The warehouse crumbled into ash. The fire was a living thing, roaring and crackling as it consumed the warehouse. Smoke billowed into the night sky, a suffocating reminder of the chaos. The group stood a safe distance away, but Mila's eyes were fixed on the strange shadow moving in the inferno. Her instincts screamed—this wasn't just some anomaly. This was calculated, purposeful.
"Do you see that?" Mila asked, her voice tinged with awe and dread.
Tristan's dark eyes narrowed as he stared at the flames. "Yeah. It's not debris." He hesitated, his voice dropping to a murmur. "Could it be... the Ghost?"
"You think it's the Ghost?" Anna questioned, her brows furrowing.
"Yes," Tristan replied, his tone subdued. "Think about it. Reynolds' and everything that happens. Always happening with some riddles or half clues like in a fairytale."
"Fairy tales don't leave bodies behind," Chad muttered.
But Mila's focus sharpened. Deep in the flames, something gleamed—a flicker of gold amidst the destruction. Her heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, she took a step forward.
"Mila, wait!" Tristan grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
"I saw something," she insisted, almost breathless. "It's like the pieces we've found before. The golden puzzle pieces."
Mila's eyes were fixed on the flicker of gold glinting within the flames. "I'm going in," Mila announced, her voice resolute as she stepped forward.
Tristan's hand shot out, grabbing her arm and yanking her back. "Are you out of your mind?" he snapped. "You want to risk your life for a puzzle piece?"
"It's not just a puzzle piece!" Mila retorted, her voice rising. "It's a part of the bigger picture. You said it yourself this is personal. If we don't get it, we lose another clue!"
"Clue to what, Mila? Your death? Because that's exactly what's going to happen if you walk into that inferno!" Tristan's face was flushed with anger, his eyes blazing almost as fiercely as the fire.
"You don't get it, do you?" Mila shot back, pulling her arm free. "This isn't just about me. It's about finding the truth. About us, about Anna and me."
"And what good will the truth do if you're dead?" Tristan countered, his voice cracking with frustration. "You think your sister wants to bury you for a stupid piece of metal?"
Mila's jaw tightened, but she didn't back down. "I can handle it."
"No, you can't!" Tristan's voice thundered, silencing everyone else. "You're not invincible, Mila. And I'm not about to stand here and watch you throw your life away over a hunch."
Their heated exchange was interrupted by a loud, disbelieving gasp from Anna. "Wait...what the hell?"
Everyone turned and followed Anna's gaze toward the warehouse. Emerging from the flames was Chad, his silhouette outlined by the fiery glow. His face was smeared with soot, his clothes singed at the edges, but his expression was smug as he held up the golden fragment triumphantly.
"Looking for this?" Chad asked, his voice casual despite the chaos around him.
Mila's mouth fell open, stunned into silence. Tristan blinked, his anger momentarily forgotten. Alfonso's tablet clattered to the ground, and even Anna, usually quick to speak, was rendered speechless.
"You're welcome," Chad added, striding toward them and tossing the fragment to Mila.
"What... how...?" Mila stammered, catching the piece and staring at him in disbelief.
Chad shrugged, his grin widening. "Figured someone had to do it. And since you two were too busy arguing like an old married couple, I took the initiative."
"Are you insane?" Tristan finally found his voice, his tone incredulous. "You could've been killed!"
Chad glanced back at the flames and smirked. "Nah, I've been through worse. Plus, it was kinda fun. Like a really intense barbecue."
Alfonso, who had been unusually silent, stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he studied Chad. "You just... walked into the fire?"
Chad shrugged again, his expression deliberately casual. "Yeah. Fire's fire. What's the big deal?"
But Alfonso's gaze lingered, sharp and calculating. "You walked into an inferno, didn't get burned, and came out with that fragment. No hesitation, no sign of panic and what's more, you're a freaking model Chad!"
Chad shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny, his grin faltering just slightly. "What can I say? I'm just that good."
"No one's that good," Alfonso murmured, more to himself than anyone else. His eyes flicked to the fragment in Mila's hand and then back to Chad, suspicion flickering across his face.
Mila glanced between the two, a chill creeping up her spine. "Alfonso, what are you thinking?"
Alfonso didn't answer immediately, his gaze still fixed on Chad. Finally, he shook his head, though the doubt remained etched in his expression. "Nothing. Not yet..."
"Let's go to the safe house and put all the puzzle pieces together and see if there is something we can get out of them." Tristan order.
The crackling flames echoed in their ears long after they'd left the docks. Mila gripped the fragment tightly, her mind racing with questions. The quiet hum of the car only heightened the tension as they drove to the safe house, each lost in their thoughts everything was quiet, the group shaken by their encounter at the docks.
Back at the safe house Mila sat at the corner table, turning the small, golden fragment over in her hand. Anna took out the rest of the pieces and they pieced together the fragments they had collected. Each piece clicked into place with a magnetic pull, forming a larger, intricate design.
"It's a map," Alfonso realized, his voice filled with awe.
"A map to what?" Chad asked.
Mila's voice was barely a whisper as she traced the completed puzzle with her finger. "To whom we really are."
"But wait…these symbols,' Alfonso muttered, pointing to the edges of the map. 'They're not random. They match the markings from the prophecy scrolls. This isn't just a map—it's a key.'"
"This is the fifth one," Mila revealed "But I think there's more, look here." She points at the bottom of the pieces. "There's still open spaces and everywhere something big happens, we find one of these, so I think we can expect more chaos."
Anna paced the room, her anxiety evident. "If the Ghost is real, why would they leave these? What does this mean?"
Tristan leaned against the wall, his gaze steady. "Oh, the Ghost is reall Anna, but maybe it's not about what the Ghost wants to show. Maybe it's about you two seeing it. Think about it, every piece has been left in places tied to you. Like I said before it's personal?"
"You keep on saying that Tristan, please explain 'Personal'?" Mila frowned, her fingers tightening around the fragment.
Tristan nodded. "You and Anna have questions about the prophesy, right? And no answers yet after all these years. And now this Ghost shows up wherever you are."
Anna froze mid-step, her expression darkening. "Are you suggesting this is connected to the prophesy?"
"It's not just a suggestion," Tristan replied. "It's a pattern."
Alfonso cleared his throat from the corner, his tablet glowing faintly. "I've been digging into the organization's files. You might want to sit down for this."
The room grew heavy as Alfonso tapped the screen, revealing a grainy photo of a shadowy figure amidst chaos. Their form was blurred, their features obscured, but there was no mistaking their commanding presence.
"The Ghost," Alfonso said, his tone hushed. "There has been this urban legend for decades. Rumored to be behind some of the most catastrophic events in recent history. According to these records, the Ghost's connections run deep within the organization. Some believe they're not just a threat—they might be its creator. Its mastermind."
Anna leaned closer, her heart pounding as she studied the photo. Something about the figure felt... familiar.
"Wait," Mila interjected, her voice trembling. "Zoom in."
Alfonso obliged, enlarging the blurred photo on his tablet
"No…, "It can't be...," Mila whispered her voice cracking, chills running down her spine. "It's her…,"