CHAPTER ONE
The room was engulfed in an eerie stillness, broken only by the soft sound of medical equipment and the occasional whisper of the wind outside. The cold had settled into every corner, turning the air frigid and heavy, like a weight pressing down on the space. The pale light from a single overhead bulb cast faint shadows on the walls, adding to the room's somber atmosphere. In the center of the room, on a narrow sick bed, lay a man named Samuel. His face was pale, almost ghostly, and his body, once strong and full of life, now seemed frail and diminished beneath the thin hospital blanket. His breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, and every exhale seemed to take a little more out of him. The warmth had long since left his skin, replaced by a coldness that even the layers of blankets couldn't fend off. Beside the bed stood a small boy, no older than eight, with wide, worried eyes. His name was Jack, and he clutched a worn-out toy truck in his hands, a small comfort in the midst of his fear and confusion. The cold air made Jack shiver, but he barely noticed it, his attention entirely focused on the man lying before him. Samuel's eyes fluttered open, and with a great effort, he turned his head slightly to look at the boy. His gaze softened, a faint smile pulling at the corners of his mouth as he saw Jack standing there. Despite the pain and weakness that gripped his body, Samuel summoned the strength to speak."Jack," he whispered, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. It was a voice that had once been strong, filled with authority and warmth, but now it was fragile, as if the very act of speaking might break it.Jack stepped closer, his small feet making no sound on the cold, tiled floor. "Yes, dad?" he asked, his voice small and trembling, his eyes wide with concern. Samuel's hand, frail and trembling, reached out from beneath the blanket. Jack quickly took it in his own, surprised by how cold it felt. He held it gently, afraid that squeezing too hard might break something, but also not wanting to let go."Come closer, my boy," Samuel murmured, his eyes shining with a mixture of love and sadness.Jack stepped closer, standing on his tiptoes to bring his face nearer to his father's. The cold seemed to fade for a moment, replaced by the warmth of the bond they shared. Jack looked into his father's eyes, searching for any sign of the strong, lively man he had always known."Listen to me, Jack," Samuel began, his voice growing weaker with each word, as though he was using every last bit of strength to speak. "I… I need you to be brave… for me. Do you understand?"Jack nodded, though he wasn't sure he truly understood. He felt a tear escape and roll down his cheek, but he quickly wiped it away, determined to be strong, just like his father had always taught him."Take care of your mother," Samuel continued, his grip on Jack's hand tightening slightly "You need to take care of your sister… and your mother, his words slow and deliberate, as if each one took great effort to form. "Promise me, Jack. Do anything… in your power… to make them comfortable. Make sure… they're safe."Tears welled up in Jack's eyes, but he blinked them back, determined to be strong in this moment. "I promise, Dad," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'll take care of them. I'll do whatever it takes." A faint smile tugged at the corners of Samuel's lips, a look of relief washing over his face. "That's good… Jack," he murmured, his voice growing weaker with each word. "You're… a good son…" Before Jack could respond, his father's form began to blur, slowly fading away as though being pulled into the shadows that lingered in the corners of the room."Papa, no! Don't go!" Jack cried, his voice breaking as he reached out, desperate to hold on to his father. But his hands grasped only empty air, and his father was gone, leaving Jack alone in the cold, sterile room."Come back, dad!" the young Jack sobbed, sinking to his knees, tears streaming down his face. The world around him grew darker, the room dissolving into a void as his cries echoed endlessly.
Suddenly, the sharp ring of a phone shattered the dream, yanking Jack, now a young handsome man back into the present. His eyes snapped open, his heart pounding in his chest as he fumbled for his phone on the bedside table. His hand shook slightly as he answered the call."Jack," the voice on the other end was calm, almost cold. "It's time to execute the mission."Jack sat up in bed, the remnants of the dream still clinging to his mind. His father's last words echoed in his ears, mixing with the harsh reality of his current life. He knew what the mission entailed - what he had to do to fulfill his promise to his father, to ensure the comfort of his family."I'm ready," Jack replied, his voice steady but laced with the weight of the burden he carried.The call ended abruptly, leaving Jack in the silence of his room, the coldness of the night pressing in around him. He stared at the phone for a moment longer, then got out of bed. The time had come to make good on his promise, no matter what it took. Jack went to the bathroom of the rundown hotel, letting the cool water from the shower cascade over him. The mission had been on his mind all night, and the weight of what lay ahead gnawed at him. But Jack was not one to dwell on emotions. He had a job to do. Once he finished, he toweled off, threw on a plain black shirt, jeans, and boots, then headed downstairs.Outside, the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a pale light over the nearly empty street. Parked in front of the hotel was a sleek black SUV, engine idling. Inside the vehicle, David sat waiting, dressed in a sharp black suit, his face a mask of calm readiness. Jack climbed into the passenger seat, and the two men exchanged a nod of understanding."We got word from the boss," David said, his voice steady. "The car with the documents left about ten minutes ago. We need to catch up, intercept it, and take care of the people inside. No loose ends."Jack nodded. "Let's get it done."David pulled the SUV out onto the road, the tires crunching on the gravel. The vehicle hummed with power as they sped through the city, weaving through traffic with precision. Their target was a black sedan that was carrying crucial documents - documents their boss would kill to obtain.They spotted the sedan just ahead, cruising along a quiet stretch of road. Jack and David exchanged a glance, their faces hardening with determination. David pressed down on the accelerator, closing the distance between the two vehicles.The men in the sedan must have sensed something was off because they suddenly increased their speed. Jack's heart pounded in his chest as the tension grew. The sedan swerved wildly, and soon, bullets started flying out of its windows, pinging against the body of the SUV."Gun!" Jack barked, extending his hand.David reached inside his jacket, producing a sleek revolver from within his black suit. He handed it over to Jack without a word. Jack lowered the window slightly, taking careful aim at the sedan's rear tire. He waited for the perfect moment - a slight curve in the road - then squeezed the trigger.The shot rang out, echoing in the morning air, and the bullet found its mark. The rear tire of the sedan exploded with a loud pop, causing the car to veer violently off course. The sedan tumbled, flipping over multiple times before crashing into a ditch on the side of the road, its metal frame crumpling like a tin can.David brought the SUV to a screeching halt, and Jack leaped out, revolver still in hand. The sedan lay on its side, smoke billowing from the engine, and fuel leaking steadily onto the ground. Inside, the two men were barely conscious, groaning in pain, trapped in the wreckage.Jack spotted the briefcase - black and sturdy - lying just outside the wreck. He picked it up, his grip tightening around the handle. The job was almost done. He walked slowly back to the SUV, pausing only to retrieve a lighter from his pocket.He flicked it on, the small flame dancing in the morning breeze. Without a second thought, Jack tossed the lighter onto the ground, where the fuel was beginning to pool. The fire caught instantly, racing toward the sedan in a trail of flames.The two men inside didn't have time to react. The vehicle erupted in a ball of fire, the explosion sending a shockwave through the air. Jack watched for a moment, the briefcase held securely in his hand, before turning back to the SUV.David glanced at Jack as he climbed back inside. "It's done?"Jack nodded. "It's done."David started the SUV, and they drove off into the distance, the burning wreckage disappearing in the rearview mirror. They had completed their mission, just as the boss had instructed - no loose ends.