A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

Chapter 13

A Deal with the Devil

The city was a maze of steel and shadows, where every corner seemed to hide another secret, another threat, another opportunity. Phantom knew the city well, but tonight, he was stepping into a world that even he hadn't dared to cross. The underworld.

He had no choice. The files he had uncovered hinted at something far darker than he had ever imagined—something that had the power to destroy everything he thought he knew. His only option now was to make a deal with the very people he had spent his career hunting: the criminals, the outcasts, the ones who lived in the margins.

He had tracked them to a dilapidated building on the city's outskirts. A low-rise apartment complex, its windows boarded up, its halls dark and silent. But behind the rusted door, he knew there was life. And it wasn't the kind of life that followed any rules he was accustomed to.

Phantom's breath fogged the air as he approached the entrance. He glanced up at the neon sign overhead—The Devil's Den. It was a fitting name. He had no doubt he was walking into the heart of a criminal syndicate that had long evaded the agency's grasp. But tonight, they would be his only hope.

With a steady hand, he knocked three times. The door creaked open almost immediately, and a pair of cold, calculating eyes peered out at him. The man was tall, wearing a black leather jacket and a stern expression that spoke of years spent in this violent world.

"You Phantom?" the man asked, his voice gravelly.

"I need to speak to your boss," Phantom replied, his tone unwavering.

The man eyed him for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to throw him out or let him in. After a tense pause, he stepped aside and gestured for Phantom to enter.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with smoke and tension. The walls were lined with old posters, faded and torn, depicting old gangster movies and advertisements for underground fights. The low hum of a TV in the corner added to the uneasy vibe, as if the room itself was holding its breath.

Phantom didn't flinch. He had been in darker places, faced worse odds, but this was different. These were the people who played the game by their own rules, who knew how to manipulate the system in ways even he couldn't comprehend.

A figure stepped out of the shadows—a woman. Her long black hair framed a face that was both beautiful and dangerous. She had the look of someone who had seen too much, someone who wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to get what she wanted.

"I'm Dahlia," she said, her voice smooth but carrying an edge. "And you're the one who's been poking around in places you shouldn't be."

Phantom didn't respond immediately. Instead, he studied her, noting the small smirk playing at the corner of her lips. She wasn't just some criminal mastermind. She was a player, a manipulator. And she was probably the last person he should trust.

"I need information," he said, cutting to the chase. "Information about the agency. Something they don't want anyone to find."

Dahlia raised an eyebrow. "You're either brave or stupid, Phantom. Or both."

Phantom didn't flinch. "I have the files. I know about Operation Blackout. I know about the erasure."

Dahlia's eyes narrowed. For the first time since they had spoken, she looked genuinely interested. "You know, huh? And what makes you think we'd be willing to help you with that?"

"Because you want revenge," Phantom said, his voice low. "And I'm the key to taking them down. The agency erased me. They've erased more people like me. They've been using you as pawns in their game for too long."

Dahlia stepped closer, her gaze intense. "And why should we trust you? What makes you think we're on the same side?"

Phantom's jaw tightened, and he leaned in slightly. "Because I'm not asking for help. I'm offering you a deal. You help me take them down, and I'll give you everything you need to destroy them. All the secrets. All the weaknesses. All the leverage."

For a long moment, Dahlia didn't speak. She simply regarded him with an inscrutable look, weighing the offer. Phantom could see the wheels turning in her mind. He had to admit, this wasn't going to be easy. But the information he had was too valuable, too dangerous. He couldn't afford to waste time.

Finally, Dahlia spoke, her voice cold and calculating. "You're right about one thing. The agency has made a lot of enemies over the years. But they don't operate like we do. They're too clean, too organized. Too damn untouchable."

Phantom stepped back, his mind racing. "And you think I'm untouchable?"

Dahlia chuckled darkly. "No. I think you're desperate. And desperate people are dangerous. But if you really want my help, Phantom, it's going to cost you. A lot more than you're probably ready to pay."

"I've got nothing left to lose," Phantom said, his voice steel.

Dahlia studied him for a moment longer, then nodded. "Alright. I'll give you the help you need. But don't think for a second that we're doing this for free. You'll owe us. A debt. A big one."

Phantom nodded, already knowing what that meant. The criminals weren't in the habit of offering charity. But right now, he needed them. And he needed to know what had happened to him. The truth. The mission. The reason they erased him.

"You'll get what you need," Phantom said, his voice firm. "And when it's over, we'll settle the score."

Dahlia smiled, a wicked grin that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, don't worry. We'll settle the score, alright. But for now, we have work to do."

With a snap of her fingers, one of her men stepped forward, handing Phantom a sleek black tablet. On it was a map of the city, dotted with several red marks—locations that had ties to the agency, places they used to operate out of. Phantom's heart rate quickened. This was it. The first step toward uncovering the truth.

"You want answers?" Dahlia said, her voice low. "Start here. These are the places where the agency's darkest secrets are hidden. But be careful. The deeper you go, the more dangerous it gets."

Phantom nodded, taking the tablet. "I'll be careful."

"And remember," Dahlia added, her smile never faltering, "you owe us. Don't forget."

Phantom turned to leave, his mind already working through the next steps. He had a lot of ground to cover. But now, he had a plan. He had the resources, the information, and the allies—if only for a time.

As he disappeared into the night, he couldn't shake the feeling that the deal he had just made might cost him more than he could ever imagine. But that was the price of seeking the truth in a world built on lies.