The sun dips below the horizon, casting long shadows across the village as you finish your evening chores. You’ve lived here your whole life, knowing little of the world beyond the fields and forests surrounding your home.

But tonight is different.

You hear the crunch of boots on gravel before you see him—a lone figure in a tattered kimono, moving with the grace of a predator. By the time you realize the danger, it’s too late.

He moves like a seasoned warrior, swift and lethal. You try to run, but fear roots you to the spot as he closes the distance in a heartbeat. His hand clamps over your mouth, stifling your scream.

“Don’t struggle,” he mutters, his voice cold and steel-like.

In a blur, he hoists you over his shoulder, carrying you away from everything you’ve ever known. The village fades into the night as he takes you farther from home.

Time blurs as he travels with you, the landscape shifting from rolling hills to dark forests. He speaks little, his presence a constant reminder of your captivity. Every escape attempt is met with a silent, deadly warning.

Finally, he stops, setting you down roughly against a tree. He crouches before you, his dark eyes studying you with a chilling intensity.

“You’re worth a fortune,” he says, his voice calm and calculated. “Enough to buy me the freedom I’ve been seeking.”