"Lug, Lug, Luuug!" The echoing voice seemed distant but was steadily drawing closer. Soon, it was all around him.

Abruptly, Lug woke up.

Hannah was perched on his bed, her face etched with worry. Lug was momentarily confused until the events of earlier flooded back. His muscles throbbed in protest as he tried to move his arms.

"Hannah, something happened," he croaked, staring at her with wide-open eyes.

She scrutinized his bruised and beaten face, his skin blotchy with red welts and drained white from stress. It looked like he had seen a ghost - a notion that, for him, was becoming all too mundane.

"Tell me everything," she implored.

With great effort, Lug sat up, pressing his back against the wall at the head of his bed, and started to talk.

"I was attacked," he began, pausing to gather his thoughts and recount his ordeal as coherently as possible. "A man in military uniform knocked on the gate. As soon as I opened it, he pounced. We fought. He was so strong, unlike anything I've ever encountered before." Lug's voice started to waver, emotion creeping in. "And then, out of nowhere… they shot him in the head."

Hannah remained quiet, her gaze fixed on Lug, her face a mix of fear and sorrow.

Lug took a deep breath before continuing. Recounting the incident felt like reliving it.

"Two armed men appeared. They claimed they were from an organization that wants to recruit me. They told me that the man who attacked me was their enemy," Lug finished explaining.

Struggling with how to react, Hannah leaned forward and hugged Lug.

"Damn, Lug, I'm sorry… I should've been there…" she muttered.

"They want me to join them. They implied it won't be the last attempt on my life, that without their protection, I'm as good as dead," Lug added.

Hannah pulled back slightly, her eyes never leaving Lug. She seemed lost in thought.

"Why does that sound more like a threat than anything else?" she asked.

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Lug nodded in agreement. "I know. I sensed they were lying about many things… But I don't think they lied about my life being in danger if I don't join them," he explained.

"Damn," was all Hannah could manage to say.

She paused for a moment, then continued, "What if we leave the country?"

Lug looked at her, surprised. "And go where? With what money?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

"I don't know, but somewhere far away. Nothing is holding us here. The cemetery can manage without us, and we'll find a way to earn money elsewhere; our abilities shouldn't make that a problem," Hannah proposed, standing up from the bed. She spoke with such conviction that Lug couldn't help but lift his head that he had leaned against the wall.

He moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "Okay, maybe," he conceded.

Hannah blinked, visibly taken aback. "Wow, Lug. I didn't expect you to agree so easily," she said.

"But maybe I should call them before we make any decisions," Lug added, causing Hannah's enthusiasm to deflate.

"I know you're being cautious, Lug, but I worry that once you call them, you'll get sucked into a situation you can't escape," Hannah warned, pulling up a chair to sit. The hope and joy she'd felt moments ago had evaporated, replaced by a cloud of doubt and anxiety.

Lug sighed and buried his face in his hands. "I'm not sure running away is any less risky. They've been watching me for a while and…" Lug swallowed hard before continuing. "These men were unusually strong. I don't know how they did it, but it wasn't through psychic enhancement, it was something else… This organization is dangerously powerful if it can command guys like that," he explained.

Hannah nodded in understanding. "You're right. For now let's wait and see," she suggested, not truly believing the words that had just left her mouth.

With a grimace, Lug stood up, limped over to the table, and sat across from Hannah. He picked up his phone and laid out the card the man had given him the night before.

He dialed the number, took a deep breath, and held the phone to his ear. He looked even paler than before. Hannah watched him with a motherly worry in her eyes.

After a few dial tones, a slightly robotic male voice answered, "Yes?"

Lug didn't respond immediately. He recognized the voice. It was the man who had pulled the trigger just a few hours earlier.

The memories rushed back, but Lug managed to regain his composure and responded, "This is Lug, you gave me your card yesterday."

There was silence.

"Aaah… Yes, Lug. I didn't think you'd call… but that's convenient," the voice said.

Lug didn't respond.

"So, here's how this will go. We'll pick you up in, say… an hour. Then we'll take you to our base so you can fully comprehend your situation," the man added. He spoke with authority, leaving no room for refusal. "See you soon," he said, then hung up.

Lug set the phone down. He didn't need to explain the conversation to Hannah, who had heard everything. They shared a long silence, both overwhelmed by the gravity of Lug's predicament.

The descent was harsh, particularly for Lug. Yesterday, he'd felt on top of the world, powerful; now he was at his lowest point, his fate no longer his own.