Chapter 15: A Heavy Silence....

The room felt colder. Thompson tucked the ledger into his coat, satisfied his men released Lillian, shoving her aside . She barely caught herself before stumbling to the ground. Her breath was shallow, her eyes wide with shock.

I rushed to her, steadying her trembling form . She was pale. Shaken. I wanted to tell her it was over-that we were safe now. But I couldn't, because nothing about this was safe.

Thompson's victory was absolute. The weight of my failure pressed down on me, suffocating. And Carter-Carter was still standing beside him.

I forced myself to meet his eyes, but he wouldn't look at me. The man I trusted, the man who had risked so much before-was he truly gone ?

I found my voice , even though it burned in my throat. "What now?"

Thompson raised a brow, almost amused. "Now ? Now you live."

A slow smirk crept across his face.

"That's your reward, Everly".

I clenched my fists, rage threatening to spill over. "You think you've won."

He sighed. Shaking his head. "Haven't I?"

I didn't answer.

His smile deepened. "Do yourself a favor - leave this city. Run far away. And pray I never have a reason to call on you again." His voice turned sharp. Dangerous

"Because next time, I won't be so kind ."

Thompson turned away already bored of this conversation. He gestured for his men to leave . Carter moved to follow them.

I couldn't stop myself.

" Carter ."

He hesitated.

For a single, agonizing moment, I thought he might look back.

He didn't.

The door slammed shut behind them.

Silence.

Lillian's breath hitched " Everly....."

I swallowed hard. My hands were still shaking. My mind was racing.

We had lost.

And yet .... Something wasn't right. I should have been relived that Thompson let us live. But why did it feel like a warning?

Lillian and I walked back to the inn in silence . The streets were empty, washed clean by the evening rain. I barely noticed.

My thoughts wouldn't stop racing.

Lillian hugged herself tightly. "We're lucky he didn't kill us."

I nodded absentmindedly. Lucky,Was that what this was?

Inside our small, dimly lit room, Lillian sank onto the bed, rubbing her arms. Her voice was small. "What do we do now?"

I stared at the floor, my mind spinning.

The ledger was gone. Thompson had it.

But was it truly over ?

I thought back to Carter. He had stood so still, refusing to look at me. Why?

Betrayal? Guilt?or .... something else?

I turned sharply. "I need to know what's inside that ledger."

Lillian blinked, startled. "What?"

I began pacing. "Carter didn't look at me because he Betrayed me. He didn't look at me because he was hiding something."

Lillian sat up, eyes widening. "You think-"? I nodded, "He might not have given Thompson everything."

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She wanted to believe it , I could tell. But duobt clouded her features.

"Everly....." she hesitated. "He stood there and let Thompson take the ledger. He didn't stop them.

I turned away. "I know".

Lillian sighed. rubbing her temple. She was exhausted. I was too.

But something inside me refused to accept this as the end.

"If carter really handed everything over,"I murmured, "then why did he look like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like he wasn't sure".

Lillian hesitated. She had noticed it too.

I stopped pacing. "There's more to this".

Lillian exhaled slowly. "Even if you're right.....what can we do?"

I clenched my fists.

We weren't done yet.

I still had a chance.

I just had to find it.

Sleep never came.

Lillian passed out from exhausation curled up in a tight ball on the bed. But I sat by the window, staring at the city.

Somewhere out there, Thompson was celebrating his victory.

He had everything he need to keep his power intact.

And Carter-where was he ?

I closed my eyes, pressing my fingers to my temples.

I wanted to hate him.

But I couldn't. Not yet.

Because deep down, I knew-if he had truly given Thompson everything, I would be dead.

I opened my eyes, determination hardening inside me.

If there was even a sliuer of doubt, I had to find out the truth

Before it was to late.

Morning came too soon.

Lillian stirred awake with a groggy groan. "Tell me it was all a bad dream".

I gave a small, bitter smile. "I wish I could".

She rubbed her face. "So.....what now?.

I stood, already resolved. "We need to find Carter".

Lillian flinched. "Everly..."

"I need to know," I said filmy. "We can't move forward until we know the truth".

Lillian exhaled. "And if he really did betray us?"

I hesitated

Then, with quiet conviction, I answered.

"Then I'll never make the mistake of trusting him again."

She studied me for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright, let's find out."

The search wasn't easy.

Carter had vanished.

His usual haunts-the taverns, the docks, even the old gambling halls-empty. Either he was hiding....or someone had made sure he wouldn't be found.

Lillian and I kept our voices low, our movement careful. We couldn't risk Thompson hearing about our search.

Hours passed. Frustration built.

Then , at last, a lead.

A clockworker, one of Carter's old associates, reluctantly spoke.

"Saw him last night. Looked troubled.

Headed toward the old quarter."

The old quarter. The abandoned side if town.

Why would he go there?

Lillian foward. "You really think we'll find him?"

I squared my shoulders.

"We have to try".