The school day finished as usual, the siblings arrived at their house that evening. As they were resting in the living room, Helena noticed that Selena kept looking in her direction as if hesitating to voice out whatever she had in mind.
She waited and waited but she still won't say anything. Helena's patience wears off. She sat up and looked straight to her sister, "Do you need anything from me?"
Selena was embarrassed as her sister caught her stealing glances. Sheepishly, she said "Helena, I need to go out tonight, there's someone I need to meet."
When Helena heard her request, she instinctively wanted to refuse. Before she could say anything, Selena interjected "You said there's no more secret and that's why I'm informing you about my activity tonight."
Selena's words reminded her of their previous conversation. Helena bit her lip, hesitated for a while, "Don't return late. Also…. No more injuries".
Selena was relieved when she heard that. She nodded "I will."
—
The city always felt different at night—darker, not just because of the absence of daylight, but because of the hidden world that came alive when the streets emptied.
The lights of the bustling downtown faded into shadows as Selena moved deeper into the forgotten alleys, her hood pulled low over her face. She knew the risks, but the allure of finding the truth about their father was too strong.
Tonight, however, the stakes felt higher. She was heading to meet someone she'd only heard whispers about—the Black Market Boss. Selena had been warned by her contact, a man named Luther, that this was dangerous territory. But after weeks of dead ends, this was her best lead.
The alleyways led her to a nondescript building hidden behind old warehouses—a front for one of the most powerful underground operations in the city. She hesitated for a brief moment, feeling the cold chill of fear wash over her. She was getting in too deep, and a part of her knew it. But one of the names on the list—Vincent Bale—hung in the back of her mind, and she pressed forward.
Inside, the dimly lit room was filled with smoke and shadows. Men and women moved around, all dealing in secrets, power, and influence.
The Black Market was more than just a place to trade—it was a network of people who thrived in the city's darkness, where information was currency, and danger was always lurking.
Selena's heart raced as she was led through the corridors, finally stopping in front of a door guarded by two large men. This was it—the Black Market Boss.
When the door swung open, Selena was surprised by what she saw.
The Black Market Boss, no, it's a woman named Lilith, the second in-command, sat behind an ornate desk, dressed in sleek, dark clothes that radiated both power and elegance. Her sharp eyes immediately assessed Selena, and a smirk curled on her lips as if she already knew everything about her.
"Selena Willis," Lilith said, her voice smooth and commanding. "You've been causing quite a stir in my world."
Selena tried to steady her breath, keeping her expression neutral. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I need information."
Lilith's smirk widened. "Information always comes at a price. The question is—what are you willing to pay?"
Selena had been prepared for this. She knew the Black Market didn't deal in money alone. Power, influence, secrets—those were the true currency. And Selena had learned quickly how to survive in this world, though she was still wary of just how far she was willing to go.
"I want to know about Vincent Bale," Selena said, her voice steady despite the rising tension in her chest.
Lilith leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing. "Vincent Bale, huh? Dangerous man to be asking about."
Selena didn't flinch. She had come too far to back down now. "He's connected to Alden, the one who destroyed my father. I need to know where he is, what he knows."
Lilith studied her for a moment before standing up and moving toward the window. Her presence filled the room, commanding attention.
"You've got spirit, I'll give you that. But you're swimming with sharks, Selena. You think just because you've danced around the edges of this world, you can dive into its depths? Vincent Bale… he's a different breed. And he has connections that go higher than you can imagine."
Selena's pulse quickened. She could feel the danger closing in. "I don't care. I need to know."
Lilith turned back, her gaze piercing. "You're in too deep already, girl. But since you're so determined, I'll give you this—Bale's not far from where you think he is. He's been moving in the shadows, but if you dig too deep, you'll draw attention you can't handle."
Selena clenched her fists, frustration building. "I'm not afraid."
Lilith's smile was cold. "You should be. You're lucky I even let you in here, but the next time you show up without paying the right price, I won't be so kind. Consider this a warning."
Selena knew when she was being dismissed, but before she could respond, the door swung open behind her. A man entered, his expression serious as he whispered something in Lilith's ear.
Lilith's eyes flickered with a hint of surprise, and then they locked onto Selena with a new intensity. With a playful smile, she said to Selena "Looks like your luck just ran out, little girl. Seems someone's already been asking questions about you."
Selena's stomach dropped. Someone had been tracking her movements.
"Go," Lilith said, her voice low but urgent. "Now. You've got trouble coming your way."
Selena didn't need to be told twice. She bolted out of the room, her heart racing. But as soon as she hit the streets, she knew something was wrong. The alley felt too quiet, too still. She moved quickly, keeping to the shadows, but before she could get far, she heard footsteps behind her.
She turned sharply, eyes scanning the dark alley. Two men emerged, their faces shadowed, but their intent was clear.
"Where do you think you're going?" one of them sneered.
Selena's pulse spiked. She had no choice but to run, darting through the streets, weaving between alleyways, her mind racing. They were faster, gaining on her with every step. She could feel the cold sweat on her skin, the fear building in her chest.
She turned a corner, only to find herself trapped—a dead-end.
The men closed in, smirking as they cornered her. "Thought you could mess around in our world and walk away?" one of them taunted.
Selena's mind raced, her back pressed against the cold brick wall. There was no escape.
Just as they lunged, she ducked, slipping between them and landing a quick strike to one of their legs. He stumbled, but the other grabbed her arm, yanking her back. Pain shot through her as she twisted free, kicking hard at his shin.
But before they could overwhelm her, a loud voice cut through the alley. Luther appeared, his gun drawn, firing two warning shots into the air.
"Back off," he growled, stepping between Selena and the men. His presence sent them retreating, for now.
Selena breathed heavily, clutching her arm. She knew she had barely escaped.
Luther looked at her, his expression hard. "You're getting too deep, Selena. I told you this wasn't a game."
"I didn't ask for your help," she muttered, trying to mask her pain.
"Yeah, well, you're going to get yourself killed if you keep going like this," Luther said, shaking his head. "You've got enemies now. You can't just walk away from this."
Selena stared at him, the weight of the situation sinking in. She was deeper than she'd ever imagined.
And now, she had enemies in the Black Market.
---
Meanwhile, Helena paced the apartment, her heart pounding. It was past midnight, and Selena hadn't come home. Fear gnawed at her insides. Something was wrong, she could feel it.
When the door finally creaked open, Selena stumbled inside, bruised and shaken. Helena rushed to her, eyes wide with worry. "Selena, what happened?"
But Selena didn't answer. She was too exhausted to explain the full extent of what had transpired, too shaken by the close call. Instead, she collapsed onto the couch, her breaths ragged.
Helena's hands trembled as she sat beside her sister, the sight of Selena's bruises filling her with dread. "You can't keep doing this," she whispered, her voice barely steady. "It's too dangerous."
"I know," Selena said, her voice weak. But even as she spoke, the fire in her eyes remained. She wasn't going to stop—not until she uncovered the truth.