Ghost Works

Jessica’s grip on the journal tightened. The man at the end of the corridor took a slow drag of his cigarette, watching them with the patience of a predator.

Leanna shifted beside her, weapon half-raised. "Who the hell are you?"

The man exhaled smoke, his expression unreadable. "Wrong question," he said, like correcting a student. "The right one is: how much are you willing to lose before you learn to leave things buried?"

Jessica’s pulse pounded. "You work for Vanguard."

A smirk flickered across his face. "Let’s just say I make sure certain things stay buried. And you’re digging in the wrong place."

Leanna stepped forward. "Too bad. We’re not leaving."

The man tilted his head, unimpressed. "You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. But you’ve crossed a line, and now you have a choice. Turn around, Ms. Carter. Take your ghosts with you. Or leave them here like all the others." He flicked his cigarette to the ground, crushing it beneath his shoe.

Jessica didn’t flinch. Didn’t speak. Mr. Black didn’t threaten like a man expecting resistance. He threatened like someone who always got what he wanted.

---

Before Jessica could respond, the sharp crack of a gunshot echoed through the facility. A shot cracked past her ear. Not a warning. A line drawn in concrete.

"Run!" Leanna shouted, shoving Jessica back. They sprinted down the corridor as another shot rang out, shattering the old glass panels lining the hall.

Elias and Olivia burst from a side passage, eyes wide. "What the hell is going on?" Olivia demanded.

"No time! Move!" Jessica barked.

The facility was a labyrinth of decaying corridors and broken doors, but Jessica’s instincts kicked in. She led the group through a side passage, dodging debris as bullets tore through the walls behind them. The man in the suit didn’t work alone. More gunmen were closing in.

Elias skidded to a halt near an old maintenance hatch. "This way!"

Leanna hesitated. "Where does it lead?"

"Out. Hopefully."

A hail of gunfire made the decision for them. Jessica yanked the hatch. One by one, they dropped into the dark.

---

The passage smelled of rust and damp earth. The team landed hard on the cold metal floor, catching their breath.

"What the hell was that?" Olivia gasped. "Who was that guy?"

Jessica wiped sweat from her brow. "Someone Vanguard trusts to clean up their messes."

Elias clenched his fists. “That’s what they do," he muttered. "Erase people. Like they were never here."

Leanna leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. "We need to disappear. They know we’re here."

Jessica studied him. "We will. But first, we need to figure out who that man is."

From the darkness of the tunnel, a low voice echoed. "You've known since the moment you heard my voice, Ms. Carter."

Ice ran down her spine. The man in the suit had followed them. Some ghosts didn’t haunt you. They hunted.