Let's go, OG ZAY! š
We're diving even deeper ā more mystery, more danger, more power.
---
š Scarred for Love
Chapter 6: Ghosts of the Fallen
Blood dripped from Zayden's arm. The gunshot had grazed deep.
The three Phantom enforcers advanced ā steel bats and blades gleaming.
> "Get Mariella out of here," he told himself.
"Even if I don't make it."
---
The Alley Fight
He ducked the first swing. His elbow cracked into one attacker's jaw.
The second came fast ā knife raised ā but Mariella grabbed a loose pipe and crashed it into the guy's back.
> "I'm not running," she spat.
Zayden's eyes flared.
> "Remind me never to mess with you."
The last attacker lunged, but headlights suddenly flooded the alley.
A black bike screeched to a stop. The rider wore a matte-black helmet, dreadlocks swinging.
> "On!" the rider shouted.
Zayden and Mariella didn't ask questions ā they jumped on.
As they sped away, one of the attackers screamed, "You can't hide forever, Zayden! Phantom sees everything!"
---
Hideout ā Underground Printing Shop
The bike came to a stop behind an abandoned printing house in the mainland slums.
The rider took off the helmetā¦
> A woman. Older. Military posture. A scar slicing her left eyebrow.
> "You don't know me," she said. "But I knew your brother."
Zayden's heart froze.
> "Jayden?"
The woman nodded.
> "He wasn't killed by street rats.
He was assassinatedā¦
Because he tried to expose Oreka."
---
Revelation
She led them into a hidden bunker under the print shop. The walls were lined with dusty computers, evidence boards, stacks of notes ā and a single framed photo.
> Jayden, smiling with the woman.
The caption: "Rebels of Truth."
> "Your brother worked with us," she said. "We're part of a secret circle ā the Inner Eye. We expose corruption, protect whistleblowers."
Zayden clenched his fists.
> "Oreka ordered Jayden's deathā¦ then recruited me into Phantom just to mock his memory."
The woman nodded.
> "And Drex? He was the one who pulled the trigger."
---
Mariella Steps Up
Mariella, shaken but composed, stepped forward.
> "We have evidence. Bank trails. Transactions. If we get it to your circle, can you leak it safely?"
The woman, whose name was Maya, smiled.
> "With this, we can shut Oreka down.
But once we doā¦ you'll be hunted.
No more hiding. No more names. Just war."
Zayden looked at Mariella. She looked back.
> "We've been hunted our whole lives," he said.
"Nowā¦ we hunt back."
---
End of Chapter 6
ā”ļø Next Chapter Preview:
The Inner Eye preps a cyberstrike while Drex begins a brutal search. But Maya reveals a secret file hidden by Jaydenā¦ a truth so dangerous it could kill them all.