Chapter 24: The Gathering Storm.
The Sentinel post was dimly lit, the early morning light filtering through the narrow windows as Ava, Miko, and Jess sat around the central table. The atmosphere was heavy with tension, the weight of their collective knowledge pressing down on them. Maps and notes were strewn across the table, though they had long since stopped pouring over the documents. Now, it was about piecing together what they knew.
Ava leaned forward, her elbows on the table, eyes scanning the room. “What do we know for sure?” she asked, her voice calm but firm.
Jess, sitting to her right, spoke first. “We’ve got Mark’s statement,” she began, her fingers tapping the edge of the table nervously. “He confirmed what we suspected—that the Syndicate has its claws in the mayor. He’s been working with them to funnel resources, skimming off the top while keeping it quiet.”
Miko leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his face drawn with frustration. “And Talon… he said Holts was at the casino, running the whole operation. It’s more than just small-time deals. This is big.”
Ava nodded, absorbing the information. “Talon’s right. The mayor is more than just involved—he’s embedded with the Syndicate. Holts wants control of Green Arbor, and the mayor is his way in.”
Jess looked at Ava, her face a mixture of concern and disbelief. “But how far does this go? Is the mayor really willing to sell out the whole town just for his own gain?”
Ava’s jaw tightened. “He’s already done it. The fire at the tavern was just the start. The more power Holts gains here, the more danger Green Arbor is in.”
As the weight of Ava’s words sank in, the door to the Sentinel post burst open. Talon stepped inside, dragging a battered and bruised man with him. The man stumbled as Talon shoved him forward, blood trickling from a split lip. Talon’s face was hard, his eyes burning with intensity.
“Found this rat working for the Syndicate,” Talon growled, throwing the man onto the ground in front of them. “Time to talk.”
The man looked up, panic in his eyes as he clutched his side, groaning in pain. Jess jumped to her feet, moving toward him instinctively. “Talon, stop! He’s hurt. Let me help him,” she pleaded, her voice full of compassion.
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But before she could get closer, Ava raised a hand, her voice cold and decisive. “No, Jess. Leave him.”
Jess hesitated, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Ava, he’s—”
“I said leave him,” Ava repeated, her tone brooking no argument. Her gaze never left the man crumpled on the floor.
The man coughed, spitting blood onto the ground. “I… I don’t know anything,” he stammered, his voice shaking.
Talon crouched down beside him, his presence looming like a shadow. His voice was low and dangerous, each word a threat. “You’re lying. We know you’ve been working with the mayor, and you’re going to tell us everything. Now.”
The man’s eyes darted around the room, desperation flooding his face. He glanced at Jess, hoping for mercy, but found none. Ava stood behind Talon, her arms crossed, watching with an expression of cold resolve.
“I… I swear, I was just doing what I was told,” the man gasped. “The mayor… he promised protection for the Syndicate if they kept out of sight. He’s been letting them run deals in the background—smuggling goods, running a black market. I swear, that’s all I know!”
Talon leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper but laced with menace. “Is that it? Are you sure you’re not leaving anything out?”
The man shook his head furiously, his body trembling with fear. “That’s it! I swear, please… just let me go.”
Talon stood up, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at the man. For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut. Then, with a smirk, Talon gestured toward the door. “Get out. Now.”
The man scrambled to his feet, his hands shaking as he stumbled toward the exit. Just as he reached the door, Talon’s voice cut through the air like a blade. “And if I see you around Green Arbor again… I’ll make sure you never walk out.”
The man’s eyes widened in terror before he bolted out the door, disappearing into the early morning fog.
Jess watched him go, her heart still pounding in her chest. “That was... intense,” she muttered, glancing between Ava and Talon.
Ava didn’t respond immediately, her mind already working through their next steps. She turned to Miko, her voice sharp with purpose. “We have enough now. Get the word out. The mayor’s not going to control this town much longer.”
Miko nodded, already heading for the door. “I’ll round up the ones we can trust. We need to make sure the people are with us when this all comes down.”
Ava watched him go, her eyes narrowing as she thought of the confrontation that lay ahead. “Talon,” she said, her voice softer now. “We’re going to the town square. It’s time to confront the mayor.”
Talon’s lips curled into a determined smile. “About time. Let’s go remind him who’s in charge.”
As they left the Sentinel post, the storm brewing over Green Arbor felt more real than ever. But this time, they weren’t walking into it blind—they were walking into it with the truth, and they were ready to fight for their home.