### Chapter 10: Through the Looking Glass

The following days were a blur of suspicion and surveillance. D.P.I.E.S. had become a pressure cooker of tension and mistrust. Elara, Lena, and Max were at the center of it all, determined to uncover Phantom before he could strike again. Every interaction was scrutinized, every conversation dissected. It felt like they were chasing shadows.

Elara decided to take a different approach. Instead of focusing solely on the list of suspects, she began to analyze the data they had collected on The Harbingers. Patterns began to emerge, subtle connections between seemingly unrelated events and people. One name kept resurfacing—Dr. Evelyn Hart, the head of D.P.I.E.S.'s research division. She was brilliant, respected, and had access to nearly every aspect of the organization.

Elara brought her findings to Kieran. "We need to look into Dr. Hart. There's something off about her involvement in recent events."

Kieran raised an eyebrow. "Evelyn has been with us for years. Are you sure about this?"

Elara nodded. "The data doesn't lie. She's connected to too many of the key incidents. At the very least, we need to question her."

Reluctantly, Kieran agreed. They arranged a discreet meeting with Dr. Hart in one of the interrogation rooms, ensuring that no one else knew of their suspicions.

When Elara and Kieran entered the room, Dr. Hart was already seated, her demeanor calm and composed. She looked up at them with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Elara, Kieran, what's this about?" she asked.

Elara took a deep breath. "Dr. Hart, we've noticed some anomalies in the data related to The Harbingers' activities. Your name keeps coming up. We need to ask you some questions."

Evelyn's eyes widened slightly, but she maintained her composure. "Of course. I'll cooperate fully. What do you need to know?"

Elara and Kieran began their questioning, probing into Dr. Hart's recent projects, her interactions with other members of D.P.I.E.S., and her knowledge of The Harbingers. Evelyn answered every question with precision and clarity, showing no signs of deception.

After nearly an hour, Elara was starting to doubt her own suspicions. Maybe Dr. Hart was innocent. But then, something she said caught Elara's attention.

"I was working late in the lab the night of the breach," Evelyn mentioned casually. "Running tests on the artifact you retrieved."

Elara's mind raced. The timeline didn't add up. She remembered checking the lab logs—Dr. Hart hadn't signed in that night. Why would she lie about her whereabouts?

Before Elara could press further, an alarm blared through the facility. The room's lights dimmed, and the emergency lockdown protocols engaged. A disembodied voice echoed through the speakers: "Security breach detected. All personnel to secure locations."

Elara's heart pounded. "This can't be a coincidence."

Kieran drew his weapon, his eyes narrowing. "Stay here, Dr. Hart. We'll be back."

As Elara and Kieran rushed to the command center, they found Lena and Max already there, monitoring the situation. The security feeds showed multiple points of entry being breached simultaneously. It was a coordinated attack.

Max looked up, his face tense. "They're here. The Harbingers are inside."

Elara's blood ran cold. "It's a diversion. They want something specific."

Just then, a loud explosion rocked the facility. Elara grabbed the nearest comm unit. "All units, report to the artifact storage! They're after the Nexus artifact!"

She and her team sprinted through the corridors, dodging debris and engaging Harbinger operatives along the way. The firefights were brutal, but they pushed through, driven by the urgency of their mission.

When they reached the artifact storage, they found the doors blown open. Inside, a figure stood before the Nexus artifact, cloaked in shadows. Elara recognized the cold, calculating presence immediately.

"Phantom," she whispered.

The figure turned, and to Elara's shock, it wasn't Dr. Hart. It was Kieran.

"Kieran? No…" Elara's mind reeled. "You were Phantom all along?"

Kieran—or rather, Phantom—smirked. "Did you really think you could outsmart me, Elara? I've been orchestrating this from the beginning. The Harbingers' plan is already in motion."

Elara's world tilted. The man she had trusted, the leader she had looked up to, was the enemy. She felt a mixture of betrayal and fury.

Max and Lena moved to flank Kieran, but he was ready. With a swift motion, he activated a device, and the Nexus artifact began to glow ominously. The air crackled with energy.

"You're too late," Kieran said, his voice cold. "The artifact is the key to unlocking a new era. One where The Harbingers rule supreme."

Elara's mind raced. She couldn't let Kieran succeed. Gathering her courage, she lunged at him, trying to disrupt the device. Max and Lena followed suit, engaging in a fierce battle.

The room was a blur of motion and light. Elara fought with everything she had, her anger fueling her strength. Kieran was a formidable opponent, but Elara's determination was unyielding.

Amidst the chaos, Elara saw her chance. She reached the device and, with a desperate move, smashed it against the artifact. The resulting explosion of energy sent everyone flying.

When the dust settled, Elara struggled to her feet, her body aching. Kieran lay unconscious, the artifact's glow fading. Max and Lena were battered but alive.

"We did it," Lena said, her voice filled with relief.

Elara nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of their victory. They had stopped Phantom, but the cost was high. Trust had been shattered, and the future was uncertain.

As they secured Kieran and began the process of rebuilding, Elara couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. The battle against The Harbingers was far from over. But she was ready to face whatever came next, determined to protect the Nexus and uncover the remaining shadows within D.P.I.E.S.

In the end, Elara knew one thing for certain: the true fight was only just beginning.