(Twisted Fates) The Phantom

Chapter 7: Crossroads

Luke's Apartment
9:02AM

Luke's apartment, shrouded in the dim glow of the city lights filtering through the windows, In the early hours of the morning, he found himself awaken from sleep by a persistent knock on his door.

Groggily, Luke stumbled to the entrance and opened the door to find Officer Mia Harlow standing there, her expression a mix of urgency and determination. Luke, still half-asleep, blinked at her in confusion.

"Luke Miller, right? We need to talk." Mia said, pushing past him into the apartment.

"Yeah, that's me. What's this about?" Luke asked, rubbing his eyes.

Mia glanced around the modest space before fixing her gaze on Luke.

"I saw you with Giovanni Gambetti at the fight ring. What's your connection to him?"

Luke, caught off guard, tried to play it cool.

"Connection? We don't have any connection. Just a brief chat. What's it to you?"

Mia's eyes narrowed as she got straight to the point.

"I'm investigating Gambetti, and I think you can help me take him down."

Luke, now fully awake, was wary.

"What makes you think I'm qualified to help you? Plus, Why would I help you?"

Mia leaned in, her tone hushed but intense.

"Because I know who you really are, Phantom. And if you don't cooperate, I won't hesitate to expose you."

Luke's heart sank and he looked at Mia and gritted his teeth. He looked at her badge and name tag.

"Listen here Miss Harlow, I've got enough to worry about rather than Gambetti- I'm balancing the order of this city on my shoulders right now! Excuse me when I tell you, that's going to have to wait."

Mia nodded her head.

"There's no doubt that you are a busy man, and exposing you would only hurt the city. You do what you have to do- but if I don't get anything on Gambetti in the upcoming week, I'm putting you away."

"Sorry for doing your job for you! Im on the Ravenger case and Anarchist's Assassination, which leads to a far bigger conspiracy than you can handle. On top of that, I'm also juggling a full time job. I'll look into it when I have time, because trust me, is not far down on my personal list at the moment."

As Mia left, Luke couldn't shake the tension in the air. The delicate balance between his duty as a vigilante and the threats to his secret identity grew ever more precarious.

"How the hell does she know? This is incredibly messed up..."

Miller Enterprises
11:22PM

Arriving at Miller Enterprises, Luke smoothly transitioned into his role as a dedicated employee. The glass and steel facade of the building welcomed him, concealing the internal struggles beneath the veneer of professionalism.

As he walked through the sleek corridors, Luke exchanged nods and greetings with colleagues, his demeanor carefully calibrated to maintain the image of a committed worker.

Luke sat down and began looking at some of the work he had to do. Taking phone calls and verifying emails.

a sharp ring cut through the air, signaling an incoming call on his office phone. Glancing at the caller ID, it was Unknown.

"Hello?" Luke answered, anticipation tinged with a hint of urgency in his voice.

"Luke, I've got something for you." Q's voice crackled through the line.

"I ran those prints you sent me, and guess what? We've got a match."

Luke's pulse quickened as he leaned in, the weight of the revelation settling in.

"Who are we dealing with?"

Q didn't keep him in suspense.

"Zachary Leo, also known as The Plague Doctor. Quite the character. I've dug up some information on him, and it looks like he's been making moves in the underground. Whatever he's up to, it's not for the faint of heart."

Luke processed the information, recognizing that each revelation in his quest held profound implications.

"Thanks, Q. Where can I find him?"

"Mmm, I don't know exactly, but doing some background work on Zachary Leo, he's the manager of a Steel Mill, he's got a wife and 2 kids, one deceased as of last year. Said Alexander Leo was shot in a gang shootout."

"Damn- The Plague Doctor has only been active for how long?"

"3 days after Alexander's death... it says he first struck the Rebels MC, he's the one who eliminated that group. Oh Zachary's got an accomplice too, some misguided kid under his influence, Ethan Flores. Ehh says here he bought a warehouse a few years ago- could potentially be where he hangs out."

"Yeah, very well could be. I'll take a look."

"Brian tells me you are also on the hunt for The Ravenger."

"Yeah, that's right. What you know something about him?"

"I do as it happens, The Ravenger is a man named Porter Rodriguez. He's a freelance agent, kind of like a mass assassin. Just wondering who it is he's working for."

"Q! Is there anything similar about the men who were found dead?"

"Actually funnily enough, yeah- they all work for The Scientific Division. Not sure why our Ravenger hates scientists."

"That symbol- is not only the scientific division, I fear it means something else Q. They have something they are hiding from us... I've got to go, my boss wouldn't want me wasting time like this- also, I believe it's safe to say, terminate this line's history."

"Already done."

The phone call ends.

East Baltimore
9:18PM

Draped in the familiar Phantom attire, Luke stood at a crossroads, each path with its own set of revelations. The weight of his decisions bore down as he contemplated the options before him.

"To dismantle the arms dealing network, I need to go after Zachary Leo and Ethan Flores. Unraveling their schemes might expose the darker layers of the city." He mused, eyes flickering with determination.

"On the other hand, pursuing The Ravenger could unveil the enigmatic scientific division, shedding light on the forces shaping Baltimore's shadows. Knowledge is power, and I need to uncover the truth." Luke pondered.

In the choice between vigilantism and unraveling the mysteries that entwined his own world, The Phantom prepared to step into the shadows once more.

"I think it's clear who I need to go after..."