CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – THE MONSTER GETS HIS DUE

Scarlett was back on the yacht, where she stood huddled with Mr. Stone, the masked figures closing in on them like a menacing pack of wolves. "Looks like we're outnumbered, Mr. Stone," she said, her voice surprisingly calm despite the tremor in her hand clutching his arm. Mr. Stone, ever the stoic figure, simply cracked his knuckles with a satisfying pop. "Don't worry, Ms. O'Hara. We've got this." His voice, though muffled by the mask, held a note of steely determination. The fight that ensued was a whirlwind of punches, kicks, and masked figures going down like dominoes. Scarlett, fueled by adrenaline and a newfound sense of defiance, surprised even herself with a well-placed kick that sent one of the figures sprawling. "Nice one!" Mr. Stone exclaimed, disarming another attacker with a swift move. "You're a natural!" They fought back to back, a well-oiled machine of desperate resistance. But the attackers kept coming, their faces hidden behind their eerie masks. Just as despa