Chapter 80

The night wore on, thick and heavy, and the mood inside the campervan matched it perfectly. The cold blast from the AC did nothing to cool the storm of emotions swirling in Karl's head. Valencia, lounging in her seat like she owned the world, seemed to be enjoying every second of the tension. Her calm, almost predatory gaze never left him. Meanwhile, Karl's mind raced, torn between moral dilemmas and the relentless weight of the system he was up against. It felt like walking a razor's edge, every step more precarious than the last.

The campervan hummed softly as it rolled down an empty road lit by flickering streetlights. Shadows danced across the interior, giving the space an almost eerie feel. Layla sat in the back, as silent as a ghost. She hadn't said a word in what felt like hours, but Karl knew better than to think she wasn't paying attention. Layla was always listening. She was the kind of presence that lingered, even when unnoticed.

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