Crimson Nights

Chapter 10 [THRRADS OF BETRAYAL]

The Descent

The city of Vesper, usually alive with neon lights and bustling nightlife, now seemed wrapped in an eerie stillness. The shadows stretched long and deep, casting an oppressive weight over the alleys and streets. It was as if the city itself held its breath, waiting for the next move in a game where the stakes kept getting higher.

Isaac Forester sat in his apartment, the dim glow of a single lamp casting a pale light over his weary features. He hadn’t slept in days, haunted by the memories of Lennie and the suffocating weight of her disappearance. The bruises on his neck had faded, but the pain in his chest lingered—an ache that came from the fear of losing her to the darkness she seemed so drawn to.

He had searched every corner of the city, followed every lead, but Lennie was a ghost. Each step he took only seemed to lead him further into a maze of lies and half-truths. And with each dead end, Isaac felt himself slipping further into a void of his own—a place where his love for Lennie collided violently with the growing suspicion that she was far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.

Isaac ran a hand through his disheveled hair, frustration boiling over as he stared at the scattered papers on his desk—notes, reports, anything that might lead him to Lennie. But nothing fit together. It was like trying to solve a puzzle where the pieces kept changing shape, refusing to be locked into place.

Isaac: (muttering) “What the hell are you hiding, Lennie?”

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a message from Isabelle, his younger sister, reminding him to take care of himself, to come back to the college if only for a break. But Isaac knew he couldn’t rest—not until he found her. Not until he knew the truth.

Lennie’s Descent

Somewhere across town, Lennie Evans moved through the night like a predator stalking her prey. Her electric blue eyes gleamed in the darkness, reflecting the neon signs as she made her way through the alleys of Vesper. The darkness was her ally, the shadows a cloak that she wore with ease.

Lennie’s mind was a storm, flashes of her father’s face blending with the faces of her victims. She had tried to push the memories away, tried to drown them out with the blood of others, but they kept coming back—taunting her, reminding her of the monster she had become.

"You're better off dead".

The words echoed in her mind, a bitter reminder of the man who had destroyed her childhood. The man who had turned her into this—a killer with no remorse, no guilt. But somewhere deep inside, a small part of her still felt the sting of what she had become. And that part—tiny as it was—was starting to crack.

Lennie paused at the entrance of an abandoned warehouse, the place she had been using as a hideout since fleeing Isaac’s apartment. The air was thick with the scent of decay and oil, a perfect place to hide from the world, to let the darkness consume her. She knew Isaac was looking for her, knew he was probably tearing himself apart trying to understand what had happened.

But that’s the thing—Isaac didn’t understand. He couldn’t. No one could.

Victor’s Web

Meanwhile, in the heart of the city, Victor Blackwood stood at the top floor of his luxurious penthouse, looking out over the city he had come to dominate. The lights of Vesper glittered like stars, a reflection of his power and influence. But Victor’s mind was on more pressing matters—on Lennie, and the chaos she was leaving in her wake.

Victor knew he had to act soon. Lennie was spiraling, her instability a threat not just to herself, but to his carefully laid plans. The pieces were moving too fast, and he needed to regain control before everything fell apart. He turned to Vincent, his younger brother, who leaned against the wall, arms crossed and a smug grin on his face.

Vincent:“I’ve been watching her. She’s losing it. Can’t keep herself together for much longer. You want me to reel her in?”

Victor’s eyes narrowed, his mind calculating the next move. Lennie was dangerous, but she was also an asset—if he could find a way to control her. But Isaac… Isaac was a wildcard.

And wildcards were dangerous.

Victor:  “Keep an eye on her, but don’t get too close. Let her think she’s got the upper hand. And Isaac… I want him distracted. We can’t afford to have him putting the pieces together.”

Vincent nodded, a cruel smile playing on his lips. He enjoyed this—the game, the power, the thrill of watching others dance to his tune. But there was something about Lennie that unsettled him, something that made him want to crush her, to show her that she wasn’t as invincible as she thought.

Vincent: “Don’t worry. I’ve got this. She won’t even see it coming.”

Victor turned back to the window, his mind already moving on to the next step. The web was tightening around them all, and soon, there would be no escape. He just had to wait for the right moment to strike.

The Confrontation

Back in his apartment, Isaac had finally reached his breaking point. He grabbed his coat, his mind set on one thing—finding Lennie. He couldn’t wait any longer. The city was closing in around him, and the only way out was through the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

As he stepped out into the night, the cold air hitting his face like a slap, he felt a strange sense of determination. Lennie had become his obsession, he needed to find the truth and everything about Len Evans. And like any addiction, it was consuming him, pulling him deeper into a darkness he couldn’t escape.

Isaac wandered the streets, the city’s usual noise muted in his ears. He followed his instincts, letting them guide him through the maze of Vesper’s underworld. He didn’t know where he was going, only that he had to find her—had to see her again, to understand why she had turned on him, why she had run.

TO BE CONTINUED