Page 6 of King

"This doesn't feel right," Jake muttered, pulling his jacket tighter around him.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” King replied as he stepped onto the porch, his boots thudding heavily against the wooden boards. The door creaked as he tested the handle...unlocked. A quick glance at Jake confirmed their silent understanding. They entered cautiously, the air inside stale.

The living room was a disaster, with furniture overturned, drawers yanked from cabinets, and their contents spilled across the floor. A shattered lamp lay in pieces near the wall; its cord tangled like a broken limb. Photos were scattered amidst the chaos, the frames cracked and glass shards catching the dim light from the street.

"Doesn’t seem like anyone is here." Jake’s voice was grim.

King moved through the hallway, his senses on edge. Joey’s bedroom door hung slightly ajar. Inside, the bed was unmade, and clothes were strewn haphazardly across the floor. His gaming console blinked its standby light, a haunting reminder of a life interrupted.

"No sign of them," King said, his tone darkening with frustration as he stepped back into the hallway. "No clues.”

King moved silently through the darkened house, each step deliberate as he headed toward where he figured the kitchen would be. His senses were razor-sharp, his eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. A faint, acrid smell lingered in the air, like fear and stale smoke. He knew Lee smoked, so that didn’t concern him.

The blow came out of nowhere as he turned the corner into a narrow hallway. Something heavy and solid struck him in the back with brutal force. He staggered forward, catching himself before hitting the floor. His heart raced as adrenaline surged through his veins.

“Shit!” King hissed, spinning quickly, his eyes hunting for the source of the attack.

A figure darted from the shadows, lean and fast. The barest glimpse of long, flowing white hair trailed behind, almost ghostlike in the dark.

His instincts kicked in before his mind fully registered the sight. He surged after the figure without thought, pushing off with powerful strides as his boots thudded against the hardwood floor. The figure moved with supernatural speed, weavingthrough the house with grace, knocking over chairs and a small table in an attempt to slow him down.

“Stop!” King roared, his voice thundering through the empty house.

The back door burst open as the figure threw it wide, vanishing into the night. King didn’t hesitate. He barreled through the door, his eyes adjusting to the moonlight filtering through thick clouds. The backyard stretched into dense woods, shadows playing tricks on his vision.

A cold wind howled past him as he bolted down a narrow, overgrown path. Branches clawed at his arms and face, but he ignored the sting. His focus was fixed on the flicker of movement ahead—the silver-white hair, like a ghostly beacon in the dark.

Whoever this was, they knew the terrain better than he did. King pushed harder, his breath coming in sharp, controlled bursts as he closed the distance. He could hear the figure’s breath now, ragged and hurried.

He reached out, fingers brushing the back of a jacket just as the figure twisted violently. King barely managed to duck as a blade sliced through the air where his head had been moments before.

The figure stumbled from the momentum of the missed strike, giving King his chance. He lunged, grunting, and tackled them to the ground. The two hit the dirt hard, rolling as fists and knees collided in a desperate struggle.

“Fuck!” King growled, pinning the person beneath him. He grabbed their wrist, slamming it against the ground until the knife clattered away into the dark.

The figure thrashed, kicking out hard and connecting with King’s side. The force knocked the air from his lungs, but he held firm, gripping a fistful of fabric and hair.

One glowing amber eye burned into his — cold, fierce, andfemale.

“Who are you?” King demanded harshly, his voice a low growl in the dark. He loosened his grip slightly.

The woman glared at him, her eyes defiant. Her chest rose and fell with rapid, controlled breaths. She didn’t answer immediately, her lips pressed into a tight line, calculating, her mind clearly racing.

“I asked you a question,” King snapped, tightening his hold just enough to make her wince. “Talk.”

Her eyes flicked down to where his hand gripped her arm. “You don’t want to do this.”

King leaned in closer, his face mere inches from hers. “You have no idea what I want,” he said, his voice like a blade honed to deadly precision. “Who are you, and why were you in that house?”

Surprise lit her eyes. “Lee’s house?”

“I’m the one asking questions.” King couldn’t help but notice how pretty this woman was as she stared at him as if trying to get a read on him. Good luck with that, he thought with a snort.

“Do you know Lee?” She asked with what King thought was hope in her eyes.

“Again, I’m the one asking the questions.” He said with less anger, but his eyes narrowed dangerously in warning.

King caught the subtle shift in her body. Her muscles tightened a split second before she moved. He anticipated it, gripping her wrists and slamming them above her head. She gasped, her head snapping back as she gritted her teeth in frustration.

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