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The article, written by the assistant of the late journalist, recounted Phil's last words, the experiments he had endured, and the shadowy organization believed to be behind it all. Though sparse on details, the story hinted at a resurgence of the infamous Kalosa, syndicates known for their insidious operations of drugs, human trafficking, and corruption.

The news hit harder than anyone anticipated, sparking panic in some and skepticism in others. For those directly involved, it was a bombshell that couldn't be ignored.

---

Maria stood by the window of her aunt's small apartment, staring out at the bustling streets of Auroralis. She had been counting the hours since her mother's last call, torn between excitement and dread.

The sound of a car door slamming broke her thoughts. She craned her neck to see a sleek black sedan pulling up to the curb. From it emerged her mother, Vanessa Vega , as striking as ever in a tailored blazer and heels that clacked against the pavement. Her dark hair was pulled into an immaculate bun, her sharp features softened only slightly by her signature smile.

Maria's heart twisted. Her mother looked like she'd stepped out of one of her glossy business meetings, a woman perfectly in control. Yet, Maria couldn't help but feel like a child again, small and unsure in her presence.

The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" her aunt called, but Maria was already at the door, her hand trembling as she opened it.

"Mom," she said, her voice barely audible.

"Maria!" Vanessa exclaimed, pulling her daughter into a tight hug. For a brief moment, Maria felt the warmth of home, of familiarity. But the hug ended too quickly, and Vanessa stepped back, her critical eyes scanning Maria as though she were an employee at an evaluation.

"You've lost weight," Vanessa noted. "Are you eating properly?"

"I'm fine, Mom," Maria said, already bristling.

Vanessa swept into the apartment, her presence commanding the room. "Ana," she greeted Maria's aunt with a polite nod. "Thank you for looking after her."

Ana smiled nervously. "Of course. Maria's been no trouble."

Maria shifted awkwardly, feeling more like a guest in her own life. Vanessa's gaze landed on her again.

"Get your things, Maria. We're leaving," Vanessa said briskly.

Maria blinked. "Now? You just got here."

"I have a schedule to keep," Vanessa replied. "There's no time to waste.I have many things to do here."

Maria hesitated, glancing at her aunt, who gave her an encouraging nod. Slowly, she turned to gather her bag, the weight of her mother's expectations pressing down on her.

As they stepped outside, Vanessa glanced at Maria. "You've been keeping up with your studies, haven't you? I've heard good things about the schools here, but we'll make adjustments if necessary."

Maria bit her lip. "I'm doing fine."

"Fine isn't good enough," Vanessa said sharply. "You're better than fine, Maria. I didn't work this hard for you to settle for mediocrity."

Maria swallowed the lump in her throat. This was how it always was with her mother—love wrapped in criticism, support cloaked in pressure.

As they climbed into the car, Vanessa's phone buzzed. She answered it immediately, her tone shifting into a polished professionalism that Maria recognized all too well.

---

Brandon sat in his room, the air thick with silence. Phil's death had crushed him. His younger brother, so full of potential, was gone. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Phil's face.

Downstairs, his parents were arguing—again.

"You wasted it, Mary!" his father yelled. "We're broke, and for what? For nothing!"

"We did what we thought was right!" his mother shot back, her voice cracking. "What would you have done? Let him rot?"

Brandon's fists clenched. He couldn't stand to hear it anymore. Grabbing his basketball jersey from the bed, he walked downstairs.

"I'm going," he said, interrupting them.

His parents turned to him.

His father's shoulders slumped, and his mother reached out to him, but he pulled away. "Just… don't fight anymore," he said before heading for the door.

---

At Auroralis High, Brandon stood outside the gym where the basketball team was practicing. He had been pacing for ten minutes, trying to summon the courage to go inside. Finally, he pushed open the doors and walked up to the coach.

"I'm done," he said simply.

The coach looked up from his clipboard, confused. "What do you mean, done?"

"I'm quitting the team," Brandon said, his voice hollow.

The coach frowned. "Brandon, you're one of our best players. You sure you want to do this?"

Brandon nodded. "I can't focus anymore. Not after what happened to Phil."

The coach sighed, placing a hand on Brandon's shoulder. "If you ever change your mind, you're always welcome back."

Brandon nodded again and left, the weight of his decision heavy on his shoulders.

At home, things weren't any better. His parents' arguments had grown louder, more heated.

"We're bankrupt, Mary!" his father shouted. "We spent everything on Phil, and now he's gone!"

"You think I don't know that?" his mother shot back, her voice breaking. "You think I don't regret it?"

Brandon clenched his fists, the pain and anger boiling inside him. He couldn't stay in that house any longer.

---

Meanwhile, Logan, Ethan, Jake, and Rebekah gathered in the corner of the library. The mood was somber, but Ethan's voice carried an edge of urgency.

"You guys don't get it," he said, leaning in. "Phil didn't just stumble onto some random group of criminals. They're a Kalosa."

