Chapter 8: Dirty Work Revealed

Back at the station, Dale and Joe sifted through stacks of documents, searching for clues about Gunther's activities before his death. The dim overhead light flickered slightly, casting long shadows over their cluttered desks.

"Found it!" Joe suddenly exclaimed.

"Found what?" Dale asked, leaning in.

"The location in this photo." Joe tapped the image of Gunther standing in front of a warehouse, the name barely visible on a rusted metal sign.

"South Pier Warehouse."

Dale frowned. "South Pier? Wasn't that place shut down five years ago?"

Joe nodded. "Yeah, looks like Gunther had some shitty business going on there. Whatever he was into, it didn't die with him."

Dale exhaled sharply. "What about Elizabeth? Did you find anything on her?"

"I ran a background check. She had a home, lived at 126 Raven Street, Blackwater District up until 4 years ago".

Dale grabbed his jacket. "I'll check out her place, see if there's anything that can lead us to her."

Joe closed his laptop and stood up. "What about South Pier?"

"Take the team and head down there. If Gunther was keeping secrets, that warehouse is the best place to start."

Joe nodded, already gathering his files. "Got it, sir."

Dale glanced back as he headed for the door. "Call me if anything goes wrong."

***********************

Elizabeth felt the pull of her powers as she vanished from Ray's sight, reappearing in a dimly lit alleyway near Gunther's old den. The air was damp, the scent of rain lingering in the cracks of the worn-out pavement. She stumbled forward, pressing a hand to her throbbing head.

The sound of sirens in the distance made her freeze. Then, she heard it, voices crackling through a police radio.

"Suspect Elizabeth Graves still at large. Last known sighting near Blackwater District. Approach with caution, she moves fast."

Her breath hitched. They were still after her. Of course, they were. To them, she was nothing but a thief, a fugitive tied to Gunther's crimes.

Footsteps echoed too close. She spun around, searching for cover, when a small voice whispered, "Hey! Over here!"

A young girl, no older than twelve, peeked out from behind a stack of crates. Her brown eyes were sharp with mischief, her tangled hair tucked under a worn-out beanie.

Elizabeth hesitated.

"Unless you wanna be caught, you better follow me," the girl added, jerking her head toward a hidden passage between the buildings.

With no other choice, Elizabeth darted after her, slipping into the shadows as the police patrol passed just inches away. The girl led her deeper into the maze of alleys until they reached an abandoned shop.

Elizabeth followed Skye into the abandoned shop, her footsteps kicking up dust as she stepped inside. The place looked like it had been shut down for years. shelves empty, windows covered in grime, the faint scent of rust lingering in the air.

The little girl moved with ease, navigating the space like it was home. She turned, leaning against an old counter, watching Elizabeth with sharp eyes.

"How did you know I needed help?" Elizabeth asked, still catching her breath.

"Because I know the police are after you," The girl said without hesitation.

Elizabeth frowned, studying the girl. There was something oddly familiar about her, something in her stance, the way she spoke like she had nothing to lose.

"Who are you?" Elizabeth pressed.

"I'm Skye. You may not know me, but I know you."

Elizabeth's confusion deepened. "That's not possible. I've never seen you before."

Skye shrugged. "Doesn't mean I haven't seen you."

Elizabeth crossed her arms, wary now. "Alright, looks like you know your way around here… but why help me? What do you want?"

Skye met her gaze, her expression unreadable.

"You really don't remember me, do you?" she said, her voice quieter this time.

Elizabeth shook her head.

"Figures," Skye muttered. Then she lifted her chin. "You worked for him. So if anyone can help me take down the people still running his sick operation, it's you."

Elizabeth's stomach twisted. She didn't need to ask who Skye meant.

Gunther.

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. "What do you know about Gunther? And how did you even know I'd be in that alley?"

Skye hesitated for a moment before answering. "I have history with Gunther. I was lurking around his den again, hoping to find something....someone, that could lead me to my sister. Gunther has her. Then you appeared."

Elizabeth's breath hitched. "What history do you have with him?"

Skye's jaw clenched. "I was one of the girls he had. He almost sold me. And I know you worked for him."

Elizabeth felt a lump form in her throat. "This may sound crazy, but I didn't know Gunther sold girls."

Skye let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "I don't blame you. Gunther was a sick man. I'll never forget what he did to us." Her voice wavered, the pain slipping through her tough exterior.

Skye's gaze darkened. "Remember that time a group of girls came to the den? The ones you fed before we were moved to the warehouse?" She paused, searching Elizabeth's face. "Yeah… that was me, my sister, and some other girls."

