Secrets and Schemes

Zara slumped into her desk at school, her head spinning with thoughts from the night before. Her dad's journal, the cryptic photo, and Mia's alarming discovery about the Shadow Market—everything felt like pieces of a puzzle she couldn't yet fit together.

"Earth to Zara?" a familiar voice snapped her out of her daze.

She blinked up at Josh, the boy who sat next to her in history. He was holding up a textbook and grinning at her. "You're zoning out again."

"Sorry," she muttered, forcing a smile.

Josh raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Well, good luck staying awake. Mr. Bennett's lectures are the cure for insomnia."

As class droned on, Zara found her gaze drifting to the clock. She needed the day to be over. She had to figure out what her dad was involved in—and why her mom seemed so adamant about keeping her in the dark.

At lunch, Mia slid into the seat across from Zara, her expression tense. "We need to talk."

Zara barely touched her food as Mia leaned in and whispered, "That guy in the photo? The one with the scar? I found out who he is."

Zara's heart skipped a beat. "Who?"

"His name's Gregor Novak. He's connected to the Shadow Market—some kind of broker for stolen artifacts. Zara, he's bad news."

Zara clenched her fists under the table. "Why was my dad in a photo with him?"

Mia hesitated, then pulled out her phone. She showed Zara an article from an obscure news site. The headline read: "Notorious Artifact Dealer Sighted in DC." Below it was a blurry photo of Gregor Novak, the same piercing eyes staring back at Zara.

"Zara," Mia whispered, "I think he's here."

After school, Zara couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced over her shoulder more than once as she walked home, clutching her backpack tightly.

When she finally reached her house, her mom's car was in the driveway, but Zara hesitated before going inside. She couldn't stop thinking about the man in the photo. Was it possible he was looking for her—or the bracelet?

Her mom was in the kitchen, chopping vegetables. "You're home late," she said without looking up.

"Yeah," Zara replied, her voice tight. She wanted to confront her mom about the journal, the Shadow Market, everything. But the look on her mom's face stopped her.

Instead, she said, "Mom, do you know someone named Gregor Novak?"

The knife clattered onto the cutting board. Her mom turned to face her, her expression unreadable.

"Why would you ask that?"

Zara swallowed hard. "I found his picture in some of Dad's things. Who is he?"

Her mom's jaw tightened. "Zara, there are things you don't understand—things your father got involved in that he shouldn't have."

"Then explain it to me!" Zara snapped, her frustration boiling over. "Stop treating me like a kid!"

Her mom sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's not that simple. Gregor Novak is dangerous. If he's here, you need to stay away from him."

"That's it?" Zara asked, her voice trembling. "That's all you're going to tell me?"

Her mom didn't answer, and Zara stormed upstairs, slamming her door behind her.

She sat on her bed, staring at the journal on her nightstand. She had so many questions, and it felt like no one was willing to give her answers.

A sudden knock on her window made her jump. She rushed to pull back the curtain and found Mia standing outside, her face pale.

"Zara," Mia said breathlessly, "you're not going to believe this. I just saw Gregor Novak... near the storage unit."