Into the Unknown

Diego shoved open the restaurant door, the bell overhead jingling like an unwelcome alarm. The smell of old oil and grilled meat clung to the air, mingling with the faint sizzle of something frying in the back. The space was dim, illuminated by flickering yellow lights that seemed to be losing their battle with time.

Leo paused at the entrance, his gaze sweeping over the small, cluttered room. Worn tables sat haphazardly, their surfaces marred by scratches and stains from years of use. Only a few patrons occupied the space, their heads bowed over steaming plates or glowing holographic screens. None of them spared a glance at the newcomers.

“Is it safe here?” Leo asked, his voice low with suspicion.

“For now,” Diego replied curtly, striding toward a secluded corner table without breaking stride.

Leo followed, though the oppressive atmosphere of the place did nothing to calm his nerves. The dried blood stiffening his shirt clung uncomfortably to his skin, a constant reminder of the violence he had barely escaped—the tension in his chest twisted tighter with each step.

Diego settled into a chair and leaned back, exuding a calm that felt out of place after what they had just endured. He scanned the room briefly before turning his focus to Leo. His composure was unsettling, starkly contrasting the storm raging inside Leo.

“Are you going to tell me who you were to Lucy?” Leo demanded, sitting across from him. His voice carried an edge of both expectation and suspicion.

Diego’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Leo, weighing whether to answer. “That depends. Why did she give you that card?”

Leo’s hands clenched into fists on the table. “She didn’t give me anything. She’s dead.”

The words landed heavily between them, silencing the ambient hum of the restaurant for a moment. Diego’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly, his sharp gaze softening slightly as he regarded Leo’s pained face.

“She was my sister,” Leo added, his voice cracking, though his eyes remained steady. “And I’m going to find out who killed her.”

Diego leaned back further, letting out a slow breath. For a moment, he said nothing, the weight of Leo’s grief hanging thick in the air.

“Lucy arranged to meet me,” Diego finally said, his tone measured. “She said she had something important to share about her work. Something big. But she didn’t want to go into detail over messages.”

Leo’s brow furrowed. “She never told me about that, just that she was working on something that could make a difference. Something to help people.”

“Maybe she thought she was protecting you,” Diego suggested, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. “But if she was killed for it, there’s no protection left.”

The bluntness of the statement hit Leo like a punch to the gut. His mind involuntarily conjured the image of Lucy’s lifeless body, her wide eyes staring into nothingness. She had always believed her work could change the world. Now, it felt like her belief had led her to a senseless death.

“Who were those guys? Why did they attack us?” Leo’s voice cracked with anger and desperation.

Diego’s jaw tightened as he rested an elbow on the table. His right arm, the one adorned with the artifact, remained hidden beneath his cloak, but his fingers twitched slightly as if reliving the fight.

“The symbol they carried,” Diego began. “It’s the mark of the Crimson Vanguard. They’re a shadow organization—powerful, ruthless, and meticulous. They rarely leave traces, but their methods are unmistakable.”

“What do they want? Why would they kill Lucy?”

Diego met Leo’s gaze squarely. “Because someone like Lucy could pose a threat. The Vanguard controls more than you can imagine: security, technology, politics. They don’t tolerate risks. And Lucy? She must have been on the verge of exposing something they didn’t want revealed.”

Leo leaned forward, his voice a harsh whisper. “If you knew all this, why didn’t you stop it? Why did she have to die?”

Diego didn’t flinch. His expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. “You think we haven’t been fighting them? We’ve been at this for years, taking whatever chances we can to chip away at their control. But if Lucy had something big, she didn’t share it with us in time.”

The silence that followed was suffocating. Leo stared at the table, his fists trembling. The anger boiling in his chest mixed with the crushing weight of loss, leaving him teetering on the edge of control.

“I don’t care what you’re fighting for,” Leo said, his voice low and firm. “I want revenge. That’s all that matters now. They took Lucy from me. I’ll take them down, no matter what it costs.”

Diego’s lips twitched, almost forming a smirk, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He studied Leo, his piercing gaze searching for something in the younger man’s expression.

“And how do you plan to do that?” Diego finally asked, his tone challenging.

“I don’t know yet,” Leo admitted, but his voice didn’t waver. “But I’ll figure it out. I won’t stop until I do.”

Diego let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “You’re stubborn, I’ll give you that.” He leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly. “Listen, if you want in on this, you need to understand what you’re asking for. This isn’t about taking out a few guys in an alley. This is a war against a system that owns everything. One wrong move, and they’ll crush you without a second thought.”

“Then show me how to do it,” Leo replied without hesitation. “If you’re really going after them, take me with you.”

Diego sighed, muttering something under his breath. “This is madness…” He paused, then met Leo’s unwavering gaze. “Fine. But know this: once you’re in, there’s no turning back.”

Leo’s expression hardened. “I’ve got nothing left to lose.”

Diego rose from his seat, adjusting his hood. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to the others. They need to hear what happened.”

“Others?” Leo asked, standing to follow.

Diego smirked faintly. “You’ll see.”

As they stepped out into the bustling streets, Leo’s mind churned with thoughts of Lucy, of the Crimson Vanguard, and the unrelenting anger that burned in his chest. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but he knew one thing: he wouldn’t stop until he had answers—and vengeance.