Leon leaned back in the car seat, watching his colleagues chatter. They laughed, joked, and filled the silence with empty words. To him, they looked careless, almost naive. A few sat quietly, but the rest… they would probably die. Leon knew it. He had seen too many like them.

He thought about lighting a cigarette but only sighed and turned to the window. The road outside was bumpy, the night cold and heavy with fog.

When the car finally stopped, the team stepped out into the deserted village. Old houses stood in silence, shadows creeping between them. A young officer quickly took charge, his voice filled with blind confidence:

"...let’s split up one by one, that way we can handle it faster!"

Leon exhaled slowly. Foolish. Underestimating the enemy was the fastest way to get killed. He was too tired to argue, and maybe it was better - he always worked alone. Still, something in him twisted with regret, knowing these people wouldn’t last long.

"…At least in pairs," he muttered, his tone flat, cold.

The others barely noticed his words. But Leon already knew - the hunt had begun.