The words echoed in Elena's mind, repeating over and over, drowning out everything else. Monsters. People who have already lost their humanity. The man's words had cracked open a door in her mind, one that she wasn't sure she could close again. The image of Lucien—cold, calculating, always in control—took on a darker hue. He wasn't just a criminal mastermind. He was a puppeteer, pulling strings in ways she couldn't even begin to understand.
"Elena," the man's voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. "You need to leave. This place—it's not safe anymore. Lucien's influence has spread farther than you know."
She shook her head, trying to clear the fog of disbelief. "No. I'm not leaving until I have answers. Tell me what you know."
The man's eyes darted nervously around the pier, as if expecting someone to jump out of the shadows at any moment. "I've seen it—heard it from people who've worked for him. These... monsters, they're being made in a secret lab. A facility hidden deep in the city, beneath the old chemical plant. Lucien's using a combination of experimental drugs and genetic manipulation to turn people into his loyal soldiers. No emotions, no hesitation, just pure obedience."
Elena's stomach churned. The idea of turning people into weapons—into mindless, soulless creatures—was a new low, even for Lucien. She clenched her fists, feeling the weight of the information settling deep in her chest.
"Where is this lab?" Elena asked, her voice hard, determined.
"It's off the grid," the man said, swallowing hard. "I don't know exactly where, but I've overheard things. Lucien's preparing for something big, something that will change everything. If he unleashes these monsters... the balance of power will shift, and no one will be able to stop him."
Elena's pulse quickened. The urgency in the man's voice mirrored the dread that had settled in her gut. She had to act now.
The sound of footsteps interrupted their conversation. Elena spun around, her hand instinctively going for her gun, but the man held up his hands in a calming gesture. "It's just one of my contacts," he muttered.
The shadowy figure that approached stepped into the dim light, revealing a familiar face. Matteo.
"Elena," Matteo said, his voice low and urgent. "You need to get out of here. Now. Lucien knows you're here."
Her heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean? How?"
"He's always watching," Matteo replied grimly. "And he's set a trap. His men are closing in. We can't afford to stay."
Elena's mind raced. Every instinct told her to leave, but the fire of determination burned too brightly within her. Lucien was getting closer to his endgame, and if she walked away now, she would lose everything.
"No," she said, her voice steely. "I'm not running. We're going to end this, once and for all."
Matteo's eyes widened with concern. "Elena, you're not thinking clearly. This isn't just another fight—it's a war. If you walk into that lab, you'll be walking straight into Lucien's hands. He's ready for you."
"I've been walking into his hands since the moment I decided to fight him," Elena snapped, her voice cold. "And I'll be damned if I let him control me any longer. We're going to take down that lab, and we're going to stop him."
She turned away from Matteo and the contact, her mind made up. The man had warned her of the dangers, but Elena wasn't about to back down now. Lucien had been playing a deadly game for far too long, and it was time to end it.
As she walked toward the darkened streets, her heart pounded with both fear and determination. The shadows of the city stretched long before her, but she wouldn't run from them. No matter how deep into the fire she had to go, she would face it head-on.
Because the only way out of this was through the heart of the darkness.