Episode 11: The Ghosts of Yesterday

[Scene: The Warehouse – A Dangerous Game 🎭]

The dim yellow light flickered against the cracked concrete walls. The warehouse smelled of metal and dust, the air heavy with tension. Zavier stepped inside, his gun raised, his ice-blue eyes locked onto one man.

Across the room, Adrian Locke stood with a casual smirk, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. He looked completely at ease, as if he hadn’t kidnapped Elia and thrown down the gauntlet for Zavier to come after her.

And between them… Elia. 💔

Her wrists were bound, her lips slightly bruised, but her gaze was defiant. She wasn’t broken. Not yet.

"Khan," Adrian greeted, his tone almost amused. "Took you long enough. I was beginning to think you didn’t care."

Zavier’s jaw tightened. "You made a mistake, Locke ."

Adrian sighed dramatically. "You and your threats. Always so predictable."

Zavier took a step forward. "Let. Her. Go."** His voice was sharp, slicing through the silence like a blade.**

Adrian tilted his head. "And if I don’t?"

The air between them grew heavier. Elia's heart pounded. 💓

These two men—so different, yet so alike.

One was her protector.

The other was her past.

And right now, she wasn’t sure which one was more dangerous.

[Scene: Flashback – Lahore, Years Ago 🌙]

The café was small, tucked away in a quiet street, its dim lanterns casting a golden glow. Elia stirred her chai, her eyes flickering up to the man sitting across from her.

Adrian.

Dressed in a white button-down, sleeves rolled up, he looked so different back then. Softer. Less dangerous.

He leaned forward, smirking. "Tell me, Elia. If you could run away from everything—family, duty, expectations—would you?"

Elia blinked, startled. "Why would I?"

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "Because people like us don’t belong in cages."

She frowned. "My home isn’t a cage."

He studied her, something unreadable in his eyes. "You say that now. But one day, you’ll understand."

That was the last time she saw him.

Until now.

[Scene: The Warehouse – Present Time 🔥]

Elia swallowed hard, staring at Adrian. "Why are you doing this?"

For the first time, something in his smirk faltered. "Because you deserve better than this life, Elia. And I won’t let you waste yourself on him."