Vendetta

The Sanctuary of Shadows

After what felt like an eternity, Jordi emerged from the house, signaling that it was clear.

We got out of the car, the tension still thick in the air. Jordi was already at the door, scanning the surroundings with a wary eye. He turned to us, his face grim. "Take your things. This place isn't safe anymore."

Katherine stepped forward, her voice trembling slightly. "Jordi, what's going on? What did you find?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "A warning from the Alchemist. They know we're here."

I hadn't said a word since the confrontation. I stood there, silent and seething, jaw clenched tightly. I could feel the waves of anger radiating, and it seemed Jordi was intentionally avoiding my gaze.

Katherine looked between the two of us, her anxiety evident. She bit her lip, then turned to Robert. "What about your place, Robert? Can we go there?"

Robert, always the optimist despite his young age, nodded eagerly. "Yeah, come to my place! It's safe there."

Jordi shook his head, a shadow passing over his face. "If they can get into my house, they can easily get into Robert's. We need somewhere more secure."

Katherine's worry deepened. "Then where do we go?"

Jordi's eyes met hers with a resolve that hadn't been there before. "I know a place. It's not far, and it's safe."

At that exact moment, my phone buzzed, breaking the brief silence. I glanced at it, face darkening further when I saw the caller ID. It was dad. I let out a frustrated growl, my knuckles white as he gripped the phone.

Katherine placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Edward, go talk to him. We'll take care of your things."

He hesitated, his anger barely contained. But something in Katherine's eyes seemed to reach him. With a curt nod, I stepped away, the tension in my shoulders must be visible as I walked a few paces from the group to take the call.

He hesitated, his anger barely contained. But something in Katherine's eyes seemed to reach him. With a curt nod, I stepped away, the tension in my shoulders must be visible as I walked a few paces from the group to take the call.

"Hello?" I said, my voice strained.

"Edward, thank God you're okay." My father's voice was full of relief, but it only fueled my anger.

"Okay? You think I'm okay?" I hissed. "Do you have any idea what's been happening?"

"Listen, Edward, I know things have been tough, but—"

"Tough? That's an understatement. Fubao's dead, Dad. And now I find out that Mom's body was never found? You've been lying to me my whole life!"

"Edward, calm down," he pleaded. "There's a lot you don't understand—"

"I don't understand because you've never told me anything!" I shouted, the frustration and betrayal boiling over. "You've kept me in the dark while all this chaos unfolded around us. Why didn't you tell me the truth?"

"There were reasons, Edward. I was trying to protect you."

"Protect me? By lying to me? By keeping secrets? That's not protection, that's betrayal!" My voice cracked, the weight of everything crashing down on me.

"Edward, please. You need to come home. We need to talk about this face to face. It's not safe out there."

"I'm not coming home, Dad. Not until I get some answers. Real answers. And not until we find out who did this to Fubao and why they're after us."