The old train yard was eerily silent, its rusted tracks glinting faintly under the pale glow of the moon. Shadows danced across the abandoned carriages as Chloe and Sebastian arrived, their footsteps crunching softly against the gravel.
Sebastian's hand rested on the small of Chloe's back, a gesture as protective as it was reassuring. Behind them, Marcus and a small team of security personnel fanned out, covering the perimeter.
"Stay close to me," Sebastian murmured.
Chloe nodded, her senses sharp. She clutched the small recording device hidden in her coat pocket, ready to capture whatever Leonard Chase was about to reveal.
---
The Meeting
Chase emerged from the shadows, his face pale and his movements jittery. He wore a long coat that seemed too big for his gaunt frame, and his eyes darted around nervously.
"You came," he said, his voice a whisper.
"Start talking," Sebastian said, his tone cold and commanding.
Chase hesitated, glancing at Chloe. "She's the only reason I'm here. I know she's not like the rest of you."
"Flattery won't save you," Chloe said sharply. "What do you know about Project Horizon?"
Chase swallowed hard, glancing over his shoulder. "They're planning something big. The gala was just the start—a test. But the real event... it's going to take down the global financial system. Entire markets will crash. Chaos like you've never seen."
"And Wirth?" Sebastian pressed.
Chase shook his head. "He's a middleman. The real players are hidden, operating through layers of proxies. But I managed to uncover one name—someone higher up the chain."
"Who?" Chloe demanded.
Before Chase could answer, a sharp crack echoed through the night.
---
Ambush
A bullet tore through the air, hitting Chase square in the chest. He crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath as blood pooled around him.
"Sniper!" Marcus shouted, diving for cover and pulling Chloe with him.
Sebastian drew his weapon, his eyes scanning the darkened rooftops. Another shot rang out, narrowly missing him as he crouched behind a derelict train car.
"Chloe, stay down!" Sebastian ordered, his voice taut with urgency.
But Chloe's focus was on Chase. Ignoring the danger, she crawled toward him, desperate to hear his final words.
"Leonard, who's behind this?" she whispered, her hands trembling as she pressed them against his wound.
Chase coughed, his breath rattling. "The... the name... Alaric…"
His words faded into silence, his body going limp.
---
Fighting Back
The sniper continued firing, pinning Sebastian and his team down.
"Marcus, can you get a fix on them?" Sebastian barked.
"I'm trying!" Marcus replied, scanning the area with his thermal scope. "There—top of the old warehouse, northeast corner."
Sebastian didn't wait. He moved with lethal precision, weaving between the train cars as the sniper's shots whizzed past him.
Chloe, still crouched behind cover, watched in awe and terror as Sebastian closed the distance.
---
The Sniper's Fall
Sebastian reached the base of the warehouse and scaled the rusty ladder with practiced ease. The sniper, a shadowy figure dressed in black, was focused on the team below and didn't notice Sebastian until it was too late.
Sebastian tackled the shooter, disarming him in one swift motion. The sniper struggled, but Sebastian's strength was unmatched.
"Who sent you?" Sebastian growled, pressing the muzzle of his pistol against the man's temple.
The sniper sneered. "You're already dead, Kane. You just don't know it yet."
With that, the man bit down on something, and his body convulsed.
"Damn it!" Sebastian cursed as the assassin went limp, a faint trace of foam on his lips.
---
A Grim Discovery
Back on the ground, Chloe knelt beside Chase's lifeless body, her mind racing. She clutched the single clue he had given them: the name Alaric.
Sebastian returned, his expression grim. "The sniper's dead. Another loose end tied up."
Chloe looked up at him, her eyes blazing. "We can't let this go. Whoever Alaric is, he's behind all of this."
Sebastian helped her to her feet, his hand lingering on her arm. "We won't stop, Chloe. Not until we bring them all down."
Marcus approached, his face tense. "We've got to move. This place isn't safe anymore."
Sebastian nodded. "Take Chase's body. We'll analyze everything he had on him. There's got to be more."
---
The Drive Back
As they sped back to Kane International, Chloe stared out the window, her mind replaying the events of the night.
"Alaric," she murmured. "Who is he?"
"We'll find out," Sebastian said, his voice resolute.
Chloe turned to him. "This fight isn't just about you anymore, Sebastian. They're targeting the world. Innocent people will suffer if we don't stop them."
Sebastian's gaze softened. "That's why we can't fail."
---
The Next Step
Back at the command center, Dominic greeted them with an update.
"I decrypted another layer of the files," he said. "And guess what name popped up multiple times? Alaric."
He brought up an image of a middle-aged man with sharp features and piercing blue eyes.
"Alaric D'Arcy," Dominic said. "A ghost in the financial world. No photos, no public appearances, but he's tied to dozens of shell companies and offshore accounts."
Sebastian studied the image. "Then he's our next target."
Chloe's eyes narrowed. "We need to hit him before he hits us again."
Sebastian nodded. "And this time, we're not waiting for him to make the first move."
---