The town was bustling with life, the streets packed with vendors, shoppers, and workers moving about their day. But Selena Willis wasn't interested in the surface of things.
She moved through the crowds, her hood pulled low over her face, navigating the narrow alleys and side streets that most people avoided. Her destination was far more discreet, and her purpose far more dangerous.
It had been days since her confrontation with Helena, but she couldn't afford to dwell on that now. The pieces were falling into place. Her investigation into their father's past had finally led her to a breakthrough.
The market she entered was a world apart from the lively streets above. The so-called "Black Market" existed in the shadows, operating beneath the surface of the town, unknown to most. It was a place where secrets could be bought, sold, and traded. Selena had only found out about it by accident a few months ago, but since then, she had cultivated her connections carefully.
At first, she had been nothing more than an observer, learning how things worked, keeping her head down. But slowly, she had gained trust among a few key players. One of them was waiting for her now.
In the dimly lit back corner of the market, Selena spotted the man she was looking for—Luther. He was a large, burly figure, covered in tattoos and scars that spoke of a lifetime spent in the underworld. But for all his rough appearance, Luther was a reliable source of information, one of the few who didn't ask too many questions.
"Selena," Luther grunted as she approached, his eyes scanning the crowd around them before settling on her. "You're late."
Selena pulled down her hood, revealing her face just enough for him to recognize her. "I had to make sure I wasn't followed," she replied calmly, slipping into the seat across from him. "Do you have what I asked for?"
Luther leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment before he reached into his coat pocket. From within, he pulled out a folded piece of parchment, stained and worn from age. He slid it across the table to her.
"It wasn't easy to find," he muttered, his voice low. "Had to dig through some old records that most people have long forgotten. But this... this should give you what you're looking for."
Selena's heart raced as she took the parchment, her fingers trembling slightly. She had been searching for months—no, years—for something that could shed light on the truth behind her father's downfall. So many dead ends, so many false leads. But this… this felt different. This felt real.
She unfolded the parchment, her eyes scanning the faded writing. It was a list of names, dates, and locations—all connected to the business empire her father had once controlled. At first glance, it didn't seem like much, just a collection of forgotten transactions and meetings. But to Selena, it was a roadmap.
"There's a name here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "One that keeps coming up in everything I've found so far."
Luther raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"
Selena pointed to a specific entry. "Marcus Alden. He's the one who was involved in my father's affairs before everything fell apart. He was part of the company's board. But after my father… after everything collapsed, he disappeared."
Luther frowned. "Alden… that's a dangerous name to be digging around."
"I don't care how dangerous it is," Selena said firmly, folding the parchment and slipping it into her coat. "I need to know the truth."
She had learned enough in the past few months to know how the game was played. She had to be careful, tread lightly, but she couldn't back down now. Selena had made it this far by being resourceful, smart, and ruthless when she needed to be.
But it wasn't just about this list. Her connections to the underground had come at a price. Luther had vouched for her in the early days, introducing her to people who could provide information, resources, and access to places she would have never reached on her own. But earning trust in this world meant owing favors.
"Are we square now?" she asked, her eyes flicking back to Luther.
He chuckled darkly. "Not even close, kid. But don't worry, I'll call in those favors when the time's right."
Selena clenched her jaw, but nodded. She knew this was how the game worked. Nothing was free in the Black Market. And she was willing to pay whatever price it took to uncover the truth.
---
After leaving Luther, Selena made her way through the winding streets of the underground, her mind buzzing with what she had just discovered. Marcus Alden… that name was the key. If she could find him, track him down, she could finally understand what had happened to her father. She could finally understand why their family had fallen so far.
But it wouldn't be easy. Marcus Alden was a powerful man, and if he had gone to such lengths to erase his connections to their father's company, then finding him—and confronting him—would be dangerous. But danger had never stopped Selena before.
Her next stop was a small, unmarked building at the edge of the market, hidden behind a series of narrow alleyways. It was the place where she met with her most trusted contact—a woman named Irina.
Irina was a master of secrets. She dealt in information, and over the months, she had become one of Selena's most valuable allies. The two women had an unspoken understanding—Selena provided Irina with small pieces of the puzzle she was putting together, and in return, Irina helped her navigate the dangerous world of the underground.
When Selena entered the dimly lit room, Irina was already waiting, sitting behind a desk cluttered with papers and strange artifacts.
"You're late," Irina said without looking up from the document she was reading.
Selena smirked. "You sounded like Luther."
"I hope you have something more interesting than the last time we met," Irina replied dryly, finally glancing up. "What do you have for me?"
Selena pulled out the parchment Luther had given her and slid it across the table.
Irina picked it up, her eyes scanning the list of names. For a moment, her expression was unreadable, but then she stopped at the same name that had caught Selena's attention.
"Marcus Alden," Irina murmured. "Now that's a name I haven't heard in a while. He's… well-connected. Hard to find."
"But not impossible," Selena said firmly. "I need to find him. Do you have anything on him?"
Irina leaned back in her chair, considering the request. There was a flicker of interest in her eyes now, a spark of curiosity. "Finding Alden is going to take some time, and it's going to cost you."
Selena nodded. "I know. But I don't have time to waste."
Irina smiled faintly. "You're starting to sound like me. Fine. I'll see what I can dig up. But be careful, Selena. You're walking a dangerous line."
"I know what I'm doing," Selena replied, though even as she said it, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting in over her head.
---
As Selena left the Black Market and made her way back to the surface, she couldn't help but feel the weight of everything she had set in motion. She was getting closer to the truth—closer to finding out what had really happened to their father. But the deeper she went, the more dangerous it became.
She only hoped that when the time came, she would be ready to face whatever truths were waiting for her.