The Void Market was alive with chaos—a sprawling, anarchic hub where desperate people bartered, stole, and gambled. The metallic hum of ancient machinery filled the air, and the stench of oil and sweat clung to everything. Hayden moved through the crowd, his focus sharp, the package weighing heavily inside his jacket.

He spotted Kyra waiting near a vendor’s stall, her dark hair tied back, revealing a face that could charm and deceive in equal measure. Her green eyes locked onto him as he approached, and she gave him a wry smile.

“Cutting it close, Hayden,” she said, her tone teasing but edged with tension.

“Ran into some enforcers,” he replied, glancing over his shoulder. “They’re everywhere today.”

Kyra nodded, her smirk fading. “Well, we can’t screw this one up. Dregan wasn’t exactly subtle about what’ll happen if we fail.”

Hayden frowned, lowering his voice. “What’s in the package, Kyra? He’s never been this cagey before.”

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“Does it matter?” she shot back, her tone sharper than he expected. Then, as if realizing she’d said too much, she sighed and added, “Just follow the plan, alright? We deliver this, get paid, and maybe we’re finally free of him.”

The word free struck a chord in Hayden. It was why he’d taken this job in the first place—to escape the slums, the Syndicate, and Dregan’s grip. He nodded, though unease twisted in his gut.

They walked together toward the abandoned warehouse at the edge of the market, their footsteps echoing in the darkened alleyways. The silence between them was heavy, and Hayden couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

When they reached the warehouse, Kyra pushed the creaking door open. Hayden stepped inside, and his stomach dropped.

The Syndicate enforcers were waiting. A dozen of them, their visors glowing red in the dim light, weapons raised and aimed directly at him.

“What the—” Hayden began, but his voice caught in his throat as Kyra stepped away from him.

She turned to face him, her expression cold. “Sorry, Hayden. Nothing personal.”

His heart pounded in his chest. “Kyra… You’re working with them?”

Her lips twisted into a smirk that no longer held any warmth. “Dregan wanted you out of the way, and the Syndicate offered me a better deal. You were always too naive to survive this game, Hayden.”

The betrayal cut deeper than any weapon could. Hayden clenched his fists, his mind racing for a way out, but there was no escape.

One of the enforcers stepped forward and struck him hard across the back of the head. Pain exploded in his skull, and the world spun.

The last thing Hayden saw before the darkness claimed him was Kyra, her face impassive as she turned away.