Chapter 3: Web of Deception
Each of them, driven by fear and curiosity, starts investigating on their own, trying to understand the threat they're facing.
Amelia spends late nights in the library, poring over records of art thefts and cryptic letters. She realizes that the symbols on the messages they've been receiving match a series of ancient codes connected to her research. But as she digs deeper, she realizes the pattern in the messages hints at a personal connection—one rooted in her family history. Someone is using her past against her, and they know far more than she's comfortable with.
Meanwhile, Victor takes to the city streets, following whispers of the underground art world. He bribes a few local contacts to get closer to The Architect, only to find himself led to an abandoned theater at midnight. There, he meets a mysterious figure who drops a cryptic warning: "The Architect knows your weaknesses, Victor. If you're willing to pay the price, he may let you keep them."
Elena, haunted by a connection that she cannot place, reaches out to her family's old lawyer. In a hushed conversation, he reveals that her father was once involved in a series of secretive art dealings, though he never knew the full extent. But the lawyer's words imply that her family may still be entangled in those dealings. Determined to prove her family's innocence—and confront the growing shadow of her father's secrets—she dives deeper, her loyalty torn between Amelia and Victor.
In a moment of revelation, Amelia realizes that the messages aren't just threats—they're invitations, designed to lure them back into an unsolved mystery. Her blood runs cold as she pieces together that this isn't just about art; someone wants to play with their emotions, unravel their lives, and force them to relive their darkest secrets.