The truth of the past

The sun was setting as Alisia made her way down the quiet streets of the city. The orange glow bathed everything in a warm hue, but her thoughts were anything but calm. After months of work, exams, and constant distractions, she couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling inside her any longer—the feeling that her brother's death had been more than just an accident. The encrypted file she found on his laptop had opened a door she wasn't sure she was ready to walk through, but there was no turning back now. The weight of the secrets David had left behind pressed on her, urging her to find the truth.

She didn't know where to start, but she did know one thing: her brother wasn't just a firefighter. He had been involved in something deeper, something far more dangerous. And if anyone knew about it, it would be George.

George had been one of David's closest friends, and now he was a high-ranking police officer in the nearby station. She had heard his name come up casually at the company she worked for, an offhand mention by Ethan during a conversation about local authorities. The mention had sparked a memory, and it wasn't long before she found out that George had once worked with her brother in the special unit. If anyone could shed some light on David's last days, it was him.

Determined to get some answers, Alisia had reached out to George earlier in the week. He had been hesitant at first, unsure of why she was contacting him after all this time. But when she mentioned her brother, his tone shifted. There was a pause on the other end of the line before he agreed to meet her. They decided on a small café near the police station, somewhere out of the way where they could talk without interruptions.

Now, as she approached the café, her heart raced. She hadn't seen George since David's funeral, and the last time they spoke, both of them had been too grief-stricken to say much. She wasn't sure what to expect from this meeting—whether he would give her the answers she was searching for or warn her to stay out of it. Either way, she had to try.

As Alisia entered the café, the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. It was quiet inside, a few patrons scattered around, engrossed in their own conversations. She spotted George sitting at a small table near the window, his posture stiff as he stared out at the street. He looked older than she remembered, his hair slightly grayer, and there were deep lines etched into his face that hadn't been there before. He wore a police uniform, a stark reminder of the authority he now carried.

"George," she greeted, her voice soft but steady.

He turned at the sound of her voice, his expression softening when he saw her. "Alisia." He stood up and gave her a brief, awkward hug. "It's good to see you, though I wish it were under different circumstances."

"Yeah," she murmured, taking a seat across from him. For a moment, they sat in silence, neither sure how to begin.

George cleared his throat. "So… you mentioned your brother."

Alisia nodded, her hands nervously fiddling with the strap of her bag. "I've been going through some of David's old things," she began, her voice quiet. "And I found something. Something that doesn't make sense."

George frowned, leaning forward slightly. "What do you mean?"

She hesitated, wondering how much to tell him. "I found an encrypted file on his laptop. At first, I thought it was just work stuff, but when I decrypted it… there was information. A lot of information about a criminal syndicate, people they hurt, names, locations… but nothing that directly pointed to them."

George's face darkened. "Alisia, you should be careful. If you found that, it means David was involved in something dangerous."

"I know," she replied, her voice firmer now. "But that's exactly why I can't just ignore it. I can't shake the feeling that his death wasn't an accident, George. He wasn't just a firefighter, was he?"

George let out a long sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. "David… your brother was one of the best men I've ever known. He wasn't just a firefighter, no. That special unit we were part of, we weren't just dealing with fires or rescues. We were brought in to investigate organized crime, especially those using the guise of legitimate businesses to cover their tracks."

Alisia's heart sank. This was worse than she thought. "So, you think David was onto something?"

George met her gaze, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and caution. "He was digging into something big, Alisia. I don't know all the details, but I do know that he got too close. We tried to protect him, but… there are people out there, dangerous people, who don't let anyone get too close to the truth."

Tears stung Alisia's eyes, but she blinked them back. "Why didn't anyone tell me? Why didn't you warn me?"

"We didn't want to put you in danger," George replied quietly. "David was always very clear about keeping you out of it. He loved you more than anything, and the last thing he wanted was for you to get hurt because of him."

Alisia clenched her fists, anger boiling inside her. "Well, I'm involved now," she said through gritted teeth. "And I'm not backing down. If these people had anything to do with David's death, I'm going to find out."

George's expression hardened. "Alisia, listen to me. These aren't just petty criminals. They have connections—deep connections. High up in the government, law enforcement, even the courts. They've silenced witnesses before, and they'll do it again."

"I don't care," she snapped. "David is dead, and I need to know why. I need to bring them to justice."

George shook his head. "I get it, believe me, I do. But you're playing a dangerous game. And once you're in it, there's no going back."

Alisia stared down at the table, her mind racing. She knew George was right, but the thought of walking away, of letting these people get away with whatever they'd done—it made her sick to her stomach.

"I can't let it go, George," she whispered. "I just can't."

He sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair. "I figured you'd say that. Just… promise me you'll be careful. If you need help, come to me. Don't try to do this on your own."

Alisia nodded, though she wasn't sure she could make that promise. She knew George meant well, but this was her fight now. Her brother had died because of this, and she couldn't rest until she uncovered the truth.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For everything."

George gave her a sad smile. "Your brother would be proud of you, you know. He always said you were the smartest person he knew."

Alisia's throat tightened with emotion, but she forced herself to smile. "I just wish he were here."

"So do I," George replied, his voice thick with emotion. He reached across the table and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Take care of yourself, okay? And don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything."

"I will," she promised.

As they said their goodbyes and Alisia walked out of the café, a storm of emotions swirled inside her. She had gotten some answers, but they only led to more questions. Her brother had been involved in something far more dangerous than she could have imagined, and now she was standing on the edge of that same darkness.

She knew what George had said was true—this was dangerous, and she could easily end up in the same situation as David. But she also knew she couldn't walk away, not now. Not when she was so close to finding out the truth.

As she made her way home, her resolve hardened. She would do whatever it took to bring her brother's killers to justice, even if it meant stepping into the darkness herself.

Alisia had always been a fighter. Now, she had a new battle to fight.