Emily stood motionless at the entrance, feeling as though the shadows in the run-down building were closing in on her. The man who had called her inside stood quietly, the dim light obscuring his features. She had a gut feeling that she should turn around and escape before things got worse. However, she was anchored by her curiosity and the need for knowledge that had brought her this far. She entered the room with caution.
The room was tiny, with only one overhead lightbulb that flashed here and there. Peeling paint and forgotten pieces of ancient posters with faded faces littered the walls. It had a musty, abandoned-for-years scent. At last, the man's voice was low and irritating. "You're not supposed to be here."
Emily's heartbeat accelerated. So why give me a call? Why was this meeting called?
He didn't respond right away. Rather, his gaze shot back toward the entrance, as though he thought someone could suddenly burst through. Emily's uneasiness increased as he appeared tense. He gestured to a single chair across from his and said, "Sit."
Emily reluctantly took a seat with her back straight and her fingers holding the notebook's borders. She was prepared to listen to everything. The man lowered his voice even more and continued, "Ms. Chase, I'm not your enemy."
"However, Blackwood is not who you believe him to be."
She arched an eyebrow. "So, who is he?"
Before continuing, the man paused and glanced down at his hands. "A liar. A manipulator. Blood and broken promises are the cornerstones around which he has constructed this empire. He is not above manipulating you to achieve his goals, and he will destroy everyone who stands in his way."
Emily gasped. She bent over. "What does 'using me' mean to you?"
The man let out a deep sigh as if the weight of what he had said was too much to handle. Do you believe he asked you to come for an interview at Blackwood Tower? To be polite?
No, Ms. Chase. He's had his eye on you, observing every action you take. Your inquiries have caused him anxiety.
The sinking sensation in her stomach threatened to overpower her, but she made an effort to stay composed. Blackwood, Damien? Observing her?
"Why would he be interested in me?" Her question was hardly audible above a whisper.
The man squinted his eyes. Since you're approaching too closely. You're posing inquiries on potentially harmful topics. You're digging into a past that ought to remain hidden.
She gripped her notebook tightly. "What was the past?"
He stopped, looked again at the door, then leaned closer. It's not only about technology or the business he founded. Power is at issue here. Concerning control. What about Blackwood? He will stop at nothing to keep it safe.
The weight of his remarks hung heavy in the ensuing hush. Emily's thoughts were racing, assembling pieces of the puzzle she had been trying to solve ever since she first heard Blackwood's name. However, she still didn't fully comprehend a lot of things.
What information do you have about him? What is he concealing?
No longer uncertain, her voice was forceful as she asked.
A cruel grimace twisted the man's lips. "I am sufficiently informed to tell you that the Blackwood family is not who they seem to be. Damien. He's concealing something far more sinister than you might think. But if you keep searching and pushing him, you'll find a reality that will ruin you. You'll end up in a place from which you can never return."
As she took in what he had said, her heart raced. She couldn't stop now, although this was greater than she had anticipated. She required the truth.
Emily narrowed her eyes and muttered, "You're not telling me everything. What's the real story? What's causing your fear?"
Something like fear flashed in the man's eyes. I'm attempting to keep you safe. You will leave this right now if you value your life. You and Blackwood don't follow the same rules. Anyone who poses a danger to his empire will be destroyed. And he is in danger from you, Ms. Chase.
Emily suddenly got to her feet, the implications of what he said circling in her head. She wanted to insist on answers and ask more questions, but the fear in her stomach told her it was time to go.
"Warnings are not something I have time for. I'm not leaving," she declared in a resolute tone.
She turned to face the door, but the man caught her arm with an iron grasp before she could get to the handle.
"No!" he growled. "You're not getting it. You're not aware of his potential! Individuals like you usually believe they are unbeatable. However, Blackwood? He is a predator. And his next target is you."
Emily's heart pounding, she wrenched her arm away. She stepped back and yelled, "Let go of me."
She now spoke in a low, nearly growling voice. "You had better start talking if you know anything about Blackwood. Otherwise, I'll go and never return."
The man's hands trembled a little as he stepped back. "Do you believe that you can enter his realm and escape unharmed? This is not what you're ready for. Nobody is."
Emily's eyes blazed with resolve. "At any cost, I'm willing to learn the truth."
A loud explosion reverberated from the hallway outside before the man could reply. Emily froze when the door shook on its hinges. Panic widened the man's eyes.
"Leave now," he muttered frantically. "Now."
She didn't require two reminders. Emily ran for the door, but as she got to the doorknob, she heard footsteps getting closer and louder. She wrenched the door open and slammed it behind her as she ran down the corridor, her heart thumping in her ears.
A black figure moved in front of her just as she was about to reach the exit. Her breath caught in her throat as she skidded to a halt, confronting the person she feared most.
Blackwood, Damien.
His eyes were steely and unblinking as he stood there, barring her only means of escape. His voice was as calm as it was deadly when he asked, "Ms. Chase, did you think you could find the truth and escape unscathed?"