In the dim light of his laboratory, Ethan Blackwood was absorbed in the glow of his computer. His nimble fingers typed with precision as he worked on his project. The cold light from the screen illuminated his face, revealing sharp features and a penetrating gaze. Ethan, a man in his twenties with short blond hair, had blue eyes that reflected intense determination.
Suddenly, a noise at the door pulled him out of his concentration. Sara, his assistant, entered with a worried expression. She was a young woman with brown hair and green eyes, always professional and efficient, but now she seemed especially anxious.
"What is it, Sara?" Ethan asked, his voice calm but authoritative.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Mr. Blackwood," Sara replied nervously, "but there is something that requires your urgent attention."
Ethan nodded and temporarily saved his work, getting up from his chair. "Tell me what's going on."
Sara handed him a folder, and Ethan examined it calmly. The reports detailed a problem with his lithium mine, which was the main source of income for his company. As he read them, Ethan felt that the solution might require deeper investigation.
Sara waited silently while her boss reviewed the reports, her face tense with anticipation. After a few minutes, Ethan closed the folder gently.
"I'll need to look into this more thoroughly," he said firmly. "Let me investigate further and I'll let you know what to do."
Sara nodded and left the laboratory, leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts once more. As he reviewed the data and possible solutions, he couldn't ignore the gut feeling that something was wrong with this issue. Despite his calm mind, a slight sense of unease crept over him as he went through the data.
He continued investigating throughout the day without success, so the next day he decided to go personally to the mine to uncover the secret behind the problems. He left his company, located in Buenos Aires, and took the fastest flight to the north of the country, where the lithium mine was situated.
His mine was just a small part of a vast lithium territory. Ethan had worked hard to acquire that small mine. Even so, despite being small in comparison to the total, the income it generated was enormous. It wasn't something he wanted to abandon; it was the heart of his technology company.
Upon arriving at the mine, Ethan found a tense atmosphere. The workers murmured about unexplained accidents and equipment failures that seemed to arise out of nowhere. Determined to discover the truth, Ethan began interviewing the staff and inspecting the facilities. Unfortunately, no answers satisfied Ethan. All his employees gave the same response: something supernatural had invaded the mine. Ethan knew that people in these areas were very prone to believing in legends or urban myths, but he hoped to find someone more rational among them.
Unable to find a logical explanation, Ethan temporarily closed the mine to ensure the safety of his staff. Of course, he didn't believe those stories, but from his perspective, it had to be some kind of person, and if it was criminals, it was too risky for his people to continue working there. Meanwhile, he informed the local police of everything that had happened and waited for someone to come and check.
Several hours passed until finally a completely dark vehicle appeared. From the car, only one handsome man emerged. He had black hair that seemed to swallow the light and eyes with a strange violet color.
The mysterious man approached Ethan seriously, his eyes shining with a supernatural intensity. Ethan felt momentarily intimidated by his presence, wondering who this man could be and what had brought him to his mine.
"Hello, Mr. Blackwood," the man said firmly. "My name is Yassir al-Rashid. I have come in response to your call for help."
Ethan frowned slightly; he didn't seem like a police officer. Something strange was going on.
"How did you know about my situation?" Ethan asked, trying to hide his suspicion.
Yassir smiled enigmatically and stepped a little closer, a mysterious energy seeming to emanate from him.
"Let's say I have certain... abilities," he replied. "I am an Egyptian special agent. I have followed 'this' to here."
Ethan felt both intrigued and cautious. If this man was telling the truth, then how was it possible that he was here alone, without any support from local forces? Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that this was enclosing a larger mystery.
"What kind of special abilities do you have, Mr. al-Rashid?" Ethan inquired, with genuine curiosity. "Also, I need some form of identification to prove you really are who you say you are."
Yassir gave him a look before responding, "Let's say I am versed in the secret arts of my homeland, but without authorization, I cannot say more. I have come here to help you resolve the problem afflicting your mine, Mr. Blackwood; I just need you to allow me access. Here is my identification and a permit that allows me to operate in Argentina."
Ethan nodded; all those papers seemed to be in order.
"I am willing to cooperate with you, Mr. al-Rashid," Ethan responded, determined to uncover the truth behind the strange occurrences at his lithium mine. "But I will accompany you at all times."
To Ethan's surprise, Yassir agreed very easily. So, both of them entered the facilities. As they did, the sunlight began to fade, casting long and sinister shadows. Ethan could feel a numinous force rising in the place.
Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. Before he could even speak, a strange sound echoed from deep within the place, like a whisper that seemed to come from everywhere at once. Ethan realized he was about to face something beyond what he could have imagined.