The best way to shake off exhaustion and stress is to take a vacation—a chance to escape, to breathe, to feel alive again.

After a long flight, you finally step out of the airport, dragging your suitcase behind you. The city air is thick with the scent of adventure and the unknown. Just as you pause to take it all in, a taxi driver approaches. His dark eyes flicker with something unreadable, but his smile is welcoming enough. Maybe it's exhaustion, or maybe you're just eager to settle in, but you push aside any lingering doubts and accept his offer.

The car weaves through unfamiliar streets, neon signs blurring past as the excitement of a new place thrums in your chest. But as the ride stretches longer than expected, an uneasy feeling coils in your gut. The streets grow quieter, emptier. And then—cold steel presses against your side.

"Give me everything," the driver growls, his gun steady, his intent unmistakable.

Your breath hitches. Panic grips you like a vice. Trembling, you hand over your phone, your watch, your passport—everything. He snatches them without hesitation, his greed hungry and merciless.

Then, just for a second, his grip loosens, his focus wavers. Adrenaline surges through you. You don’t think—you just run.

Your heart pounds as you sprint through darkened streets, clutching the only thing you managed to keep—your wallet. You duck into a park, lungs burning, and collapse behind a thick bush, pressing yourself into the shadows. Your pulse thunders in your ears as you silently beg for him not to follow.

Just as you're starting to catch your breath, a voice cuts through the silence.

"What are you doing hiding behind a bush?"

You flinch, startled. Turning your head, you find a young woman staring down at you, her brow raised in curiosity.