The Intruder

Chapter 4: The Intruder

The Hale Mansion remained on high alert after the attempted break-in. Extra security guards patrolled the grounds while surveillance drones circled above the estate.

Elena stood by the living room window, watching the rain fall across the gardens.

"You've been staring outside for ten minutes," Aron said as he entered with two mugs of coffee.

"I'm wondering when they'll come back."

Aron handed her a mug.

"They will."

"You're awfully calm about it."

"I'm not calm." He smiled faintly. "I've just grown up with enemies."

She looked at him in surprise.

"That doesn't sound like a normal childhood."

"It wasn't."

Before Elena could ask another question, Lucas entered the room.

"The police searched the warehouse this morning," he said. "The Circle erased almost every trace before they arrived."

"So they got away?" Aron asked.

"For now."

Lucas placed a file on the table.

"Elena, I need you to tell me everything you remember."

She hesitated.

"I don't know if I should trust you."

"You don't have to trust me," Lucas replied. "Just help me stop them."

After a long silence, Elena nodded.

"I worked at a small café. One night I saw several men forcing someone into a van. I called the police, but one of them saw me."

"What happened next?" Aron asked.

"They chased me for days. Eventually... they caught me."

Her voice trembled.

"They said I had seen too much."

The room fell silent.

Aron clenched his jaw.

"They'll pay for that."

Lucas looked at the file again.

"This confirms they targeted you because you're a witness."

Suddenly, one of the security guards rushed inside.

"Sir! We found someone hiding near the west garden."

Lucas stood immediately.

"Bring him to the security room."

Aron turned to Elena.

"Stay here."

"I'm coming too."

"No."

"I'm tired of hiding."

Lucas gave her a brief nod.

"Stay behind us."

Minutes later, the guards pushed a frightened young man into the room.

He couldn't have been older than twenty-five.

"I wasn't going to hurt anyone!" he cried.

"Then why were you on my property?" Lucas asked.

The man lowered his head.

"They forced me."

"Who?"

"The Circle."

Aron stepped closer.

"What did they tell you to do?"

"They wanted me to watch the mansion... and report if the girl was still here."

Lucas's expression hardened.

"Anything else?"

The man hesitated.

"They said... if watching failed..."

He swallowed nervously.

"They would send assassins."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Elena felt her heartbeat quicken.

Lucas ordered the guards to contact the authorities.

As the frightened man was led away, Aron looked at his father.

"They're escalating."

Lucas nodded.

"Which means we're running out of time."

Late that night, Elena couldn't sleep.

She walked quietly onto the balcony.

A cold breeze brushed past her face.

Far beyond the gates, hidden among the trees, a red laser sight briefly appeared on an upstairs window.

Someone was watching the mansion.

Someone was waiting.

And the real hunt had only just begun.

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