Broken Silence

Chapter Four

I barely sleep that night. I can't afford to. There's a cold knot of tension in my stomach, a gnawing uncertainty that no amount of exhaustion or fatigue can chase away. Valen's words replay in my head over and over, each one sinking deeper and deeper into my bones.

The Syndicate wants you.
They're after your blood.
You have something they need.

I've always known the Syndicate has its claws deep in this city—hell, they own the damn place. But the idea that they might know exactly who I am, and what I am... that shakes me. I always thought I was just some kid trying to survive in a broken city, but apparently, I'm much more than that. And so is this city.

I throw on a black leather jacket, the kind that's seen too many nights in the rain, and fasten the straps on my boots, the familiar weight grounding me in the here and now. The silver trident is resting beside my bed, its gleam muted in the dim light. It's the only thing that's felt right in a long time.

My hair, still damp from the night's drizzle, falls in loose waves of ocean blue down my back. My sea-green eyes meet my reflection in the cracked mirror on the wall. I'm not the girl I used to be. I'm not sure I ever was.

I grab the trident, feeling the weight of it in my hand as I head out the door. Tonight, I'm meeting Valen again. She didn't give me a location, just a promise that I'd know where to go when the time came. And now, it seems, the time's come.

I step into the street, the fog rolling in thicker than usual. The city looks like a nightmare when it's fogged up like this, every dark corner a hiding place for the monsters that run it. I pull the collar of my jacket higher, shoving my hands in my pockets as I walk, keeping my eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary.

The streets are quieter than usual. Almost too quiet. That's never a good sign. There's always something lurking in the silence in a city like this.

As I round a corner, I catch a glimpse of a figure in the distance. It's hard to make out, but it's enough to make my instincts flare. I duck into a nearby alley, pulling the trident to the front, the silver gleaming faintly in the dim light.

I wait. I listen.

The footsteps come closer, but they're not heavy like a thug's or quick like a runner's. They're measured. Calm.

Then, through the mist, I see her. Valen.

She's wearing that long black coat again, the same hood pulled low over her face. Her eyes—those cold, calculating eyes—catch mine as she steps forward, the mist swirling around her like it's part of her.

"You're late," I say, keeping my voice sharp, my body tense. I don't trust this woman, but right now, I need answers. I need to know how deep this goes.

She doesn't flinch. Her lips curl into a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. "You were expecting me sooner?"

I don't respond. Instead, I hold her gaze, waiting for her to speak.

She takes a slow step closer. "We're going to a place where you're going to need to leave your guard down. It's not safe out here, Chase. Not for you."

That makes me frown. "What's the catch this time? You lead me to the Syndicate's doorstep, or are you bringing me somewhere else?"

She raises an eyebrow, but it's not playful. "It's a place you've been avoiding for a while, but it's the only place we can discuss things without being interrupted. The Syndicate's got eyes on you. They've been watching you for months. The only way to hide is to go where they don't look."

I tighten my grip on the trident. "And where's that?"

She smiles, but this time there's something softer about it, as though she's letting down her guard for just a second. "The Hollow."

The Hollow.

I curse under my breath. The Hollow is the last place I want to go. It's the belly of the beast, the underworld of the city where the really nasty things hide. It's a place where the lines between the living and the dead blur. Rumor has it, even the Syndicate keeps their hands off it. But that's not because it's safe. It's because it's cursed. Haunted. Full of things that even the worst criminals steer clear of.

And it's where I grew up.

"I can't go back there," I say, my voice sharp. "You can't seriously expect me to walk into that mess."

Valen's eyes narrow. "You don't have a choice, Chase. If you're going to take on the Syndicate, you need to know exactly what they're hiding. And the Hollow's where all their secrets are buried."

I hesitate, my throat tightening. I haven't been back to the Hollow in years. I ran when I was fourteen, after my mother disappeared. She'd been a part of it, a part of something I didn't understand—something dark and dangerous. I've been running ever since, trying to forget the ghosts of the past.

But now? Now I can't run anymore.

"Fine," I say, exhaling sharply. "Let's go."

Valen turns and begins walking, her footsteps quick and sure. I follow, keeping my distance.

The city changes the closer we get to the Hollow. The streets get narrower, the buildings taller, as if they're trying to swallow you whole. Graffiti-covered walls give way to abandoned storefronts, broken-down cars, and the smell of decay. I can feel the weight of the air growing heavier, thick with something I can't name.

We walk in silence, the fog swallowing us up as we pass through the dark corners of the city. Every step takes us deeper into the forgotten parts of the city—the parts no one ever talks about. The places where people disappear.

When we finally reach the entrance to the Hollow, I stop dead in my tracks.

A rusted iron gate stands in front of us, twisted and covered in ivy. It's old. Old enough that no one remembers when it was last opened. The gate looks like it hasn't been touched in years, its paint chipped and peeling, exposing the metal beneath. Beyond it, a dilapidated staircase leads down into the earth, disappearing into blackness.

I take a breath. The last time I was here, I was a scared kid, running from a life I didn't understand. Now, I'm a demigod with a trident and a city that wants to eat me alive. And this? This is where it all began.

"You sure this is the right place?" I ask, my voice quiet, almost reverent.

Valen nods. "This is where they buried their sins, Chase. Everything you need to know is down there."

I take a step forward, my heart beating faster as I reach out and push open the gate. The hinges groan, protesting the movement as though they're waking up from a long slumber.

The Hollow is waiting.