The night over Beirut was unusually quiet. Far away from the government compounds, military checkpoints, and luxurious estates occupied by those loyal to the Blood Dunes, a modest apartment remained lit well past midnight. Stacks of papers, newspapers, and handwritten notes covered the small dining table while a television silently replayed footage of yet another checkpoint inspection carried out by armed members of the Blood Dunes.
Seated before it was Karim Haddad.
A lawyer by profession and a vocal advocate for civil reform, Karim had spent the last six years exposing disappearances, unlawful detentions, and abuses committed under the ever growing influence of the Blood Dunes. His speeches had earned him admiration among ordinary citizens and hatred from those who truly ruled the country.
