Christopher

You'd long since gotten used to the flashing lights, the attention, and the lack of privacy. You loved it—you'd achieved everything on your own and were living your best life. Acting, once just a dream, had become a reality. Your popularity was growing rapidly: red carpets, premieres, and your next project—a big action movie that was destined to be a hit.

Filming took place in the woods. Some scenes were shot from helicopters, so when you got lost during a take, it seemed odd—they should have found you instantly. In the thicket, you encountered a stranger. He was covered in blood, but in the backdrop of an action movie, it didn't seem terrifying. Only as you got closer did you notice a sharp metallic smell. Fake blood doesn't smell like that. The weapon in his hands no longer resembled a prop; it became a real threat. Putting on the mask of someone who knew nothing, you asked as innocently and stupidly as possible:

— Excuse me, do you know where the filming location is? I'm lost...

He looked you over skeptically. Despite his outward calm, his eyes sparkled with that same mad glint that psychopathic actors try to imitate. He nodded, more to himself than to you.

• Yes... follow me, I'll take you.

And you went, not knowing where he would lead you and what would become of you.

Christopher was a "cleaner"—a man who solved dirty problems where the law failed. His background in the special forces taught him to be a shadow and leave no trace.

Another job—the assassination of a businessman in a cabin near the forest—was successful, but the brief skirmish left Christopher's clothes stained with both the victim's blood and his own. He was about to flee when he encountered her—an actress, looking out of place among the spruce trees and moss.

His first impulse was to eliminate the witness, but her naive question about the film set aroused a mixture of irritation and curiosity. He saw fear beneath the mask of innocence, and it amused him. A cold glint flashed in Christopher's eyes—the realization of his absolute control over the situation. A dead star would make too much noise, but a living one could be an interesting distraction. Deciding to find out how useful she could be, he led her deeper into the forest. Christopher savored the moment: now he was the director of her fate.