Chapter 10: The Vanishing Trail

The drive to the old trainyard was tense. Nathan gripped the wheel, his knuckles pale, eyes locked on the road ahead. Rain had begun to fall, pattering softly against the windshield, blurring the neon lights of the city behind them. The rhythmic sound filled the silence, each drop a ticking reminder that time was slipping through their fingers.

"Coordinates say we're close," Leo muttered, staring at the glowing screen of his laptop. "About a quarter mile up."

Ava sat in the back, eyes scanning the darkened buildings as they passed. "This place used to be a major transit hub before they shut it down. Now it's just a haven for squatters and ghost stories."

Nathan pulled the car into an alleyway just before the turnoff. "We go in quiet. No unnecessary risks."

They exited the vehicle, moving carefully along the cracked pavement. The trainyard loomed ahead, skeletal remains of rusted tracks stretching into the shadows. A chain-link fence surrounded the perimeter, its "No Trespassing" signs peeling from age and neglect.

Leo scanned the area. "No cameras, no visible security. But that doesn't mean we're alone."

Nathan tested the fence—it was already loose. Someone had been here recently. He nodded to Ava, and they slipped through, moving in formation, weapons low but ready.

The trainyard was eerily quiet. Long-abandoned railcars sat motionless, their rusted frames blending into the darkness. A single floodlight flickered in the distance, illuminating a small warehouse at the far end.

Leo gestured to the screen. "The signal from Dr. Cross' lab stopped transmitting here. If she's still alive, that building is our best bet."

Nathan signaled forward, leading the way. The air smelled of damp metal and old oil, a scent that clung to the back of his throat. They reached the warehouse door, which was ajar. The sight sent a fresh wave of unease through him.

"They left in a hurry," Ava murmured.

Nathan nodded, pushing the door open. Inside, the space was filled with towering shelves stacked with old crates, their labels faded with time. A single bulb swung from the ceiling, casting erratic shadows across the room.

Leo pulled out a compact scanner, running it along the floor. "There was a struggle here. Multiple footprints, some fresher than others. Dr. Cross was here."

Nathan's gaze fell on a desk near the back. Papers were scattered across the surface, much like her lab. He picked one up, scanning the hastily scribbled notes. Symbols—like the ones on the parchment—covered the page.

"She was still working on the translation," Ava whispered, leaning over his shoulder. "Maybe she figured something out."

A sudden noise from the far end of the warehouse made them all freeze. A soft shuffling, barely audible over the rain outside. Nathan signaled for silence, then moved swiftly toward the sound.

A stack of crates had been disturbed, one tipped over onto its side. As Nathan rounded the corner, he caught movement—a shadow darting between the shelving units.

Ava was already moving, cutting off the figure's escape. "Stop!"

The person skidded to a halt, hands raised. A young woman, no older than twenty, her face streaked with dirt, eyes wide with fear.

"Who are you?" Nathan demanded.

She hesitated before answering. "Lena. I—I'm Dr. Cross' assistant. I was with her when they took her."

Nathan lowered his gun slightly. "Where is she? Who took her?"

Lena swallowed hard. "I don't know their names, but they weren't random thugs. They knew exactly what they wanted. They came for her research. She told me to run, to hide the notes she had left behind."

Ava stepped forward. "What was she working on? What do these symbols mean?"

Lena bit her lip. "It's not just an ancient language. It's a warning. And if they forced her to complete the translation—"

The warehouse lights suddenly cut out, plunging them into darkness.

Nathan's grip tightened on his gun. "Move! We're not alone."

Ava grabbed Lena's arm, pulling her toward the exit. Leo cursed under his breath as he fumbled with his gear. Footsteps echoed in the darkness, closing in fast.

Nathan turned, just in time to see a figure emerge from the shadows, the glint of a weapon catching the dim light from outside.

The ambush had begun.