THE GHOST ASSASSIN ☠️

Baron's eyes gleamed with excitement as he watched Phoenix work. "Yes, yes, make him suffer. He's been a thorn in our side for far too long."

Phoenix smiled, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. He sliced through Kael's shirt, revealing his muscular torso. Kael's eyes flashed with anger and pain as Phoenix made a series of shallow cuts across his chest.

Kael's jaw clenched, his muscles tensing as he struggled against the ropes binding him to the chair. Phoenix chuckled, clearly enjoying Kael's discomfort.

"Let's try something a bit more... persuasive," Phoenix said, picking up a small knife. He began to carefully carve a symbol into Kael's arm, the blade biting deep into his skin.

Kael's eyes widened, his breath hissing through his teeth as he fought to maintain his composure. Baron leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the symbol taking shape.

"Beautiful," Baron breathed. Phoenix smiled, his eyes never leaving Kael's face. "I think he's starting to understand his situation." He made another cut, and Kael's eyes flashed with agony.

Phoenix stepped back, admiring his handiwork. Kael's torso and arms were now a canvas of bloody cuts and symbols.

Baron leaned forward, his eyes glinting with malice. "You know, Kael, you're a very stubborn man," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "But stubbornness won't save you. You're going to die here, in this chair."

Kael's eyes flashed with defiance, but Baron just chuckled. "Oh, yes. You're going to beg for mercy before the end. And as for your teammates... we'll find them. We'll kill them. And we'll make you watch."

Phoenix leaned in, his voice taking on a menacing tone. "You see, Kael, we have ways of finding people. Ways of making them talk. And once we have them... well, let's just say they won't be leaving alive."

Baron nodded, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Yes, you're all going to die. And there's nothing you can do to stop it. So, I suggest you give up now. Tell us what we want to know. It's the only way you'll make this quick."

Kael's jaw clenched, his eyes burning with hatred. But Baron just smiled. "Oh, I think you'll talk eventually. Everyone does."

Xanthe's eyes snapped open, her heart racing as she heard the faint sound of Kael's screams echoing through the corridors. She sat up, her mind foggy from the darkness and the cold. She was in a cell, she remembered. But where?

As she listened, the screams grew louder, more anguished. Xanthe's breath caught in her throat. That was Kael. She was sure of it.

She scrambled to her feet, her hands shaking as she felt her way through the darkness. She stumbled towards the door, pounding on it with her fists.

"Kael! Kael, is that you?" she screamed, but her voice was drowned out by his cries of agony.

Tears streamed down her face as she realized what was happening. They were torturing him. Oh God, they were killing him.

Xanthe slumped against the door, her body wracked with sobs. She had to get out of here. She had to save him. But how? She was trapped, alone and helpless in the darkness.

Xanthe's sobs slowly subsided, replaced by a fierce determination. She had to escape, had to find a way to save Kael. She felt her way around the cell, searching for any weakness, any opportunity.

Her hands brushed against the cold stone walls, the rusty bars, the old wooden door. She pulled on the door, but it didn't budge. She was trapped.

But Xanthe refused to give up. She remembered the words of Lilith, her mistress who is now her enemy: "In darkness, find light. In weakness, find strength."

She took a deep breath, focusing her mind. She thought of Kael, of his bravery, his kindness. She thought of their mission, their cause.

And then, she remembered. The lock on her door was old, rusted. She had seen it when they brought her in. Maybe, just maybe...

Xanthe felt her way to the lock, her fingers probing the mechanism. She worked slowly, carefully, using all her knowledge to manipulate the rusty parts.No guards at the front of the door, they heard when kael was killing some guards when he came, they left the door and they were among those killed by kael.

Sweat dripped from her brow as she worked, her heart pounding with excitement and fear. But she didn't stop. She couldn't stop.

Finally, with a soft click, the lock disengaged. The door creaked open, and Xanthe stumbled out into the corridor, determined to find Kael, to save him, no matter what lay ahead.

Xanthe crept through the dark corridors, her heart racing with every step. She had to find Kael, had to stop them before it was too late. She moved silently, her eyes adjusting to the dim light, her ears straining to pick up any sound.

As she turned a corner, she heard the sound of voices, low and menacing. She recognized Baron's sneer, Phoenix's chuckle. Her blood ran cold.

She edged closer, peering around the corner. They were in a large room, lit by flickering torches. Kael was tied to a chair, his body bloody and bruised. Baron and Phoenix stood over him, their faces twisted with cruelty.

Xanthe's don't have her sword with her, her mind racing with a plan. She cannot take them down on her own. she looked around, she saw the guards, standing watchfully by the doors. She was outnumbered.

Just as she was about to risk it and make her move, Kael looked up, his eyes locking onto hers. He shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. "Don't," he mouthed.

Xanthe hesitated, unsure. But then she saw the determination in Kael's eyes. She decided to wait, to come up with a better plan.

She nodded, slowly, and retreated back into the shadows, her mind racing with a new strategy. She would save Kael, no matter what it took.

As Xanthe disappeared into the shadows, she felt a sudden presence behind her. Before she could react, a hand clamped over her mouth and an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into the darkness.

She struggled and kicked, but her attacker was too strong. They dragged her back through the corridors, her feet scraping against the stone floor.

Suddenly, she was thrust into the light, thrown to her knees in front of Baron and the others. The remaining trainee Assassins of Lilith, those ones she called her brothers, they were the ones who brought her into the light.

"Ah, Xanthe," Baron said, his voice dripping with pleasure. "I see you're as foolish as your friend Kael. Thinking you could escape, thinking you could save him."

Xanthe spat at his feet, defiance burning in her eyes. "I'll never give up," she snarled.

Baron chuckled. "We'll see about that." He nodded to the Assassin, who tightened their grip on Xanthe's shoulder.

Phoenix stepped forward, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "You see, Xanthe, you're just in time to join the fun. We were just about to make Kael talk."

Kael's eyes met Xanthe's, a flash of warning and apology. Xanthe knew she had to think fast, had to come up with a plan to save them both. But for now, she was at their mercy.

Baron's face turned red with rage as he gave Kael a final warning. "Last chance, Kael. Tell us what we want to know, or she dies."

Kael's eyes never wavered. "You know exactly what they did, Baron. The division betrayed me, they were also putting innocent lives in danger and now you are doing the same. You'll never get away with this."

Baron's smile grew wider as he nodded to Phoenix. "Kill her."

Phoenix raised his knife, ready to strike. But just as he was about to do so, one of the guards standing in front of the door suddenly dropped dead, a look of shock frozen on his face.

Phoenix stopped, looking at the guard in confusion. Then his gaze flicked to Lilith's face, and finally to Baron's face, which had turned white with surprise.

Before anyone could react, the second guard at the door also dropped dead, a bullet hole in his forehead.

The room erupted into chaos as a figure kicked the big door open and walked in, holding two swords in his hands. He was wearing a mask, but not dressed like a ninja - instead, he wore a fitted black trouser and black top.

The remaining guards and the trainee Assassin charged at the figure, who drew his swords and began to fight them off with deadly precision.

As the fight continued, bullets kept coming in through the window, hitting some of the guards and adding to the chaos. The figure fought on, his swords flashing in the torchlight, taking down anyone who got in his way.

Kael and Xanthe watched in amazement as the figure took down the guards one by one, his movements swift and deadly. Lilith and Baron were frozen in shock, unsure of what to do.

The figure's identity remained a mystery, hidden behind his mask. But one thing was clear - he was a force to be reckoned with.