He adjusted the wire to sit comfortably on his chest. Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he prepared to infiltrate the gang he’d been following for years.

Rain pattered against the cracked window, misting the dilapidated warehouse where the notorious Raven Clan gathered for the night. The worn leather jacket that Luke wore was soaked, adding weight to his frame, but he ignored the discomfort...

The moon was barely a sliver in the sky, casting its faint silver glow over the silent forest. I could hear every crackle of leaves beneath my feet, and every whisper of the wind as it passed through the trees. The night had a sharp edge to it, as if it was holding its breath, waiting.

I pushed forward, my eyes scanning the darkness. I knew he was out here. My hands trembled with anticipation,...

The sun hung low over the sprawling hills, casting shadows across the neatly lined rows of grapevines. Matthew stepped out of his car, the gravel crunching beneath his feet, and looked around. The vineyard was oddly silent, no workers pruning vines, no laughter, no voices. Just rows of dark, glistening grapes swaying in the breeze.

He nearly turned back until a voice called out, smooth and liltin...

The light in the old hotel room barely held on, flickering like it wasn’t sure it wanted to stay. Claire perched on the edge of the bed, staring at the man across from her. He’d walked in without knocking, his face stretched into a hollow, empty smile, the kind she now wished she’d never trusted. She’d heard the stories, the kind that warned about people like him. People who made others disappear....

_I follow fading echoes, _

_the remnants of our days,_

_Through fields of broken promises and half forgotten ways _

_Your laughter is a whisper_

_Your smile is just a trace _

_But still, I feel you lingering_

_In every hollow space _

_While chasing your ghost, _

_I became one myself _

_A shadow of who I once was, _

_left on some forgotten shelf _...