"You've got to be fucking kidding me"

The room felt smaller, the air suffocating as I stood frozen, staring at the now-blank screen. "Time's running out." Those words echoed in my mind, over and over, like a ticking clock counting down to an unknown disaster.

My hands trembled, but I forced them into fists, trying to steady the surge of emotions threatening to drown me.

"Elora," Fernando's voice finally broke through the haze, firm but gentle, pulling me back to the present. His hand touched my arm, grounding me. "We will figure out what this means."

I shook my head, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I know what it means," I said quietly, my voice laced with fear and resolve. "It means Elijah's alive, and someone out there knows exactly where he is."

"I have to find that son of a bitch" I seethed, feeling my jaw tightened.

Fernando stepped closer, placing a firm yet gentle hand on my shoulder. "Elora," he said, his voice calm but carrying a weight of concern, "you need to slow down. We can't just rush into this without a plan. You know how dangerous this is."

I stiffened under his touch, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Fernando, someone knows where Elijah is. They're leaving a trail—my brother could be out there right now." My voice cracked slightly as I spoke, my pulse quickening again. "I can't sit here and do nothing."

He sighed, his grip tightening as if trying to ground me. "I know how much this means to you, but running in blind isn't the answer. You've been through too much, and you're too smart to make an impulsive move now. We need to take a moment and think this through."

I could feel his eyes on me, trying to break through the wall of stubborn determination I had built. He wasn't wrong—rushing into a situation was dangerous, especially if the people behind this knew who I was and how I operated. But still, the idea of waiting, of not acting, made my blood boil.

"I'm not waiting, Fernando. I'm going after Damien right now. He's the key to all of this," I said, my voice hardening with resolve. I started to move toward the door, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

"Elora," he said softly but firmly, "this isn't just about you anymore. Davina, Freya—they're in this too. You need to think about how this affects all of us. If you charge in without a plan, you might make things worse."

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "You don't understand. I can't just sit here while—"

"I do understand," he cut me off, his voice more intense now. "That's why I'm telling you to wait. Let's take some time to figure this out before you make a move. You can't afford to be reckless."

For a long moment, I stood there, heart pounding, the urge to keep fighting him nearly overwhelming. But I could see it in his eyes—his worry wasn't just about the mission. He was worried about me. He always had been. And as much as I hated to admit it, he was right.

I let out a sharp breath, feeling the fight drain out of me. "Fine," I muttered, turning away. "I'll wait."

Fernando relaxed slightly, though I could still see the tension in his shoulders. "Thank you," he said quietly. "Get some rest. We'll talk more in the morning."

••☆••

After waiting for what felt like an eternity, I carefully cracked my door open. The house was silent, and the lights were off. I tiptoed down the hall, avoiding the floorboards I knew would creak. Fernando trusted me to stay put, but he didn't understand how deep this ran. I couldn't let anyone stand in my way, not even him.

I slipped out the front door and into the night, my pulse quickening with each step. Elijah was out there, and I was going to find him, even if I had to do it alone.

I slid into the driver's seat, relieved that Kain was nowhere in sight. If he'd seen me, he would've alerted the whole house that I was sneaking out.

With a steady hand, I pushed the key into the ignition, the engine roaring to life as the quiet hum of the car filled the night.

I took a deep breath, letting the sound calm my racing thoughts. Then, without hesitation, I pressed my foot to the gas and eased out of the gravel driveway, the tension in my chest easing as I drove into the darkness.

As I drove through the dimly lit streets, my mind raced with thoughts of Damien, Davina's ex. I needed a way to track him down, and fast.

That's when I remembered: I had taken Davina's phone. She hadn't realized it when she rushed over earlier, but I'd slipped it from her bag, knowing she might've had his number saved or some trace of him that could help me find where he was.

While waiting at a red light, I tapped into her phone, pulling up the tracking app she used for him when they were dating. It was still active. Perfect. The little blue dot on the screen blinked just a few miles away, leading me to an old industrial district on the outskirts of town.

I parked a few streets away, the area eerily quiet, and made my way on foot. He was at an old, run-down warehouse, tucked in between rusting storage containers and crumbling walls. I slipped into the shadows, keeping low as I watched him pace back and forth, talking to someone on the phone.

His expression was tense, and from what I could overhear, he was frustrated, but I couldn't make out the details.

For nearly an hour, I followed him, moving silently from one hidden corner to the next, watching as he went about whatever shady business he had planned.

He had no idea I was there—no clue that I was stalking him, preparing for the right moment to strike.

Finally, when the opportunity presented itself, I made my move. He was alone now, heading toward his car parked at the edge of the lot.

I crept up behind him, silent as a shadow, and just as he reached for the door, I grabbed him. My hand clamped over his mouth before he could scream, and I yanked him into the narrow alleyway between two buildings.

"Don't make a sound," I whispered harshly in his ear, my arm tightening around his chest as he struggled. "If you make one wrong move, this will end badly for you."

