Chapter 11: Whispers in the Dark
Shaken by what they've learned in the catacombs, the trio returns to the villa. Amelia pores over the journal in a quiet corner, growing more anxious as she uncovers more connections between her grandmother and The Architect. She realizes that her family's history may be at the core of the entire web, and that the mystery surrounding her grandmother's disappearance is no coincidence.
Victor, meanwhile, grows frustrated with his inability to protect Amelia and Elena. He reaches out to old contacts, attempting to gather more information, only to find that even his most trusted allies seem wary. One of his contacts warns him that his family's fortune is deeply intertwined with the black-market art world and that any attempt to expose The Architect could destroy everything his family has built.
As night falls, Victor finds Amelia alone in the villa's dimly lit study, her eyes red from hours of reading. They share a vulnerable moment, both of them admitting their fears and regrets. Amelia, feeling raw, confesses that she's haunted by the thought that her grandmother's legacy has drawn them into this nightmare. She doesn't know if she can continue, but Victor assures her that he won't let her face it alone.
Just then, they hear a crash from Elena's room. Rushing to her, they find her in a state of panic, clutching a letter she found hidden in her belongings. The letter, written by her father, reveals that he once held a position of power within The Architect's society and that he passed down a valuable artifact to her as "an inheritance." The artifact, hidden in her family's estate, is a key to unlocking The Architect's vault of secrets.
Elena's horror is palpable. She realizes that her father may have marked her as a target the moment he involved her in this dangerous legacy. The three of them now face a crucial decision: whether to return to the estate and retrieve the artifact or to walk away. But they all know that The Architect won't let them escape so easily.