Under the Iron Fist

Chapter 22: The Report

Magnus stood at the window of his office, his back to the door as Jax entered. The leader of Sanctuary didn't turn immediately.

"Tell me what you've learned, Jax," Magnus said, his voice low and controlled.

Jax took a deep breath before beginning. "I followed up on a lead from Elina, sir. It led me to a club in the lower sectors run by a pair of siblings, Victor and Victoria."

At this, Magnus turned, his eyebrow raised slightly. "Ah, yes. I know of them. Go on."

"Victor's well-connected in the underground, sir. He's been looking into the disappearances himself," Jax continued. "He confirmed that the person responsible is being called the Pied Piper. Apparently, he's new to Sanctuary, only been here for a few months."

Magnus tapped his chin with his index finger. "Yes, that's right."

Jax hesitated before delivering the next piece of information. "That's where it gets complicated, sir. Victor believes the Pied Piper is using illusions to hide."

The temperature in the room seemed to drop as Magnus processed this information. His voice, when he spoke, was deadly quiet. "That explains much. Did your feline friend provide any names?"

"No specific leads, sir," Jax replied. "But Victor's ruled out several potential hiding spots - the old industrial sector, abandoned living quarters in Sector 7, and the underground tunnels near the power plant have all been searched."

Magnus nodded slowly, his mind clearly racing. "It's a start. And this Victor - he's willing to continue helping?"

"Yes, sir. He's agreed to work with me on the investigation."

For a long moment, Magnus was silent, his gaze once again drawn to the window. When he finally spoke, his voice was filled with a cold determination that sent a chill down Jax's spine.

"Very well. Continue your work with Victor." Magnus turned back to face Jax, his eyes hard. "Find the Pied Piper before we have anymore... incidences."

Jax nodded firmly. "Understood."

As Jax left the office, he could feel the weight of the childrens safty pressing down on him, and Jax knew that failure was not an option.

*****

Magnus turned back to the window, his gaze fixed on the sprawling city below. As he contemplated the current crisis with the Pied Piper, an unwelcome memory from his childhood surfaced, playing out vividly in his mind.

He saw himself as a small boy named Marcus, cowering before his drunk and enraged father. The large man loomed over him, fists clenched, eyes blazing with alcohol-fueled fury. His father's power of enhanced strength, while not extraordinary, was more than enough to terrorize his son and wife.

"Marcus, where is it?" his father bellowed. "I know you hid it from me."

Young Marcus knew his father was talking about the whiskey he'd already consumed and forgotten about in his drunken haze. The boy remained silent, aware that any response would only further infuriate the man.

In the corner, his mother whimpered softly, her minor healing ability useless against her own injuries. Marcus knew that once his father passed out, she would try to heal him, but this beating was far worse than any he'd endured before.

Desperation seized the 9-year-old boy. As his father's fist descended, Marcus grabbed his arm, instinctively wishing for his father's power, his strength. To his shock, he felt it surge through him. His father's blow landed with significantly less force, and Marcus pushed back with all his might, the palm of his hand connecting with his father's nose.

Marcus watched in horror as his father crumpled to the floor, unmoving. His mother rushed to her husband's side, crying out, "Joe! Joe!" After a moment, she sighed in relief. "He's alive, but we need to call for help, Marcus. I can't heal him." Her eyes locked onto her son's, fear and determination mingling in her gaze. "You must not tell them about your power, Marcus! They'll take you from me. Promise me!"

Though Marcus had kept his promise, it hadn't mattered. A nine-year-old overpowering his adult father had raised too many red flags. He was sent to Sanctuary, where he changed his name and vowed never to be weak again.

The memory faded, leaving Magnus standing alone in his office, his reflection staring back at him from the window. The scared boy was long gone, replaced by the powerful leader of Sanctuary. Yet the weight of that pivotal moment still pressed upon him, shaping his decisions and driving his relentless pursuit of control.

With a deep breath, Magnus turned away from the window, his mind refocusing on the present threat. The Pied Piper would be found he would see to it. Frank James's days were numbered.