The fluorescent lights flickered overhead as I walked through the bustling hallways of N.O.V.A. (National Organized Vigilance Agency) headquarters. Agents rushed by, their voices a murmur of urgency and determination. I moved with purpose, my mind racing with thoughts of the latest intel we'd received. The world outside was chaotic, but inside these walls, we fought to keep it contained.
As I turned a corner, I noticed a small group huddled together, their expressions grave. A knot formed in my stomach. Instinctively, I slowed my pace, the buzz of chatter around me fading into a distant hum. Something was off.
"Lilith," one of my colleagues called, his voice trembling. I could see the concern etched on his face as he approached me. "You need to hear this."
My heart raced. "What's going on?"
"It's about your brother," he said, the words hanging heavily in the air.
I felt a chill run down my spine. "What happened?"
"He was killed during a mission. I'm so sorry."
The ground seemed to shift beneath me. My brother, the one who had always been my anchor, my reason for joining N.O.V.A.—gone. Instead of tears, an intense wave of anger surged through me, drowning out the shock. I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to contain the fire building within.
"No!" I shouted, the word exploding from my lips, drawing the attention of others in the hallway. "This can't be true!"
My mind raced, focusing on one thought: vengeance. "Did they say who was behind it?"
He hesitated, glancing back at the group before meeting my eyes. "They found Carlos' mafia symbol at the crime scene."
"What symbol?" I demanded, my pulse quickening.
"It's a black serpent coiled around a silver dagger," he explained. "They call themselves Serpente D'Oro."
My stomach churned at the mention of Carlos Rosario's name. The man responsible for so much suffering. He had answers, and I would make him pay for this.
I turned to my colleague, determination hardening my features. "I'm going after Carlos. He has something to do with this, and I'm going to find him."
He opened his mouth to protest, but I didn't wait for his words. All I could see was the face of the man responsible for tearing my life apart. My brother was gone, and I wasn't about to let his death go unpunished.
I would become the storm that swept through the shadows of the underworld.
