Code of Shadows

Chapter 1 - The Ghosts Past

The sky was a sullen grey the day my life changed forever. I remember the smell of smoke in the air, the sound of crackling flames licking at the edges of my childhood home. I crouched in the bushes, my heart pounding in my chest, as sirens wailed in the distance. The fire had started so suddenly, engulfing the house in minutes. I'd barely made it out alive.

"Mom! Dad!" I had screamed, but my voice was swallowed by the roar of the flames. My eyes stung from the smoke, tears streaming down my cheeks. I knew they were gone. I knew it the moment I saw the car, black and unrecognizable, sitting in the driveway, twisted metal and shattered glass. It wasn't an accident. It couldn't be. Someone had done this—someone had taken my parents away from me.

I stayed hidden until the fire trucks arrived, watching as firefighters battled the blaze that was my home. I didn't trust them, or anyone. I knew if I showed myself, they would ask questions, questions I couldn't answer. So, I stayed in the shadows, waiting until the flames died down and the night swallowed the remains of my life.

As darkness fell, I crept closer to the ruins. My heart ached with every step, but I couldn't stop myself. I needed to see, to understand. I picked my way through the rubble, my feet crunching on broken glass and charred wood. Everything was gone—my room, my parents' room, the kitchen where we'd shared countless meals. I stood in the middle of the ruins, feeling the weight of the emptiness around me. I was alone. Completely and utterly alone.

The night was cold, the chill seeping into my bones as I stood there, staring at the charred remains of my life. I felt a wave of nausea wash over me, my knees trembling. I sank to the ground, my hands digging into the ash, trying to find something, anything that wasn't destroyed. I needed to find a piece of them, something to hold onto. But there was nothing. Just ash and debris.

Then I found it, hidden beneath a pile of debris—a small, charred notebook. I recognized it immediately. It was my mother's. She used to write everything down, every thought, every fear. I clutched it to my chest, feeling a spark of hope. Maybe there was something in here that could explain why this happened, why they were taken from me.

I flipped through the pages, scanning the entries. Most of it was mundane—grocery lists, reminders, notes from work. But then, near the end, I found a page that caught my eye. It was written hastily, the handwriting jagged and uneven.

*They're coming. We have to leave. We can't trust anyone. If anything happens to us, Alex, you need to run. Run and don't look back. Trust no one.*

My blood ran cold as I read the words over and over again. They knew. My parents knew something was coming, and they didn't tell me. I felt a surge of anger mixed with fear. What had they gotten themselves into? Why hadn't they told me?

I crumpled the notebook in my hands, feeling the tears spill over. I wanted to scream, to cry out for my parents, but I knew it wouldn't change anything. They were gone, and I was alone. I looked around the ruins of my home, my mind racing. I couldn't stay here. The people who did this—they might come back. I had to go. I had to disappear.

I wiped my tears away, steeling myself. I would find out who did this. I would make them pay. But first, I had to survive. I had to become a ghost, just like my parents had told me.

I turned away from the ruins, my jaw set in determination. I was Alex Montgomery, and I would survive. No matter what it took.

That night, I left my home, the place where I'd grown up, the place where I'd felt safe. I didn't look back. I couldn't. I walked through the streets, my feet carrying me away from the only life I'd ever known. The city was quiet, the only sound the distant hum of traffic. I felt a chill run down my spine, a sense of dread settling in my chest. I was alone, completely and utterly alone.

I wandered the streets, my mind numb. I had no plan, no idea where to go. I just needed to get away. Away from the memories, away from the pain. I found an abandoned building, the windows boarded up, the door hanging off its hinges. I slipped inside, my heart pounding. It was dark, the air heavy with the smell of mold and decay. But it was safe. No one would find me here.

I curled up in a corner, my back against the wall, my knees pulled to my chest. I closed my eyes, trying to block out the images of the fire, of my parents. But they wouldn't go away. They were burned into my mind, a constant reminder of what I'd lost. I felt a tear slip down my cheek, then another. I wanted to be strong, to be brave, but all I felt was fear. Fear of the future, fear of the unknown.

I didn't know how long I sat there, my body trembling, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. Hours passed, maybe days. Time lost all meaning. I didn't eat, didn't sleep. I just sat there, staring into the darkness, waiting for something to change. But nothing did.

Eventually, the numbness faded, replaced by a cold, hard resolve. I couldn't stay here forever. I couldn't hide from the world. I needed to find out what happened, why my parents were killed. I needed answers. And I would find them, no matter what it took.

I pushed myself to my feet, my legs shaky, my body weak. I stumbled to the door, my mind focused. I didn't know where to start, but I knew one thing. I wouldn't stop until I found the truth. I was Alex Montgomery, and I was going to survive.

I walked out into the night, the city stretching out before me. The stars were hidden behind clouds, the air heavy with the promise of rain. I took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill my lungs. I was ready. I was ready to face whatever came my way.

And I would do it alone.