The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The moment the large-scale search kicked off, Gregg hesitated before finally pulling out his phone and dialing that number.

In the dead of night, Mayor Thompson was jolted awake by the call, staring at the familiar non his screen in silence. Mrs. Thompson, disturbed by the ringing, opened her eyes and found it odd to see her husband sitting up in bed, transfixed by his phone. "Who's calling at this hour?" she murmured.

Mayor Thompson remained silent, prompting Mrs. Thompson to lean closer and breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing Gregg's name. "Why aren't you answering?" "He's never called this late before." An uneasy feeling brewing in his heart, Mayor Thompson finally answered the call as he threw on his robe.

"What's happened?" His voice was deep and concerned.

Gregg quickly explained the situation, causing Mayor Thompson's face to turn ashen.

He knew instantly who was behind this, a rush of shand anger propelling him to grab his coat and head outside.

Mrs. Thompson barely caught her husband's angry bellow, "Quick, send more men to guard the cabin, they must not take anyone!" Had their plan beenpromised? Tossing thoughts around, she too rose from bed to follow Mayor Thompson.

By the tthey reached the woods, the sight of the ground littered with items left them speechless. Only Vivienne, in Mayor Thompson's mind, could have managed such a feat against the wild beasts in such a short time.

"Follow me!" Mayor Thompson led the way toward the cabin.

On the way, Gregg couldn't get through to the two men stationed at the cabin. "Mayor, I can't reach them either." With a grim expression, Mayor Thompson quickened his pace while ordering his men to encircle the entire woods. "No one's escaping this time!" In the meantime, Vivienne and Percival, after a long observation that only they remained, wasted no time. Vivienne directly aimed her bow and arrow and let it fly.

With a "whoosh," the arrow struck one of the men on the left, who collapsed without a breath.

The other man instantly becalert, scanning the woods, "Who's there playing tricks?" He dared not leave his post or flee, attempting instead to coax the enemy out with words. "Don't think you're safe in the shadows; once I catch you, you're dead!" These words made Vivienne halt her next shot, while Percival knew exactly what she planned without a gesture.

Considering the area relatively safe, he allowed Vivienne to proceed as she wished.

"Wait here for me," she said, patting Percival's hand before leaving.

To avoid their pursuers catching up, Vivienne instructed Percival to stay hidden, just in case.

Soon, rustling sounds cfrom the woods, and the man aimed his gun in that direction. "Who is it?!" The next second, Vivienne appeared before him, a sly smile on her lips.

"It's you?!" The man's eyes widened in recognition. "I knew you were no good!" Vivienne couldn't help but laugh. "You're talking toabout good and bad?" "Believe it or not, I could shoot you right now." Her smile grew wider. "Oh? And how do you plan to 'take care of me'?" She stepped closer with each word.

The man panicked, instinctively trying to raise his weapon at Vivienne, but he was immobilized.

As Vivienne closed in, fear filled the man's eyes.

"Who exactly are you?" His voice trembled with terror. Satisfied by his fear, Vivienne slowly raised her bow, pressing the arrow against his forehead. "I'm your grim reaper." In the next moment, the makeshift arrow plunged into his forehead, blood trickling down his face.

The man's fear of Vivienne intensified; she was no mere human! Having toyed enough with him, Vivienne glanced at the locked door, pressing a concealed button nearby, revealing a keypad.

She paused her entering of the code to face the man, "What's the password?" The man shook his head defiantly. "Even in death, I won't tell you!" Vivienne nodded, then launched another arrow.

"Then die." The man turned his head, coughing blood, and soon breathed his last before Vivienne.

She pulled out a packet of powder, sprinkling it on the keypad, pressing the frequently used numbers that appeared.

Percival joined Vivienne, and they pushed open the door to enter.

The dark room was much larger than expected, more like a secret base.

Vivienne closed the door, and they began their search inside.

The place was a labyrinth, vast and sprawling with numerous underground levels. Searching slowly wouldn't work if they wanted to find anyone before their enemies arrived.

"Let's split up. Although I've left them a 'gift,' it won't delay them for long," Vivienne vanished from Percival's sight in a blink. Percival, left alone, darted into the lower level.

Darkness enveloped the place, with only the occasional dimly lit lamp illuminating the path.

Vivienne followed the hallway until she reached a wall that appeared to be made of ancient stones. She pressed her palm against the cool surface, feeling its texture. Within: е moments, she pulled a small, circular device from her pocket and placed it against the wall. The device whirred and the wall itself seemed to flip, revealing a hidden entrance. en.kikistories Ret Beyond the stone facade lay what seemed to be a laboratory, filled with all manner of contraptions and devices humming and whirling on their own. Vivienne stepped inside, her boots clicking on the stone floor, and casually set down the object she was carrying onto a nearby table. en.kikistories Deeper within the lab, a door stood ajar. This time, Vivienne pushed it open without hesitation, but the scene that met her eyes made her blood run cold.

The room housed several large tanks, and within these tanks floated et women, lifeless, submerged in a liquid that had turned a sickening. shade of red from their blood. Their hearts had been gruesomely removed. en.kikistories "Monsters!" Vivienne's face twisted in rage and disgust.

After a moment, she forced herself to move closer to the tanks, her gaze falling on one in particular. Unlike the others, this tank contained a man.

Frowning in confusion and revulsion, she gave the corpses one last glance before turning away, her resolve hardening as she moved on to the next part of this grim place.

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