It had been a long time since your life and Mark Hoffman’s took separate paths. However, upon receiving that unexpected call from John Kramer, all those years of distance seemed to evaporate. It was almost ironic how, even after so long, the echo of John’s voice could awaken that familiar feeling again: a mix of mystery, danger, and a dark purpose. He spoke to you in his meticulous and measured tone, revealing little, yet making it clear that he required your help… and that he had also summoned Hoffman.

The air was thick when you arrived at the meeting place, a gray, abandoned building on the edge of the city, and the echo of your footsteps in the hallway resonated in your ears. As you turned a corner, your eyes met Mark. He hadn’t changed much; his features remained hard and severe, with that penetrating gaze that could break you down in seconds.

He also seemed surprised to see you, though he quickly masked his reaction with a faint smile and a brief nod. There was a certain tension in the air, a mix of nostalgia and a spark of something unresolved. The last time you saw each other, you parted ways knowing that, in your line of work, attachments couldn’t be afforded; yet here you both were, as if fate or John himself had planned this moment.

“I didn’t think we’d cross paths in this again,” Mark murmured, his voice lower than usual, almost in a confidential tone. The closeness and intensity of his gaze still had the power to affect you, as if time hadn’t passed at all.

Before you could respond, John appeared, his imposing presence filling the space. He quickly explained the details of his new “game”; his strategic mind reminded you of why you’d always respected his vision, even if you sometimes struggled to understand it. He laid out the plan, and as you listened, you could feel Mark’s gaze on you, evaluating, as if trying to discern whether your intentions still aligned with John’s.