The Beginning of Darkness
The air was thick with the smell of gunpowder. My chest felt like it was being crushed under the weight of everything that had happened. My parents—gone. My entire world shattered in an instant, and I was left here, gasping for air, caught in the swirling chaos of a nightmare I couldn't escape.
I didn't know how much time had passed, but eventually, Julian managed to drag me out of the hall, his hand gripping mine tightly, pulling me through the back corridors. His voice was a dull murmur in my ears, urging me to move, but all I could do was stumble, my legs feeling like lead. My mind couldn't catch up.
I could hear distant sirens now, but it all felt like a bad dream—a dream I couldn't wake up from.
We rounded a corner and emerged into a narrow alley behind the building. Julian turned to face me, his expression frantic. His usually calm, collected demeanor was now replaced by a kind of fear I had never seen before. He held my shoulders, shaking me slightly as if to get me to focus.
"Persephone," he said, his voice hoarse. "Listen to me. We need to go now. I need you to stay with me. We're not safe here."
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. My parents... My beautiful, strong, loving parents were gone. I couldn't comprehend it. The hole in my chest felt like it was swallowing me whole, and I couldn't breathe.
Julian's grip tightened. "We'll figure it out, okay? But you need to move. We have to go."
I nodded weakly, forcing myself to take a step forward, but my legs felt like they were going to give out at any second. Julian wasn't letting go of me. He walked with me, almost carrying me through the night, guiding me away from the scene of destruction.
It felt like hours passed before we reached a safe house, a place that was meant to shield us from everything. The doors were locked, the blinds drawn, and the air was eerily still. The place had been prepared for moments like this, moments when everything went wrong.
I sat on the couch, trying to catch my breath, my heart still racing. I felt like I was suffocating in this new reality, where nothing made sense. I kept hearing my mother's voice in my head, that calm, soothing tone, telling me everything would be okay.
But it wasn't okay. It would never be okay.
Julian stood by the window, his eyes scanning the street outside, ever watchful, ever alert. His movements were sharp, his body tense, and I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. How had he been able to hold it together in the chaos?
"What happened?" I whispered, the words barely escaping my throat. "Who did this? Why?"
Julian didn't turn around at first, his eyes still fixed on the street. "I don't know," he said, his voice strained. "But I have a feeling it's not over yet."
I couldn't understand. The gunmen, the attack—everything happened so fast, but there had to be a reason behind it. Why would someone target my family? Why would they kill my parents?
Then, a thought hit me like a bolt of lightning.
The traitor.
Someone had betrayed us. Someone who had been trusted, someone who knew too much. The more I thought about it, the more the pieces began to fit together. The way the attackers were so organized, the fact that they knew exactly where to strike—this wasn't some random attack. This was planned.
"Julian…" My voice trembled as I turned to him. "You think someone from the inside is involved?"
Julian's gaze flickered to me, his jaw tightening. "I think so, yes. I'll need to investigate further, but I have a few suspicions."
I couldn't even bring myself to ask who he suspected. The thought of someone close to us—someone we trusted—betraying us was too painful to even imagine. But the truth was, it made sense. The way everything had unfolded felt too precise, too deliberate. Someone knew exactly what they were doing.
Before I could speak again, the sound of footsteps echoed outside. Julian immediately tensed, his hand going to the gun at his waist. "Stay here," he commanded, his tone sharp. "Do not move."
I nodded, heart hammering in my chest, and watched him move quietly toward the door. He peered through the peephole before quickly retreating to the shadows, signaling me to stay silent.
Seconds later, the door creaked open, and a man entered. He was tall, with dark hair and sharp features, his face hidden under the shadow of his hood. Julian's posture relaxed only slightly, but his hand remained on his gun.
"Is she okay?" the man asked, his voice low and gravelly.
I recognized him instantly. Darius Grayson.
Maximus's older brother. The strong, commanding one.
Julian nodded. "She's fine for now, but we need to lay low. The situation is far from over."
Darius' eyes met mine, and for a moment, it felt like he was looking right through me. He didn't speak right away, but I could feel his gaze lingering on me, assessing me.
"You're safe here," he said at last, his voice calm, though there was an underlying tension in his words. "For now."
"What happened?" I asked, my voice raw. "Why would someone do this?"
Darius sighed, his gaze drifting toward the window. "I don't know yet. But we'll find out. I promise you that."
There was a long silence between us as we all stood there, waiting. The uncertainty hung in the air like a storm cloud, and I could feel it pressing down on me, suffocating me.
The silence was broken by a phone ringing.
Julian reached into his pocket and glanced at the screen. "It's Maximus," he muttered, his tone flat. "I'll take it."
Maximus. The name alone sent a shiver down my spine. I hadn't met him yet, but everything I had heard about him... the Grayson family, the rumors, the whispers—it all made sense now. I had no idea how I would feel when I finally came face to face with him.
Julian answered the call, his face hardening as he listened. His eyes narrowed as he took in the words. I could see the change in his demeanor, the way his body stiffened, the way his jaw clenched.
"Get here as soon as possible," Julian finally said into the phone before hanging up. He turned to Darius. "Maximus wants us to meet him at the safehouse. He's coming with reinforcements."
Darius didn't respond immediately, his eyes darting around the room as though weighing his options. "We don't have much time," he said at last. "Let's go."
END OF CHAPTER 3