The Crimson Silence

Into the Darkness - Part 2

Nathan opened his front door and entered his living room. Before he could even switch on the lights, a voice cut through the darkness, cold and precise:

"You need better locks, detective. Or should I call you... Orion?"

Jake's voice came from the corner of the room, sharp and focused.

Nathan froze mid-step, his hand instinctively reaching for his holster as he quickly flipped the lights on. His eyes locked onto Jake, sitting calmly, a gun already pointed at him. The moment felt suffocating, the room too small to hold the tension that gripped them both.

"Jacob..." Nathan muttered, alarmed but trying to maintain composure. His hand hovered cautiously over his gun, his movements slow.

"Don't even try it," Jake warned, his voice low, dangerous. His eyes glinted with an intensity that sent a chill down Nathan's spine.

"Remove your gun and throw it over here," Jake ordered.

Nathan hesitated, but seeing no other option, he slowly unholstered his gun and tossed it toward Jake, his eyes never leaving Jake’s face.

"So what now? You’re going to shoot me? Just get it over with," Nathan said, his voice oddly steady, though his face betrayed a hint of unease.

Jake’s grip tightened on his gun. "Oh, that'll happen. But first, you're going to tell me why."

Nathan chuckled, his laugh sharp and manic. "You don't even know what you're messing with, do you? You have no idea what you've walked into, Jacob."

"Enlighten me," Jake shot back, flipping the safety off with a flick of his thumb. The sound echoed in the room, and Nathan’s expression changed in an instant—his smug demeanor cracking.

"Just calm down, Jacob," Nathan said, his voice betraying a touch of fear for the first time.

"Aphrodite," Jake snapped, "what is it?"

Nathan sighed, shaking his head as if amused. "Jacob, Jacob, Jacob... You're like a miner digging for gold in a desert. You're never going to find it."

Frustration flared in Jake’s eyes. He stood from the chair and tossed a stack of photos and documents onto the coffee table. They landed with a heavy thud, and Nathan’s face drained of color as he recognized the contents.

"These photos... these documents..." Nathan stammered, staring at them in disbelief. "How did you—" His voice faltered, and realization dawned. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of fear passing through them.

"It's you, isn't it?" Nathan muttered, his voice growing hoarse. "You killed them all."

Jake’s eyes didn’t waver. "Tell me, Nathan. What is Aphrodite?"

Nathan swallowed hard, his pulse visible in his neck. "Oizys," he whispered, the word barely audible.

Jake’s brow furrowed. "What the hell is that?"

Nathan’s lips curled into a grim, mocking smile. "Anna never told you, did she?"

The mention of Anna’s name hit Jake like a punch to the gut. He felt the ground shift beneath him, his mind racing, trying to make sense of the name that had just thrown him off balance.

"How do you know Anna?" Jake’s voice cracked, his breath short, teeth clenched.

"So, this is about her?" Nathan sneered. "Little Miss Wonder... She wasn’t even loyal to you. And you’ve been running around killing people—for what? Revenge?"

Jake’s grip on the gun tightened as rage bubbled inside him. Nathan’s words were like a blade twisting deeper with each breath.

"You’re lying," Jake said, the disbelief in his voice clear, his rage barely contained.