CHAPTER TWO

"What the hell?!" She exclaimed and forcefully pushed Liam away from her. With a bewildered expression, she questioned his actions and instinctively took a step back.

For several tense moments, Liam remained silent, his disappointment evident. As he approached her, Avery retreated, her gaze fixed on both Liam and the jar.

Confusion clouded Avery's mind as she demanded an explanation, 'Why are you doing this?'

A sense of urgency surged through her as she realized it was nearing curfew. She needed to leave before risking arrest by the military.

With an imploring look, she locked eyes with Liam. 'Please reconsider,' she pleaded, tightening her grip on the jar.

Suddenly, the door burst open behind them, startling them both. Avery's heart leaped, fearing it was a patrolling military guard who had overheard their conversation. Escape seemed impossible, as the government had declared severe consequences for offenders.

'Sir Liam.'

Thankfully, it was not a military guard, but Jeffrey!

Avery's relief washed over her as she saw Jeffrey standing at the office door, holding a book in his hand, which he handed over to Liam.

Liam's face twisted in disgust as he questioned, 'What is this?' Hatred burned within him.

'You requested that I record the number of drinks sold each day and the total revenue,' Jeffrey replied nonchalantly, seemingly unaffected by Liam's reaction.

His gaze shifted from Avery to Liam, and he inquired, 'Is there anything else you need, sir?' with his hands crossed behind his back.

Liam took a moment to respond, rubbing his chin and exchanging a glance with Avery before chuckling to himself.

'No, not at all... I would prefer to be left alone. Please, leave my office,' he said to the duo, snatching the book from Liam's grasp and returning to his seat.

Avery promptly placed the jar back on the chair and walked out, followed closely by Jeffrey. Liam's actions in the office had already upset her, and she was unaware of Jeffrey calling her name.

As they entered the bar, Avery glanced at the table she had left before going to the office. It now sat empty, indicating that Jeffrey must have taken care of the bottles by himself. Not that she cared anyway.

'Hey, Avery, wait!' Jeffrey called out, grasping her hand and causing her to halt in her tracks. Concern etched his face, as though he feared losing a friend.

'What do you want?' Avery asked, her eyes welling up with tears. She struggled to maintain her composure, determined not to break down in front of him.

'You don't have to go through this, Avery,' Jeffrey simply stated, prompting a frown. 'What I mean is, I'm here for you, Avery,' he rephrased as she pulled her hand away.

Angry, she walked towards the counter and snatched her handbag, the faint jingle from within echoing her frustration. With a frown, she rummaged through her bag until she retrieved a car key.

'Goodnight, Jeffrey.'

Without waiting for a response, she uttered those words and headed towards the exit, refusing to slow down even when Jeffrey called out to her again.

Now outside the bar, on the desolate street, a tear escaped down Avery's cheek. She allowed herself this moment to cry, free from the worry of embarrassment. She couldn't bear to break down in front of Jeffrey, not wanting to appear weak.

A strong gust of wind swept through, carrying sand and dirt. Rain was imminent, and she didn't want to be caught outside. She needed to depart before getting caught.

The government had imposed a curfew due to the escalating deaths caused by unexplained animal attacks over the past few months. Nobody had witnessed these animals, not even the vampires had any knowledge of what they were.

She wiped her tears hastily and quickened her pace. The sound of her heels tapping on the cold, lonely night echoed. Her car was parked three blocks away from the bar, a considerable distance she couldn't avoid.

'Arrrgh!'

A piercing scream shattered the tranquility, freezing Avery in her tracks. She listened intently to the commotion. A man's agonized groans filled the air.

Her mind urged her to move away from danger and flee home, but her body disobeyed, walking towards the source of the sounds instead.

She concealed herself behind a car, peeking out to witness a group of four armed men attacking another man, who lay defenseless on the ground. Her heart sank as she watched the brutal assault unfold.

She didn't recognize these assailants. They were not military personnel or a group of damphirs. Dressed as mercenaries, each one exuded a lethal aura. The curfew seemed inconsequential to them.

'Where is it?' one of the attackers demanded, his face contorting with anger when the groaning man failed to respond.

Fisting his hand in the man's hair, he forced his head up, then ruthlessly slammed it onto the unforgiving ground.

'Where the hell is it?' he coldly repeated, sending shivers down one's spine.

'I don't know where it is,' the man replied, but the assailant refused to accept his answer, viciously slapping him across the face before stepping back.

Avery observed in silence, her heart racing. Eyes wide, she saw a woman draw a pistol and take aim at the man.

She gasped, realizing she was about to witness a murder and become a witness at a crime scene. In an instant, her concerns became insignificant as the assailants turned their attention in her direction.

In a panic, she concealed herself further, desperate to evade their sight. 'How is that possible? How could they hear my gasp from such a distance?' she wondered. Then it dawned on her. 'Unless...'

A gust of wind brushed against her, and she felt an object pressed against the back of her neck, poking her head.

'I'm only going to ask you once...' a low, feminine voice echoed in her ear, the object pressing harder. 'Who the hell are you?'"