far more dangerous than the men chasing him.

And somehow...

The stranger's eyes were already fixed on him.

As if they had been waiting for this moment.

To Be Continued...

...Chapter 2—Midnight Between Us...

The rain had not stopped.

Riven stood frozen for a second, breath uneven, as the

rear door of the black car remained open.

Behind him—footsteps. Voices. Chaos.

But in front of him… silence.

A decision without words.

Without explanation.

Inside the car, a man sat in the shadows.

Not moving.

Not speaking.

Just waiting.

Riven didn’t know who he was.

But he knew one thing—

Standing here meant death.

He stepped inside.

The door closed immediately.

Silence swallowed everything.

No music.

No questions.

No introduction.

Only the sound of rain hitting glass.

Riven slowly turned his head.

The man across from him didn’t look at him.

Not yet.

As if his presence didn’t require acknowledgment.

The car started moving.

Smooth.

Controlled.

Like the city itself was obeying it.

Riven finally spoke.

“…Who are you?”

No answer.

Not even a reaction.

The man adjusted his cuff slightly.

Still silence.

Riven frowned.

“You’re not going to say anything?”

The man finally turned his head slightly.

Just enough.

Not fully.

And said one line:

“Sit still.”

Riven paused.

“…What?”

But the man didn’t continue.

He looked away again.

As if the conversation had already ended.

The car moved through empty streets.

Fast.

But silent.

Riven looked outside the window.

The chase was gone.

No more footsteps.

No more guns.

Just darkness and city lights.

He turned back again.

“Why did you save me?”

Still nothing.

Riven’s frustration grew.

“You can’t just—”

“Stop talking,” the man said calmly.

Not loud.

Not angry.

Just final.

Riven went silent.

Minutes passed.

The city changed outside.

Familiar streets appeared.

Riven noticed.

He frowned.

“…You know where I live?”

No response.

The car slowed.

Riven’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He hadn’t said anything.

He hadn’t given directions.

He hadn’t explained anything.

Yet—

The car stopped exactly outside his building.

Perfectly.

Like it had been planned.

Riven’s breath slowed.

He turned sharply.

“How do you know my address?”

Silence.

The man didn’t even look at him.

Riven’s jaw tightened.

“What are you—some kind of stalker?”

A faint pause.

Then—

“Get out.”

Cold.

Direct.

Final.

Riven hesitated.

But outside, everything was normal again.

Like nothing had happened.

Like the night hadn’t almost killed him.

He stepped out slowly.

The door closed instantly.

No goodbye.

No explanation.

No name.

The car moved away.

Disappearing into the rain.

Riven stood there alone.

Drenched.

Breathing heavily.

Alive.

But confused.

Later that night.

Inside his small apartment.

Riven sat near the window.

Staring at the city lights.

His clothes were still damp.

But he didn’t move.

His mind kept replaying everything.

The car.

The silence.

The man.

How did he know?

My address…

My route…

Everything…

Riven’s fingers tightened slowly.

“…Who the hell was that?”

Silence answered him.

But not peace.

Something worse.

Curiosity.

And far away—

Somewhere hidden inside the city…

A black car passed through a restricted road again.

Inside it—

The same man sat quietly.

Watching a screen.

Riven’s face flickered across it for a second.

Then disappeared.

A voice behind him asked softly:

“Should we keep watching him?”

A pause.

Then the man replied:

“Yes.”

Simple.

Controlled.

Certain.

...INTRODUCTION...

...🖤 MC — Riven Hale...

...Age: 24...

...Strong, disciplined and emotionally controlled man shaped by a hard life. He is intelligent, highly practical, and doesn’t trust people easily. His survival instincts are sharp, making him dangerous when needed. Behind his cold nature, he is deeply loyal and protective toward his family. He lives more in responsibility than emotion....

...🖤Eli Hale...

...Age: 17...

...Bright, sensitive and determined high school student. He is intelligent, emotionally aware, and quietly strong despite his weak health. Eli focuses on his future goals and never gives up easily. He has a soft but resilient personality that hides his inner fears. His strength is his calm mindset and his will to keep going....

...To be continued......

...Chapter 3 — After the Silence...

The night after that encounter didn’t feel normal anymore.

Riven sat on his bed, staring at the wall.

He had survived.

But his mind hadn’t.

Everything replayed again and again.

The car.

The silence.

The man.

And the way he had been dropped home like it was planned from the beginning.

Riven exhaled slowly.

“…How?”

That single word refused to leave his thoughts.

---

The next morning arrived too fast.

Riven didn’t sleep properly.

His body was tired—but his mind was louder.

Eli was already awake in the small kitchen.

“You didn’t sleep?” Eli asked, noticing his face.

Riven shook his head slightly.

“Just tired.”

Eli frowned.

“It’s not just tired.”

Riven didn’t answer.

He grabbed his bag.

“I’ll handle it.”

And left.

---

Outside, the city felt the same.

But Riven didn’t.

Every car that passed made him look twice.

Every black vehicle made him pause.

But nothing happened.

No chase.

No footsteps.

No gunshots.

Only silence.

Too clean.

Too controlled.

---

At work, everything moved normally.

Customers.

Orders.

Noise.

But Riven’s focus kept breaking.

His mind wasn’t there.

It kept going back.

That man didn’t ask my name.

Didn’t ask anything.

Yet he knew where I live.

Riven’s grip tightened slightly while placing items on the counter.

“…Who are you?” he whispered under his breath.

---

Hours passed.

Shift ended.

Night returned.

Riven walked home alone.

This time, he avoided shortcuts.

He didn’t want another repeat.

But the feeling didn’t leave.

He was being watched.

Not loudly.

Not obviously.

But constantly.

---

On the way, he stopped at a bridge.

City lights reflected in the water below.

Riven leaned slightly on the railing.

For the first time, he allowed himself to think clearly.

That man…

He wasn’t random.

He wasn’t a rescuer.

He wasn’t even curious like a normal person.

He was something else.

Controlled silence.

Riven closed his eyes for a second.

“…What do you want from me?”

No answer came.

But somewhere far away…

an answer already existed.

---

Inside a different part of the city.

A dark room.

Screens glowing softly.

The same man sat without movement.

A file was open.

But not fully revealed.

Only partial data.

Riven Hale.

The name finally existed on record.

A faint pause.

Then—

“Still observing,” a voice behind him said.

The man didn’t turn.

“Continue.”

No emotion.

No urgency.

Only certainty.

---

Back at Riven’s home.

He reached the door.

Stopped.

For a second.

Looked around.

Nothing.

Normal street.

Normal night.

But something inside him refused to believe it.

He entered slowly.

Locked the door.

And leaned against it for a moment.

“…This isn’t over,” he said quietly.

Not fear.

Not confusion.

Just instinct.

---

And somewhere in the distance…

a black car passed again.

Slow.

Silent.

Unnoticed.

...To Be Continued…...

"What do you think Riven should do next—trust the unknown or stay away from it? Let’s see how his story unfolds.."