Chapter 1

Sighing, Aria walked home from work after yet another boring, non-adrenaline-filled day. Her feet were covered in little blisters that throbbed from standing all day. She worked as a data analyst in an office just a few blocks from her tiny apartment, staring at computers and numbers until her eyes blurred. It was tedious, but it was the only way she could pay her bills, put food on the table, and manage her student loans, which felt like they were about to crush her.

But Aria's mind was elsewhere. She used to love cryptography, spending countless hours solving and decrypting secret codes while exploring the dark web. She was good at it too; people even called her a genius. However, something had changed. Aria had stopped working on her codes and messages after her parents were brutally murdered in their home back in Minnesota before she moved to New York. They were found dead, with no leads or motive. The police claimed it was a robbery gone wrong, but Aria knew better. She believed her parents were murdered, and she blamed herself for their deaths.

She had been working on a sensitive project, decoding messages for a client, and she suspected her work had put her family in danger. But there was nothing she could do about it. The memory of that night haunted her, fresh as if it had happened yesterday. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was responsible, that her work had led to their deaths. So, she stopped. She focused on her mundane life, trying to survive while also keeping herself safe. She had to forget the thrill of codes and the pain of her loss. But the memory lingered, haunting her. She knew there was no way she could forgive herself.

As she walked home, a shiver ran down her spine. That morning, she had received a mysterious message at work: "Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone." Aria tried to ignore it, but her heart raced. Who could be contacting her, and why? Could it be a secret skalker? She knew the old warehouse mentioned in the message; it was the only one in the city. As the day dragged on, her anxiety and curiosity grew. She couldn’t concentrate at work, her mind constantly drifting back to the message. What did it mean, and who was behind it?

Little did Aria know, her ordinary life was about to take a dramatic turn. She was being pulled back into the world she thought she had left behind, and this time, there would be no turning back.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone buzzing. Hesitating for a moment, she answered. "Hello?"

"Aria, it’s me! Alex! I haven’t heard from you in ages. What’s going on?"

Aria sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. She had abandoned her friends and hobbies after her parents' death. But deep down she knew it was for their safety as well, as she didn't want anymore people dying because of her. "I’ve just been busy, Alex. With work and stuff," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion.

"Work? Psh! You mean that office job? Aria, you’re wasting your talent. You’re meant to do great things with that skill. You haven’t been picking up my calls. I miss my friend, and I want her back." Alex stressed the last part, hoping Aria would understand how much she meant to him, and how much he had missed her. 

Frustration surged within her. Alex didn’t understand; he didn’t know what had happened. He didn’t know why she had decided to give it all up and never look back. "I’ll try to make it up to you, okay?" Aria replied, hoping to end the conversation quickly, as she said what he wanted to hear. 

"Okay, but please promise me you’ll think about getting back into  your old job. I’m pretty sure you’ve missed it."

Aria hung up, feeling a mix of emotions. She missed her old life, but the pain was still too fresh. As the day wore on, her mind kept returning to the mysterious message. Who was behind it? What did they want from her? She tried to focus on her work, but her heart wasn’t in it. She felt like she was just going through the motions.

As the clock approached midnight, she made her way to the old warehouse. Fear gripped her, but she had to know what this was about and what the mysterious person wanted from her. Just as she approached the eerie entrance, a figure emerged from the shadows, their face obscured by darkness.

"Aria," the figure called out, and she could tell it was a man; his voice was low, familiar and shaky. "I’ve been waiting for you," he added.

Aria's heart raced. Who was this person? What did he want from her? She asked herself as questions flooded her mind. "You’re the one who sent the message, aren’t you?" Aria asked, trying to sound calm, though fear gripped her insides.

The figure nodded and stepped into the moonlight filtering through the gaping holes in the warehouse ceiling. "I am. It’s me, Aria. Your brother."

"Jace! What the hell! What the fuck is going on here? You disappeared long before Mom and Dad died, and now you’re here calling me to a creepy warehouse!"

He didn’t blink or respond to her outburst. "They are after me, Aria. I need your help, please," Jace said, his tone pleading, as he held her hands.

"What do you mean? Who are they? You’re scaring me, Jace."

"I can’t say too much right now, but I’m in so much danger, and now you are too. I'm sorry  sis but you need to join them, you need to Aria, and do whatever they ask, or my life is over. You need to join the—"

Suddenly, gunshots erupted in the warehouse. Jace fled the scene but was shot in the arm, leaving Aria, already fear-stricken and terrified, behind. Three men dressed in black hoodies and black pants stepped into the light, their faces covered except for one. Alejandro emerged from the shadows, looking like he had just walked off a Versace runway in his all-black three-piece suit, his face both dangerously handsome and intimidating.

"I have a proposition for you," he said.

Aria shook with fear, her instincts screaming at her to run, but terror kept her rooted to the spot. Stuttering, her ears still ringing from the gunshots, she gulped hard. "Wha…what propo…si…tion?" she asked under her breath. "What kind of proposition?" She finally asked, trying to summon courage.

Alejandro smiled, and there was nothing soft about it; it was sinister. His eyes glinted in the dim light. "It’s quite simple! Come with me, or I will wipe out the Wilson family from the surface of the earth."