The drive to the Syndicate's old headquarters felt like an eternity. Mia could feel the tension mounting, her nerves on edge as they traveled further into the unknown. The road had grown quieter, more desolate, as if they were leaving the world they knew behind.
Ethan was quiet beside her, his jaw tight with concentration. Veronica sat in the backseat, her face pale, eyes scanning the surroundings nervously. It wasn't hard to sense the danger that lurked just beyond the horizon.
As they approached their destination—a seemingly innocuous building on the outskirts of town—Ethan slowed the car, glancing around cautiously. The place was old, abandoned, yet there was something in the air that told them it was far from empty.
"We're here," Veronica said softly, her eyes narrowing. "Stay close. Don't trust anyone."
Mia felt a chill run down her spine. She had no idea what they were about to face, but one thing was certain: their lives would never be the same again.
They stepped into the building, and the door creaked shut behind them, the sound echoing through the hollow, dusty halls. As they moved deeper inside, they couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The space seemed to stretch endlessly, full of dark corners and shadows. Mia's breath quickened as her instincts screamed that something was wrong.
A sudden noise broke the silence—footsteps approaching quickly.
"Get ready," Veronica whispered, her voice a warning. And then, as they turned a corner, they were met with the glint of metal.
The metallic sound of approaching footsteps was like a heartbeat in the silent, dark corridor. Mia's pulse quickened as she looked around, but there was no escape. The narrow hallway stretched ahead, lined with rusted pipes and aged brick walls. The air smelled stale, like a place long forgotten by time, and the only source of light came from flickering overhead bulbs, casting long, ghostly shadows.
Ethan's hand brushed against hers, a brief but comforting touch. His expression was hard, eyes scanning every movement around them, trying to pinpoint where the threat was coming from. Veronica, however, had gone tense again, her hand slipping under her jacket as though reaching for something. Mia didn't know if it was a weapon or a tool, but it didn't make her feel any safer.
The footsteps grew louder, and soon they turned the corner.
Standing there, bathed in the dim light, was a man. Tall, with a dark suit that matched the somber environment, he had the demeanor of someone who had seen far too many things that should never be seen. His face was sharp, his eyes cold—a predator, no doubt, a member of the Syndicate, and someone who had been expecting them.
"You've come for the ledger," the man said, his voice low and even. "But you're too late. It's already been moved."
Mia felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She had barely processed the words before the man's hand twitched, a subtle signal. Ethan's posture shifted, and he stepped in front of her instinctively.