Chapter 4 - A Glimmer of Hope

The day at Clear Solutions began like any other—a steady flow of small cases, clients seeking help with problems Alice and her team could solve with relative ease. Yet, beneath the routine, Alice felt the pull of something deeper, an unsettling sense of urgency. She had grown used to the weight of unspoken questions, but today, it pressed harder, as if the air itself was holding its breath.

She hung up from a client call, her thoughts drifting, when the door creaked open. In strode a tall, rugged man, his presence commanding attention like a storm brewing on the horizon. His dark, piercing eyes scanned the room, finally locking onto Alice with a look that suggested he wasn't here for pleasantries.

"You Alice White?" he asked, his voice low and rough, like gravel underfoot.

Alice straightened, her senses sharp. "Yeah, that's me. What can I do for you?"

The man stepped closer, his shadow stretching across the room. "I'm looking for Kain. Word is, you know something about his disappearance."

At the mention of Kain, Alice's heart skipped a beat. Her mentor, the man who had raised her, had vanished without a trace during the Eclipse. A name she hadn't heard spoken aloud in far too long, but one she thought about every single day. Her voice tightened as she responded, "What do you know about him?"

He hesitated, as though weighing whether he could trust her. His eyes flickered with something that looked like regret. "We worked together, years ago. Back before the Eclipse changed everything. We were part of a group—protectors of those affected by the supernatural fallout. Kain was more than a teacher. He was a leader. And then, one day, he vanished, like he was swallowed by the storm."

Alice leaned in, her pulse quickening. "What happened to him? Do you have any leads?"

"There are whispers," the man said, his voice lowering as if even the walls had ears. "The O.R.D.E.R. is involved. They're hiding something, something big. Kain was on the edge of it, caught up in something that could shift the balance of power. If they're behind his disappearance... you need to be ready for whatever comes next."

The O.R.D.E.R. The mere mention of them sent a chill through Alice. That shadowy organization had long been a puppet master in the world of the Gifted and Giftless alike, manipulating events from behind the scenes. The idea that Kain had been tangled in their web made her blood run cold—and stoked a fire of determination inside her.

"I'm not afraid of the O.R.D.E.R.," Alice said, her voice steady, though her heart raced. "If they know where Kain is, then I'll face them. I have to know what happened to him."

The man's eyes softened, just for a moment. "Be careful. The O.R.D.E.R. doesn't play fair. And they don't leave loose ends."

"I don't care," Alice replied, her voice firm. "I'll do whatever it takes."

He nodded, recognizing her resolve. "Meet me tonight. The old docks. I'll tell you everything I know, but keep your guard up. The shadows are deeper than you think, and you're not the only one searching for answers."

With a final glance, the man turned and left, leaving the office colder than before.

Alice stood there, her mind racing, until she snapped into action. She needed her team. "Damian! Emilia!" she called, her voice ringing through the air.

Damian was the first to emerge, his usual laid-back demeanor gone, replaced with a look of concern. Emilia followed, her eyes sharp and serious.

"What's going on?" Damian asked, reading the tension in the room.

Alice took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I just got a lead on Kain. He might still be alive. Someone's meeting me tonight to give me information, but it's dangerous. The O.R.D.E.R. might be involved."

Emilia's eyes widened, her hands balling into fists. "You're going after him, aren't you?"

Alice nodded, her voice trembling with intensity. "I have to. If there's even a chance he's out there, I can't turn away."

"You're not doing this alone," Damian said firmly, his usual humor replaced with a steely resolve. "We're with you, no question."

Emilia stepped forward, her voice equally resolute. "You've always had our backs, Alice. Now, it's our turn. We're in this together."

A swell of emotion rose in Alice's chest, but she pushed it down, channeling it into the fire that burned brighter within her. With Damian and Emilia by her side, she didn't feel fear. She felt unstoppable. Whatever shadows waited at the docks, whatever truths lay buried about Kain's disappearance, she knew they would face it together.

The room filled with an unspoken pact, a shared purpose. As nightfall crept closer, so too did the promise of answers—and the threat of enemies lurking in the dark. But Alice was ready. For Kain, for her team, for the truth. Whatever came, they would face it head-on.