The Shadow Architect

Eastern France. The rain hadn't stopped in days.

It tapped against the window of a bare apartment in Strasbourg—a place that felt more like a memory than a home. The furniture was minimal, the color drained from every wall, and the air held the stillness of a room that had never once been lived in. The only light came from the monitor on the desk, flickering quietly. Louie Harrell sat in front of it, unmoving. No sound. No music. No distraction. Just him, the glow of the screen, and a new name on a contract.

Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace – Head CoachEffective Immediately – August 2023

There was no announcement. No press conference. No flashbulbs. No handshake photos. Just that message, sitting on his screen like it had always been there. He blinked once. The cursor at the bottom of the screen pulsed.

Then it stopped.

The monitor dimmed. Not off—just darker, like the machine was holding its breath.