Chapter 4

The morning sun came in through the window blinds, casting a warm glow across the small apartment where Atlas had taken refuge after the events of the previous night. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and worry as he paced the cramped space, his thoughts consumed by the mystery of his mother's disappearance.

With each passing moment, the weight of Atlas's uncertainty grew heavier, a nagging doubt gnawing at the edges of his consciousness. He needed answers – answers about who had taken his mother and why. And he knew that the only way to find those answers was to delve deeper into the darkness that surrounded him.

But as he reached for the doorknob, a voice stopped him in his tracks. "Where do you think you're going?"

Atlas turned to find his mother standing in the doorway, her eyes filled with concern. "I need to find out who did this to you," he said, his voice trembling with determination.

His mother's expression softened, though worry still lingered in her gaze. "I know you want answers, Atlas," she said, her voice gentle. "But we can't rush into this blindly. We need to be cautious."

Atlas's jaw clenched with frustration, but he knew his mother was right. He couldn't face the dangers that lay ahead on his own – he needed help, now more than ever.

With a reluctant nod, Atlas followed his mother back into the apartment, his mind already racing with plans for their next move. Together, they would find the answers they sought, no matter the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

And as they began to make preparations, Atlas couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at the edges of his consciousness. There were dark forces at work in the city, forces that would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

But Atlas was determined to see justice served, no matter the cost. And with his mother by his side, he knew that together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, and emerge stronger than ever before.