Charles's team executed the search warrant at Victoria's office and home. They found a hidden safe in her bedroom, containing a pistol with a silencer. "Ballistics match the bullet that killed Diana," the forensic expert said, her voice grim. Charles's eyes locked onto Victoria, who stood handcuffed, her smile gone. "It's over," Charles said, his voice cold. But Victoria's expression turned sinister. "You'll never take me alive." Suddenly, she lunged at Charles, a hidden blade glinting in her hand. Charles dodged, but Victoria slashed at him again. A fierce struggle ensued. Charles's team rushed to subdue Victoria, but she fought with an unnatural strength. In the chaos, Charles felt a searing pain in his arm. He looked down to see Victoria's blade buried deep into his arms. As he stumbled back, Victoria escaped, disappearing into the thin air. Charles's vision blurred. He fell, his world darkening. Charles's eyes snapped open, his mind racing with memories of Victoria's blade. He lay in a hospital bed, his arm bandaged and throbbing. Daniela, his partner, stood beside him, concern etched on her face. "Charles, you've been out for hours. But the doctor says you'll be okay." Charles struggled to sit up, wincing in pain. "Victoria?" Daniela's expression turned grim. "Gone. But we have a lead. "But, we're tracking them down".
A witness saw her with a mysterious figure - tall, hooded, and faceless." Charles's gut twisted. "Did you just say a hooded figure, black right?" he asked trying to add things up, " yeah the suspect said the figure with her was in a black hoodie" Daniela added, " is there something I'm meant to know", she inquired, " that's Sarah" he said staring at her, " and who's Sarah, Charles" her facial expression hungry for answers, " she was Marcus former employee, and she came to me warning me about Victoria," he said sitting up a bit on the bed" someone's trying to play a fast move here, its seems someone is trying to lead us off the track" his expression was questionable.
" Something about Marcus, Victoria and that Sarah is not right then, I'm heading to the forensic team for more info, just stay back and rest, Suddenly Charles threw off the covers. "I'm coming with you." Daniela raised an eyebrow. "You're not exactly in good shape, Charles." Charles's determination hardened. "I don't care. I need to see this through." As they left the hospital, Charles's phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: "Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone." Charles's eyes locked onto Daniela. "It's Victoria. She wants to meet." Daniela's expression turned skeptical. "It's a trap, Charles. Trust me" Charles's jaw clenched. "I'll take that risk.
After some hours, Charles arrived at the abandoned warehouse, his heart racing with anticipation. He entered the dimly lit building, his eyes scanning for Victoria. "Victoria?" he called out, his voice echoing off the walls. A figure emerged from the shadows. Victoria. "Charles," she said, her voice husky. "I've been waiting." Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the darkness behind Victoria. Tall, hooded, and faceless. "Who's this?" Charles demanded. Victoria smiled. " Oh that's some you've met before, someone who knows the truth." The figure pushed back its hood, revealing Sarah's pale face. "Sarah?" Charles's confusion deepened. Sarah's eyes were cold. "You don't understand, Charles. Diana wasn't just a victim. She was a message." Sarah opened a laptop, displaying a video. Diana's face filled the screen, her eyes sunken. "I'm trapped," Diana said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm trapped in my own mind. I can't escape the darkness." Charles felt a chill run down his spine.
"This is Diana's last video," Sarah said, her voice detached. "She recorded it the night before she died.", " how did you get the video, Ms. Victoria" his curiosity highly piqued, she stared at him," i have my ways" she added Victoria's smile grew wider. "Diana was a pawn in a larger game, Charles. A game of shadows."Sarah's eyes locked onto Charles. "And you're the next pawn."Charles's eyes were fixed on the screen as Diana's words poured out, desperation and despair etched on her face."I've tried to fight it, but it's too strong. The darkness consumes me, and I'm losing myself. I don't know how much longer I can hold on."Diana's voice cracked, and tears streamed down her face."I'm sorry, Charles. I'm sorry for everything. I never meant to hurt you or anyone else. I just wanted to escape."
This words kept reeling in his mind, how did Diana know I'll be involve in the case of her death, which is not possible for her to know, or did she knew she was going to die that night, or Victoria faked this video". His mind still wasn't at peace yet, but he had all in recordings as a piece of evidence.
The video flickered, and Diana's image distorted, as if the recording was being manipulated.Sarah's voice cut through the silence. "Diana was trying to tell you something, Charles. Something she couldn't say out loud."Victoria's eyes gleamed with a sinister intensity. "The truth is, Charles, Diana's death was just the beginning. The game is far from over."The video continued, revealing cryptic messages and symbols etched into the corners of the screen.Charles's mind reeled as he tried to decipher the codes.Suddenly, the video ended, plunging the warehouse into darkness.Sarah's voice whispered in Charles's ear. "The truth is hidden in plain sight, Charles. Look closer."Charles's mind was racing as he left the warehouse, the cryptic messages and symbols etched into his brain. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something.Without thinking, he got into his car and drove to Cruz Enterprises, his eyes fixed on the towering building. He parked and strode into the lobby, ignoring the security guards' curious glances.He walked straight to Diana's office, his heart pounding in his chest. The room was just as he remembered it - elegant, refined, and cold.Charles began searching the room, scouring every inch for clues. He checked the desk drawers, the bookshelves, and even the carpet.And then, he saw it - a mobile phone, hidden in a drawer.
"This is quite new!"
He grabbed the phone and began scrolling through the messages. Threats and menacing texts filled the screen, each one making Charles's blood run colder.But one message caught his eye:"I know what you did. Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone." Charles's heart skipped a beat. This message was sent on the night Diana died.
" But she was in her office throughout" he said, his mind grabbing something in place," what made her stay up late in her office till she mysteriously died, or does she has a hand in her own fake death, things aren't adding up here" He scrolled further, and his eyes widened as he saw a response from Diana:
"I'll be there. But if anything happens to me, the truth will come out."Charles's mind reeled.
What truth? And who was Diana meeting?
"This means she wasn't in her office anymore, but a dead body was found" he said to himself, trying to picture something" He continued scrolling, and a message from an unknown number made his heart skip a beat:
"Diana, I know you're not dead. Meet me at the safe house. We need to talk. "Charles's eyes locked onto the screen. Not dead? He felt like he'd been punched in the gut. Could it be true? Was Diana alive? He quickly dialed the number, but it went straight to voicemail. "Who are you?" Charles demanded, his voice shaking. "Where is Diana? "He waited, but there was only silence.
This means she was here after her demise.
Daniela sat on the edge of the large white bed, her mind filled with question, suddenly her phone dinged, as a message dropped in from an unknown number, she read and smiled:
"Secrets are meant to be hidden, but the truth is always revealed, Don't leave any clue behind, put them off track"