The rain continued to pour, as if the sky itself was mourning Jack's absence. Sam pulled on their jacket, the fabric cold and damp against their skin, and stepped out into the night. The letter still burned in their pocket, as heavy as a secret they weren't ready to uncover. But they had no choice. Ren had sent it. And if Ren had sent it, there had to be a reason.The streets were quiet, the kind of silence that only comes after a storm, when the world seems to hold its breath. Sam walked quickly, their footsteps muffled by the wet pavement. They couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them, lurking in the shadows of the city, waiting for the right moment to strike.As they approached Ren's apartment building, Sam's heart started to race. The familiar building loomed ahead, dark and uninviting. They had been here countless times before, but tonight felt different. The air was thick with tension, and Sam couldn't shake the unease crawling up their spine.Sam stood outside for a moment, unsure whether to knock or just walk away. They hadn't spoken to Ren since the funeral. Since Jack's death. Things had been... awkward. Ren had shut themselves off, retreating into their own world, just as Sam had done. No one had really known how to grieve, how to face the hole Jack had left behind.But now, Sam needed answers.They knocked three times, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. A few moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Ren standing in the dim light of the hallway. Their eyes were tired, bloodshot, as if they hadn't slept in days. Their expression flickered between surprise and something darker, something Sam couldn't quite place."Sam," Ren said quietly, stepping aside to let them in. "I didn't think you'd come."Sam hesitated before entering, their mind racing. The air inside the apartment smelled faintly of stale coffee and cigarettes, a mix of old and new. The cluttered space, filled with books, papers, and empty mugs, felt strangely familiar yet alien. Everything about it was the same as before — but nothing was the same."I got your letter," Sam said, their voice catching slightly. "What's going on, Ren? What did Jack do? What truth were you talking about?"Ren didn't answer right away. Instead, they closed the door behind Sam and leaned against the wall, folding their arms tightly across their chest. They looked down, their jaw clenched, as if struggling with something — something too painful to put into words."Sam..." Ren began, their voice low, almost a whisper. "You have to understand. Jack wasn't who you thought he was. He was hiding things. From all of us."Sam took a step closer, the tension in the air thickening with every word. "What kind of things? What are you talking about?"Ren exhaled slowly, then pushed themselves off the wall. They ran a hand through their hair, staring at the floor. "I didn't want to tell you. I didn't want to get you involved. But now... now I don't know how much longer we have before everything falls apart."Sam felt their pulse quicken. "What do you mean?"Ren finally looked up, their eyes meeting Sam's with a mix of guilt and fear. "I don't even know where to start. Jack... Jack had debts. He owed people money, Sam. Dangerous people. And it wasn't just about money. He was mixed up in something... something bad. He kept it all from you. From both of us."The words hit Sam like a physical blow. Jack? Involved in something dangerous? It didn't make sense. Jack had always been the person everyone turned to for help, the one with the answers, the one who kept everything together. The idea that Jack had been keeping secrets — and dangerous ones at that — was impossible to accept."But why didn't you say anything?" Sam demanded. "Why keep it from me? Why not tell me sooner?"Ren closed their eyes, swallowing hard. "I didn't know how. I didn't want you to get hurt. I thought... maybe if I kept it to myself, we could all stay safe. But when Jack died..." Ren paused, their voice faltering. "It all came crashing down. People started looking for answers. And I think they're looking for you now, Sam."Sam froze. "What do you mean, looking for me?"Ren stepped closer, their voice barely a whisper. "There are people who know you were close to Jack. And they know you found the letter. They know you're looking for answers. And they're not going to stop until they get what they want."The room seemed to close in on Sam, their breath catching in their throat. This was bigger than just a letter. This was bigger than Jack's secrets. Someone wanted answers — and Sam was caught in the middle."Who are these people, Ren? What do they want?" Sam's voice was tight with fear."I don't know," Ren admitted, their eyes flickering with uncertainty. "But I do know one thing: you need to be careful. You can't trust anyone right now. Not me. Not anyone. Not even Jack."Sam stared at Ren, their heart pounding in their chest. The weight of the truth was crushing, and with it came the terrifying realization that Jack's death wasn't an accident. It wasn't a simple tragedy. It was part of something much darker, something that was still out there, waiting to be uncovered."Then what do I do?" Sam asked, barely able to speak.Ren hesitated before speaking again, their voice barely audible. "You need to find the people Jack was hiding from. You need to find out what he was really involved in. And you need to do it fast, before they find you."The silence in the room was deafening. The rain outside fell harder, as if the world itself was preparing for the storm that was about to hit. Sam stood there, staring at Ren, unsure of what came next. The truth was far darker than they ever imagined. But now they had no choice but to face it.And they would, no matter the cost.