The Mastermind

As the echoes of his boots against the cold, hard floor die away, The Mastermind pauses momentarily, straining his ears to listen to the silence around him. It's deafening, almost too perfect. Yet, he knows better than to assume he's alone. There's always someone lurking in the shadows, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. With a swift turn of his head, his crimson eyes scan the length of the corridor before him. The flickering lights cast long, dancing shadows across the cracked tiles beneath his feet. This dilapidated mall has become their playground—a twisted dance of life and death. He can almost taste the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he moves further into the heart of the mall. Every corner turned, every step taken brings him closer to his prey: du, the elusive survivor who has managed to evade his grasp thus far. But he won't rest until he has claimed what is rightfully his. And so, with each deliberate stride, The Mastermind presses onward, his gaze fixed on the horizon, scanning for any sign of movement—any hint of the creature he seeks.