Two ***Echoes in the dark
The sun hung low over New York, casting a golden glow across the city skyline. A moment of serenity before the storm. Today wasn't just any day for Jaxon Beckett—it was a day for his company, Beckett Innovations, to shine. And shine it would.
He stepped out of the black limousine, the cold air kissing his skin, but the warmth of anticipation settled over him. Today marked the launch of his most ambitious project yet, and this press conference was the moment he would seal his place in the business world.
Jaxon's tall frame was clad in a sleek, custom-tailored suit, the fabric a rich navy that caught the light just enough to reflect his success. He walked with purpose, the gold cufflinks on his wrists glinting under the sun. His movements were measured, confident, and the air around him seemed to thrum with authority.
As he approached the grand glass doors of the venue, the crowd of reporters buzzed with excitement. Cameras flashed, voices shouted, microphones were thrust in his direction. His guards, ever-present and diligent, formed a barrier around him, guiding him through the chaos. The journalists were relentless, each one hoping for a piece of Jaxon's time. But no one made it past his security.
Inside, the room was filled with hushed murmurs. Rows of seats lined the space, each filled with reporters eager to hear about the latest project from Beckett Innovations. A giant banner behind the podium read, Innovation for the Future.
Jaxon stood at the podium, the bright lights above him shining down, his eyes scanning the room. He adjusted his tie, a simple but calculated gesture, and then he spoke.
"Thank you all for coming today. We're not just unveiling a new product; we're unveiling the future .At Becket Innovations, we believe in pushing boundaries, and this new project will change the way you think about technology."
The reporters leaned forward, hanging on every word. He was used to this, the attention, the spotlight—it was all part of the game. But today, there was something different. This was a defining moment. The future he had worked for was finally taking shape.
The session moved to the questions. One hand shot up, then another, then several more. Finally, a reporter from a well-known tech magazine stood up.
"Mr. Beckett, with all due respect, your recent developments have raised some eyebrows in the tech community. Some believe that your project could overshadow several long-established companies. How do you respond to that criticism?"
The room fell silent, all eyes on Jaxon. The question was direct, challenging, but not unexpected. He smiled, leaning forward slightly, exuding the confidence that had gotten him this far.
"Let me be clear," he said, his voice steady and sure. "Competition drives innovation. We're not here to overshadow anyone .
we're here to make a mark. What matters is not the competition, but the future. And I'm confident that the world will be better for it."
The room buzzed with murmurs of approval. The reporter nodded, clearly satisfied with the answer, and the session moved on.
Jaxon wrapped up the conference, offering a few final words. His team packed up swiftly, and the crowd dispersed, leaving Jaxon to slip quietly out the back exit of the venue.
---
Hours later, Jaxon arrived home to the silence that greeted him every evening. It was a silence that felt too loud, too heavy. He set his briefcase down and walked into his living room, only to be greeted by an unexpected sight.
There they were, his parents—Noah , Lily Beckett and his younger brother Mason .The way they sat, awkwardly perched on the edge of the couch, their eyes scanning the room as if they didn't belong there, made it seem like an intrusion.
But the moment they saw him, their faces lit up with smiles.
"Jaxon!" His mother stood, arms wide open. "Look at you! So handsome, as always. You've come so far, I'm so proud of you." She pulled him into a tight embrace, her arms warm and full of affection.
Noah , his father, rose next, his smile genuine but tempered by the solemnity of the moment. "We saw the conference. Impressive, son. You've really made a name for yourself."
Mason, always the playful one, gave him a wink. "You looked sharp up there, bro. But seriously, where's the girlfriend? If you had one, she'd be here, wouldn't she?"
Jaxon chuckled softly, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, well… I've been a little busy, Mason. You know how it is."
His mother teased him further. "Busy? I'm sure someone would've loved to see you up there. A girlfriend would've made that entrance even better, you know."
"Mom, I'm fine," Jaxon replied with a forced laugh, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He moved toward the kitchen to avoid the lingering discomfort, though the weight of the conversation still hung in the air.
They sat around the dinner table, eating and chatting, sharing stories of the past. His parents spoke of the good old days, and Mason joked about their childhood. For a moment, Jaxon allowed himself to forget the emptiness that lingered, but it was hard to ignore.
When the evening drew to a close, and they finally left, the house felt colder than before. The silence crept back in, thicker than before. The conversations,the laughter, the noise—everything had faded into nothingness.
For the first time in a long time, Jaxon felt a gnawing emptiness, a loneliness that settled deep in his chest. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing, that something was out of place in his life.
He sank into his bed, the sheets cool against his skin, but sleep didn't come easily. Thoughts of the conference, of his parents, of his brother, and most of all, of her—the girl behind the mask—spun in his mind.
Why hadn't he been able to forget her?
The thought of her lingered, her voice, her eyes, her touch.
As he closed his eyes, the world faded into darkness, and his breath slowed. But then, the air around him shifted, growing heavy, suffocating.He woke up with a start.
gasping as a hand clamped around his throat. His heart raced as he struggled against the weight pressing him down.
The figure loomed over him, clad in black, their face obscured by a mask—a mask so eerily familiar it sent a jolt through his chest. For a brief, disorienting moment, he thought it was her.
She twisted free with an agility that caught him off guard, her boot colliding sharply with his ribs. Pain radiated through his side as he staggered, gripping the edge of the nightstand for balance. By the time his vision cleared and he surged forward, the window curtains billowed faintly, her shadow disappearing into the night.
Jaxon sat up, his heart pounding.Questions swirled in his mind Could it really be her?
Or was someone trying to frame her or worse ,draw him something far darker?
One thing was clear:
He had to find her.