The Crimson Silence

Echoes of Her

The night had been unkind to Jake. Anna, Angela, Artemis, Oizys, Nebula—all of it weighed on him, swirling into a storm of questions he couldn’t answer. But amid it all, Nathan’s words lingered the longest: "Find the box…" How had Nathan known about the box? What was in it, and what exactly had Anna left for him? Eventually, exhaustion took over, and he drifted off into a restless sleep.

The morning arrived in shadows, chasing him from a night of troubled dreams. Visions of Anna haunted him, as did the feeling of falling deeper into an endless labyrinth. He woke up before the alarm, feeling less rested than before he’d gone to bed.

As Jake stepped out of his room, the rich aroma of coffee and toast greeted him. Alexandra was already up, setting a plate and a steaming cup of coffee on the counter.

“Bonjour, mon amour…” she greeted with a gentle smile.

“Hey… morning,” Jake replied, rubbing his eyes as he approached. The scent of freshly made toast surprised him. “Did you make toast?”

With a slight grin, Alexandra held out the plate and coffee, gesturing for him to try it. “Venez l’essayer…”

He took a bite and was instantly transported back to his time in France. “Alexandra… this is incredible,” he said, the warmth of nostalgia filling him.

Alexandra moved closer, wrapping her arms around him in a long embrace. “I’m sorry I disappeared without saying anything…” she murmured, her voice thick with regret.

Jake held her tighter, then leaned back slightly to look her in the eyes. “What is Artemis?”

Alexandra’s face went pale, her entire demeanor shifting to something fearful. “How… Jacob, what’s happening?”

“Just tell me, Alexandra,” Jake insisted, his tone firm and unyielding.

Alexandra took a steadying breath and leaned against the counter beside him. “Do you remember my nana, Céline?” she asked quietly.

Jake nodded. “Yes…”

“She and her family… they were part of a syndicate. Artemis. It’s an old organization, powerful and dangerous. My parents kept Anna and me away from all of it. But family is syndicate, and syndicate is family. When nana passed, her will—worth over 500 million euros—was kept hidden, creating a power struggle within Artemis. That’s why I came to New York. There’s nothing left for me back home.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and Jake took her hands gently. “They’re here, Alexandra.”

Her hands began to tremble, and she mumbled softly in French, panic flaring in her voice. Without another word, Jake pulled her close and held her tight.

“Let’s get you somewhere safe,” he murmured.

They packed her things in silence, a sense of urgency hanging over them. Once ready, Jake dialed Cynthia.

“Hey Jake… morning!” Cynthia answered cheerfully, with Lisa’s voice chiming in the background.

“Good morning, brother!” Lisa called out.

“Hey, Cynth. I need your help. Can Alexandra stay at your family’s house in Queens for a bit?”

“No problem, Jake. Is everything okay?” Cynthia’s tone shifted, concern taking over.

“Yes, just… with everything going on, I didn’t want her to be left alone,” Jake explained.

“Got it. We’re headed to the hospital. See you soon,” Cynthia said, and Jake hung up.

He gave Alexandra the address to Cynthia’s family home and arranged for Officer Francis to escort her there. He gathered his things and made sure the apartment was securely locked before heading to his bike. Alexandra left with Officer Francis, glancing back one last time before the car pulled away.