Jake frowned. "A Kalosa? What's that?"

Ethan sighed. "It's like a syndicate, but worse. Drugs, human trafficking, blackmail—they run everything in secret, and they thrive on chaos. They're everywhere in Hallinos, and if Phil's right, they've made it to Auroralis."

Logan ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "And we have no proof, no leverage. Just Phil's word, and he's…" He trailed off, unable to say the words.

"He's dead," Jake finished bluntly, earning a glare from Rebekah.

Ethan nodded. "That's why we need to figure out how to expose them. Fast."

---

Brandon stormed into the office of Andrew Calderon, barely knocking before entering. Robert, the son of Senator Andrew Calderon, looked up in surprise, as did his friend Mike, who was lounging on the couch.

"Brandon," Robert said, setting down a stack of papers. "What's going on?"

"I need your dad to push for an investigation into the Kalosa," Brandon said, his voice tight. "They killed Phil."

Robert hesitated, glancing at Mike, who rolled his eyes.

"Brandon, listen," Robert began cautiously. "Phil wasn't in the best shape. He could've been mistaken about what he saw."

"Mistaken?" Brandon's voice rose. "He was kidnapped and experimented on! How do you mistake that?"

Mike snorted. "Maybe he made it up for attention. That kid was always a little—"

Brandon didn't let him finish. His fist collided with Mike's face, sending him reeling backward. Before Mike could recover, Brandon hit him again, harder this time.

"Hey, stop!" Robert shouted, grabbing Brandon and pulling him back.

Brandon shoved him off, breathing heavily. "Don't ever talk about Phil like that again," he growled before storming out.

---

Brandon's last stop was Rodrigo's base. He found Rodrigo and Arion lounging in the back, counting cash.

"I need to talk to you," Brandon said, stepping inside.

Rodrigo raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"

Brandon hesitated, then said, "I need some of that money back. My family's broke, and—"

Rodrigo laughed, cutting him off. "Broke? Welcome to the club, man. We've got our own problems."

"I'm serious," Brandon said, his voice hardening.

"So am I," Rodrigo shot back. "We risked our necks for that cash. You think I'm just gonna hand it over?"

Arion watched silently, his expression unreadable.

Brandon glared at Rodrigo. "Phil died for that money. You could at least—"

Rodrigo stood, his eyes cold. "Phil's death wasn't my fault. And you're not getting anything. I am sorry."

Brandon stared at him for a long moment before turning and walking away, his heart pounding with frustration and grief.

---

The group sat huddled in the corner of the school library, the usual buzz of students drowned out by the intensity in their small circle. Logan leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed tightly, his expression as cold as steel. Jake was silent, drumming his fingers on the table, while Ethan stared at Maria, waiting for her to speak. Rebekah, sitting beside Maria, placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, urging her to go on.

Taking a deep breath, Maria steadied herself. "I didn't tell Damian anything."

"Then how the hell did he know?" Logan snapped. "Phil's location wasn't exactly public knowledge."

Maria's gaze darted between them, her voice trembling as she continued. "It wasn't me. It was Justin."

The room fell silent. Logan blinked, caught off guard. "Justin?" he repeated, his voice laced with disbelief.

"Yes," Maria said, finding a bit of strength in her voice now that the truth was out. "He overheard us in the cafeteria that day."

Jake leaned back in his chair, letting out a low whistle. "That slimy little—"

"It makes sense," Ethan interjected, nodding slowly. "Justin's always been close to Damian. He'd definitely run to him with information like that."

Logan's jaw tightened, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface. "Why didn't you say something sooner, Maria?"

Maria's voice faltered. "Damian told me that yesterday."

Logan looked away, his fingers running through his hair in frustration. Rebekah seized the moment, her voice calm but authoritative. "Alright, now we know the truth. Let's not waste energy fighting each other."

"But Damian still used that information," Logan muttered. "And Maria…" He trailed off, his tone softening. "You're hanging out with him."

Maria's face hardened. "Damian isn't responsible for what Justin did. And for the record, Logan, I don't need your approval to decide who I spend time with."

Logan opened his mouth to retort, but Ethan cut in. "Enough. Let's focus on what's next. This Kalosa thing is bigger than all of us." He looked around the group, his tone grave. "We can't afford to fall apart now."

Logan exhaled sharply but nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Fine. But if Damian pulls anything else,he's done.

---

The article about the Kalosa had already caused ripples throughout the city. Frank sat in his office, reading the headlines with a smirk.

"Looks like we've got their attention," he said to Victor.

Victor nodded. "Should we worry about the assistant? He's got all the journalist's notes."

Frank's smile widened. "Not for long."

That night, Victor's enforcer, Ram, slipped into the hospital. Armed with a silenced pistol, he made quick work of the journalist's assistant, ensuring no loose ends remained.

By morning, the Kalosa's grip on Auroralis had only tightened, leaving the city on edge and its residents in fear.