I moved swiftly, dragging him deeper into the shadows of the warehouse, far from the dim streetlights and any prying eyes. His muffled protests were no match for my grip as I pressed him against the cold, rusted wall of the building. The scent of dust and decay filled the air, mingling with his rising panic.

"Not a word," I hissed in his ear, releasing my hand from his mouth but keeping my body pinning him in place. His eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but there was no one here—just me and the silent, abandoned structure. He was completely at my mercy.

I scanned the area, finding a secluded spot among old crates and broken down machinery. I shoved him forward, forcing him to stumble into the hidden corner of the warehouse where no one would find us.

He turned, shaking, eyes wide with fear. "What do you want?" he stammered, trying to regain some control, but his voice wavered.

"You know exactly what I want," I replied coldly, stepping closer, invading his space. "You've been playing games, and now you're going to tell me everything. Starting with why you were stealing information on me."

He swallowed hard, his back pressed against the wall, nowhere to go. "I didn't mean—"

"Don't lie to me," I interrupted, my voice dangerously low. I leaned in close, my lips brushing his ear. "If you try to hide anything, or lead anyone here, I will know—and you won't like what happens next."

The color drained from his face as I pulled back, my gaze locked onto his. The silence of the warehouse seemed to close in around us, suffocating him in fear. He knew he wasn't getting out of this easily. And I wasn't leaving until I had answers.

He swallowed hard, searching for the right words as the tension thickened around us. But there was no room for lies now.

"Look," he began, his voice steadying, "I didn't do this on my own. I was told to get the information. It's just business, nothing personal."

I stepped closer, locking eyes with him. "Business?" My tone was ice-cold. "You think this is just business?"

He didn't flinch. His eyes remained sharp, defiant. "That's exactly what it is. You, Davina, all of it—it's just part of the game. People like us? We take what we can and move on. You should understand that by now."

My jaw tightened. "So, you used her? You betrayed her trust like it was nothing?"

He shrugged, barely concealing his indifference. "Davina was easy. I never cared about her. She was a tool, a way to get what I needed. That's all."

The cold truth of his words struck like a blade. He hadn't just betrayed her—he'd never cared at all.

"You really think you can get away with this?" I asked, voice low with fury. "You think I'll let you walk out of here without paying for what you've done?"

He smirked, his arrogance returning. "You can't touch me, Elora. You might be good, but you're not untouchable. The Syndicate's bigger than you, and they're already coming for you"

My blood boiled, heating the air around me, and I could feel the veins in my head throbbing. Taking a deep, calming breath, I steadied myself.

"Tell me what you know about Elijah." I was itching to pull out my dagger and drive it through his eye, but I held my composure. I needed answers.

He glared at me, his lips curling into a defiant smirk.

"You think I'm just going to hand over what you want?" he scoffed, leaning back as if to taunt me further. "You'll get nothing from me."

His mocking words snapped the last thread of my restraint.

Without thinking, I lunged forward, my dagger in hand, and slammed him against the wall. His smirk faltered, but it was too late. I pressed the dagger to his throat, my grip tight, vision blurring with fury.

"You think I won't?" My voice shook, low and dangerous, as I pressed harder, feeling his pulse race under my grip. "You think I can't make you talk?"

The fear in his eyes returned, but he remained silent, choking on his stubborn pride. The boiling rage in my chest was too strong, and my control shattered.

"Go to hell, bitch." The words barely left his mouth before the dagger was plunged deep into his chest with one swift motion.

He began choking and gasping, and a wave of bliss washed over me as I watched his face contort in pain.

I drove the dagger in deeper, twisting it slowly, feeling his heartbeat weaken through the handle.

With a sharp pull, I withdrew the dagger and shook the blood from it, watching his limp body collapse to the floor, his final breaths ragged and desperate.

I reached into my back pocket, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped the blade clean.

I walked away calmly, the chaos behind me fading into the shadows. Each step echoed in my mind as I considered my next move.

How could I find Elijah? The usual channels had led me to dead ends, and brute force had only yielded temporary satisfaction. I needed a plan.

Maybe I could leverage old connections, people who owed me favors. Or perhaps I could dig deeper into the underground networks, where whispers of lost souls often lingered.

As I strolled through the dimly lit alley, I focused on the possibilities, my determination growing stronger. I wouldn't stop until I found him, no matter the cost.

I got into my car and began driving into the darkness, the hum of the engine the only sound in the night. Who are the syndicates? My mind races with unanswered questions.

Every rumor I've heard clings to me like fog—whispers of power, betrayal, and shadows lurking just out of sight. What do they want? Why do they care about me?

I glance in the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see someone following. But there's nothing but darkness.

I clench the steering wheel, feeling the weight of my choices. What if I'm in over my head? What if I can't find Elijah?

The road stretches ahead, endless and uncertain.

Am I the one hunting them, or are they already hunting me?

I didn't know how to write this chapter,  but hope you enjoyed what i came up with😭🥰🥰

Any thoughts???