The warehouse sat on the outskirts of Farrenbridge, tucked between two dilapidated buildings where the city's hustle and bustle barely reached. Its metal walls, once painted a vibrant red, had faded to a dull rust. The windows, caked with grime, let in little light, and the fog that clung to the streets strangled what little seeped through. The air tasted of rust and stale oil, heavy with the weight of neglect—an appropriate setting for Alec Morell's latest misadventure.
"You sure about this?" Alec's voice was a low grumble as he pulled his coat tighter against the chill.
Sigrid Halden was already a few paces ahead, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows. "This is where the trail leads. Olivia Green's case might be cold, but something about this place… it's too deliberate."
Alec muttered under his breath, following her reluctantly. The warehouse loomed before them, cavernous and forgotten. He had learned long ago to trust Sigrid's instincts, even if they often led him into places like this.
Inside, the warehouse stretched into darkness, its vast interior littered with broken crates, rusted tools, and the remnants of a forgotten industrial age. High beams crisscrossed the ceiling, their shadows forming a jagged web above. The place felt wrong—not just abandoned, but displaced, like it didn't belong in this time or place.
"It's too quiet," Alec muttered, his footsteps echoing unnaturally loud.
Sigrid didn't respond. She was focused on a large crate in the far corner, her flashlight casting a narrow beam across its surface. As she pried it open, dust swirled up, catching the light in a ghostly dance. Inside was something that didn't fit the grime and decay of its surroundings: a smooth, green stone, intricately carved with symbols that shimmered faintly even in the dim light.
"What the hell is that?" Alec's voice carried a mix of curiosity and unease.
Sigrid's expression tightened. "A Shattered Fragment. I didn't think I'd actually find one."
"Care to explain what that means?" Alec crossed his arms, irritation creeping into his tone.
Sigrid hesitated, her eyes not leaving the artifact. "It's part of something much older. Dangerous. These fragments are connected to the Veil—the boundary between our world and... others."
"Others?" Alec frowned, glancing around the warehouse. He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. "You mean supernatural others? Gods? Monsters? What exactly are we dealing with here?"
Before she could answer, Alec's fingers brushed the stone's surface. He didn't know why he reached for it; it was almost instinctive, as though the artifact called to him. The moment his skin made contact, the world shifted.
Time stretched and warped. Images flooded his mind—flashes of alien landscapes, ancient symbols, and faces that weren't human. A guttural growl echoed in his ears, primal and vast, as though the very fabric of existence had been pierced. Alec staggered back, gasping for breath.
Sigrid grabbed his arm, steadying him. "You touched it?" Her voice was sharp, almost panicked.
"It... it felt like it was pulling me in," Alec managed, his heart racing. "What the hell is this thing?"
"A gateway," Sigrid said quietly, her grip tightening. "The fragments connect to the Veil. Touching it... you've already crossed into its influence."
Alec stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. "Why didn't you warn me?"
"Because I didn't know you'd be reckless enough to touch it," Sigrid shot back. Her gaze softened slightly as she added, "I'm sorry. But now, we need to move. This place isn't safe anymore."
A low vibration shivered through the floor, followed by a faint whisper that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once: *Come closer.*
Alec's breath caught. "We need to leave. Now."
Sigrid nodded, scooping the artifact into a cloth. "This isn't over, Alec. Not by a long shot."
As they exited the warehouse, the city outside felt different—heavier, darker, as though it too had been touched by the artifact's presence. Alec couldn't shake the feeling that they'd disturbed something that wasn't meant to be found.
---
The fog seemed thicker as they walked back toward the heart of Farrenbridge, the city's industrial hum a distant murmur. Alec's thoughts raced, replaying the flashes he'd seen when he touched the artifact. Each image felt more vivid now, etched into his memory.
"What are these fragments, Sigrid?" he asked finally, breaking the silence.
She hesitated before answering. "They're pieces of something ancient. Before humanity. Some say they're remnants of the gods who shaped the Veil, others think they're artifacts from a time when the Veil didn't exist. Either way, they're powerful. And dangerous."
"And Olivia Green? How does she fit into all this?" Alec's voice was sharper than he intended.
Sigrid sighed, her steps slowing. "I don't know yet. But the timing of her disappearance, the location of this warehouse… it's too much to be a coincidence. We need to find her, Alec. She might know more than we think."
The weight of it all settled heavily on Alec. He'd dealt with missing persons, cold cases, and the occasional unsolved murder, but this was different. This wasn't just about finding Olivia; it was about understanding what they'd unleashed.
As they approached Alec's office, the narrow alleyway outside felt even more claustrophobic than usual. The faint light from his window illuminated the damp walls, casting jagged shadows that seemed to writhe as they moved past.
"You're sure we're not being followed?" Alec asked, glancing over his shoulder.
Sigrid's lips pressed into a thin line. "No. But we don't have time to worry about that right now."
Inside the office, Alec dropped into his chair with a heavy sigh. The file on Olivia Green still sat on his desk, a stark reminder of where this all began.
"This artifact changes everything," Sigrid said, pacing the room. "If it's what I think it is, we're not just dealing with a missing person anymore. This is bigger. Much bigger."
"Bigger how?" Alec asked, though he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.
Sigrid stopped, her gaze locking onto his. "The Veil is thinning, Alec. That artifact… it's a sign that something is coming. Something we might not be able to stop."
A chill ran down Alec's spine. The weight of her words settled over the room like a heavy fog, suffocating and inescapable. For the first time in his career, Alec wasn't sure if he wanted to find the answers. Because deep down, he already knew they wouldn't be comforting.