Elizabeth stiffened. A sharp pang of guilt shot through her.

"I… I didn't know that was what was going on," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Skye studied her for a long moment before sighing. "Gunther kept you close. I always wondered why."

Elizabeth quickly reached into her pocket and pulled out the crumpled piece of paper. She unfolded it and held it up.

"Do you know this place?"

Skye's eyes widened as she read the address.

"Yes! Yes, I do. That's South Pier Warehouse."

Elizabeth's pulse quickened. "Do you know how to get there?"

Skye nodded slowly. "I think I'll remember."

Elizabeth looked at the girl in front of her, young, too young to have gone through any of this. The weight of what Gunther had done, of what she had unknowingly been a part of, settled heavily on her shoulders.

Gunther was a monster.

And she was going to end this.

Elizabeth and Skye sat in the dimly lit backroom of the abandoned shop. Dust clung to the air, and the scent of old wood lingered. Elizabeth could feel Skye's eyes on her, studying her as if she were trying to decide whether to trust her.

"You said Gunther has your sister," Elizabeth finally said. "What happened?"

Skye exhaled sharply, her fingers gripping the frayed edge of her sweater. "I don't remember much about my parents. Just that we lived in a small place outside the city. It was just me and my sister, Mia. She was only nine when Gunther took us."

Elizabeth stayed silent, letting Skye speak at her own pace.

"He used his men," Skye continued, her voice tight. "We got kidnapped on our way back from school. I fought back, I screamed, but I'm just a kid. They knocked me out. When I woke up, we were in Gunther's den. There were other girls there, scared, hungry. We weren't allowed to talk much, but I remember hearing whispers about how some girls were taken to 'the warehouse.' No one ever came back."

Elizabeth's stomach twisted. "And your sister?"

Skye's hands balled into fists. "I tried to protect her, but one day, they came for us. Said it was time to 'move.' I panicked. I caused a scene. I fought, bit, screamed. It gave Mia enough time to run. But I wasn't so lucky. I was thrown into a van, gagged, and taken away. I barely escaped that night."

Elizabeth felt a chill creep down her spine. "How did you get away?"

Skye gave a dry, humorless chuckle. "One of Gunther's clients got greedy, tried to take me before I was officially 'sold.' He smuggled me out, but he wasn't doing it to save me. He was worse than Gunther. I ran the first chance I got, and I never stopped running."

Elizabeth swallowed, feeling a strange mix of anger and regret. She had been part of Gunther's world, never questioning the things he did. And now, sitting in front of her, was living proof of the horror she had unknowingly overlooked.

"I thought Mia had escaped," Skye continued, her voice shaking. "But then I heard whispers. Someone saw her at the warehouse. I've been trying to find it ever since. I have to find her."

Elizabeth clenched her jaw, gripping the paper with the warehouse's address.

"Then we'll find it," she said firmly. "Together."

Skye met her gaze, searching for any trace of a lie. Then, for the first time, she gave a small nod.

Elizabeth didn't know if they'd make it out of this alive. But one thing was certain.

Gunther's past was catching up to him.

And she was going to make sure his crimes were exposed.

Elizabeth felt a lump form in her throat. Skye's story was horrifying, but one thing stuck out, she had seen the warehouse, and she was sure her sister was there.

But something else nagged at Elizabeth.

"You said the warehouse is where Gunther keeps the girls," Elizabeth said carefully. "My sister should be there too."

Skye's eyes darkened. She hesitated for a second before nodding. "Philomena?"

Elizabeth's breath caught. "How do you know her name?"

"Because I heard it." Skye shifted uncomfortably. "I was watching the den a few weeks ago, trying to track Gunther's movements. I heard his men talking. One of them mentioned something about a girl, one that Gunther was keeping separate, saying she was 'special.'"

Elizabeth's chest tightened. "What else did they say?"

"That she was young. That she was locked away with the others, but Gunther hadn't decided what to do with her yet. They didn't say much more, but I knew right then, I knew she was at the warehouse with the rest of them."

A wave of nausea hit Elizabeth. The weight of it all pressed down on her shoulders.

Gunther had her sister.

The same man who had raised her, used her, exploited her abilities for his own gain, he had taken Philomena, just like he had taken Skye and countless other girls.

And she hadn't even known.

Elizabeth clenched her fists, her entire body tense with rage.

"Then we're not just going to find your sister," she said, her voice cold and sharp. "We're going to find mine too."

Skye nodded, her determination matching Elizabeth's.

The warehouse wasn't just their next destination.

It was where they were going to end this.