The rain came down in heavy sheets, turning the city streets into a slick, reflective surface of neon lights and distant car horns. It was well past midnight, and the world above bustled on in blissful ignorance, unaware of the chaos that was about to unfold beneath its polished exterior. In a small apartment on the eastern side of the city, two sisters sat in silence, the weight of an unknown threat pressing down on them like a shroud.
Sarah leaned against the window, her dark hair damp from the condensation forming on the glass as she watched the city below. Her face, usually calm and composed, was lined with worry, her green eyes scanning the street for any signs of danger. It had been days since the incident that turned their lives upside down—a break-in that had left no trace, no visible damage, yet the feeling of being watched had lingered ever since. Sarah, ever the protective older sister, had tried to keep Helena in the dark about the severity of the situation, but she knew her younger sister was not so easily fooled.
Behind her, Helena sat curled up on the couch, her knees drawn to her chest, her blue eyes wide with fear. She had always been more sensitive than Sarah, more attuned to the subtle shifts in their lives. There was a tension in the air, something dark and oppressive that made her heart race every time she heard a noise outside the door. She glanced over at Sarah, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"Do you think... they're still watching us?" Helena asked, her voice trembling.
Sarah turned from the window, trying to soften her expression, but the truth weighed heavy in her mind. She had seen the surveillance cameras, noticed the black cars parked outside their apartment. Someone had marked them, and Sarah had no idea who or why.
"I don't know," Sarah admitted, her voice low but steady. "But whoever it is, they haven't made a move yet. We're safe for now."
Helena's eyes filled with unshed tears. "But for how long? What if they come for us?"
Sarah crossed the room and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around Helena's shoulders. The sisters had always been close, ever since their parents had passed away years ago, leaving Sarah to take on the role of both protector and guardian. Sarah had always prided herself on her ability to stay strong for Helena, to shield her from the harsh realities of the world. But now, even she was beginning to feel the cracks forming in her resolve.
"They won't," Sarah said, her voice firm now, more for Helena's sake than her own. "I promise, we'll figure this out."
Helena rested her head on Sarah's shoulder, and for a moment, the rain and the tension seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet bond between the two sisters.
Meanwhile – The Lord's Command Center
The Lord watched them from afar, his eyes fixed on the live feed streaming from the surveillance cameras hidden around Sarah and Helena's apartment. He stood at the center of his darkened command room, his hands clasped behind his back as the screen bathed his face in cold blue light.
Seraphine stood beside him, her eyes also trained on the screen, though her expression was far less detached than the Lord's. She had been monitoring the sisters for days now, but it was clear that Sarah was becoming more aware of their surveillance. It wouldn't be long before the sisters tried to run—or worse, seek help.
"Sarah is sharp," Seraphine remarked, her voice low. "She's starting to feel us."
The Lord didn't respond immediately, his gaze still locked on the screen. The rain outside their apartment blurred the images slightly, but it didn't matter. He had been watching them long enough to know that every move they made was out of fear.
"They won't run," he said finally, his voice cold and certain. "Not yet. They don't know where to go, and they won't take the risk of leaving their safe space."
Seraphine's eyes narrowed. "And what if they do? We could take action now. Remove the threat before it escalates."
The Lord turned to her, his face expressionless. "No. We wait."
Seraphine bristled at the command, but she hid her frustration well. She didn't question the Lord's orders, but she had never been a fan of inaction. In her world, threats were dealt with swiftly and without mercy. Yet the Lord's obsession with these sisters was beyond her understanding. He was playing a long game, and she had learned long ago that his moves, though often obscure, were always part of a larger plan.
Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something about this situation was different. She didn't like it. Not one bit.
The Apartment – Later That Night
Helena had finally fallen asleep, her breathing soft and even against Sarah's shoulder. Sarah, however, remained wide awake, her eyes flicking nervously between the window and the door. She hadn't told Helena, but she had a plan. Sarah knew they couldn't stay in the apartment much longer. Something was closing in on them, and if they didn't act soon, it would be too late.
Sarah gently eased Helena off her shoulder and stood, crossing the small living room to her desk. She opened a drawer and pulled out an old, battered cellphone—one she hadn't used in years. It was a burner phone, given to her by an old friend before they'd lost contact. It was supposed to be for emergencies only, and right now, Sarah couldn't think of anything more urgent.
She dialed the number, her fingers trembling slightly as she pressed the call button. The phone rang once, twice, and then—
"Sarah?" The voice on the other end was rough, older, but unmistakable.
"It's me," Sarah said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I need help."
There was a long pause. "I figured you might call someday. What's going on?"
Sarah hesitated, her eyes flicking toward the window again. "I'm being watched. My sister and I—we're in danger."
"Who's after you?"
"I don't know," Sarah admitted, her voice tightening. "But they've been watching us for days. I don't think we can stay here much longer."
The voice on the other end sighed heavily. "Alright. I'll see what I can do. But you need to lay low. Don't make any sudden moves. Whoever's after you, they're not amateurs."
"I know," Sarah replied, glancing back at Helena's sleeping form. "I just don't know how much longer we can wait."
"I'll be in touch soon," the voice said before the line went dead.
Sarah stood there for a moment, the silence pressing in on her. She wanted to believe her old contact could help, but deep down, she wasn't sure anyone could. Whoever was watching them wasn't just a local gang or a simple criminal. This was bigger, far more dangerous than anything she had ever imagined.
Suddenly, there was a sound outside the door—a faint creak, like the weight of someone pressing lightly against the wood. Sarah's heart leapt into her throat. She moved quickly to the kitchen, grabbing the nearest sharp object—a small knife—and positioned herself between the door and her sister.
The creaking stopped, and for a moment, there was nothing but the sound of the rain and Sarah's own pounding heart. Then, a soft knock—barely audible, but unmistakable.
Sarah's grip tightened on the knife. "Who's there?" she demanded, her voice steadier than she felt.
No answer. Just silence.
In the Shadows – The Lord's Watcher
Far beneath the city, in the bowels of the Lord's hidden fortress, the mysterious figure watched. She had been watching for hours, as she always did, never tiring, never moving from her post. Her name was unknown to everyone but the Lord. Not even Seraphine, with all her skills, could detect her presence. The Lord had kept her hidden for a reason, and her loyalty to him was deeper than anyone could comprehend.
As she observed the sisters on the screen, her eyes narrowed slightly. She saw the fear in Sarah's face, the protective desperation in her movements. She could feel it—their vulnerability, their uncertainty. They were so fragile, so human.
But that didn't concern her. Her only concern was the Lord, her master. Her existence revolved around him, and she would do anything—kill anyone—to ensure his plans came to fruition.
For now, she watched. And waited.
Back in the Apartment
Sarah's heart raced as the silence stretched on. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the knife, her mind racing through a dozen possible scenarios. And then, just as suddenly as it had come, the knock sounded again—soft, measured, almost… polite.
She stepped closer to the door, her pulse thundering in her ears. "Who's there?" she repeated, her voice sharp.
This time, there was a response, though it was nothing like what she expected.
"I'm here to help."
The voice was calm, feminine, and unfamiliar.
Sarah's breath hitched. She glanced over her shoulder at Helena, still fast asleep on the couch. Who could possibly know they were in danger? And more importantly, how had they found them?
The voice spoke again, this time with a touch of urgency. "Sarah, I know who's watching you. I can get you out of here, but you need to trust me."
Sarah swallowed hard, her mind screaming at her not to open the door. But something in the voice, something calm and measured, made her hesitate.
"Who are you?" she asked, still not lowering the knife.
There was a pause, and then the voice replied, "A friend of the Lord."