The Archive
Kendrick sat at the restaurant table, the warm glow of the lights reflecting off the polished wood. His mother, Christy, and his sister, Levy, were chatting excitedly, their plates half-empty as they reminisced about the years of hard work that had led to tonight's celebration. Levy had finally finished high school and would soon be heading to college. Tonight was supposed to be about her.
But the moment his phone flickered with an orange light, his focus momentarily shifted.
He knew exactly what that meant.
The Archive.
A notification from the hidden app embedded in his phone. It was likely the reward from the mission earlier.
He didn't react, keeping his expression neutral as he lifted his glass and took a sip of water. His mother continued talking about how proud she was, while Levy beamed under the praise.
Kendrick smiled, playing the role of the attentive brother, though his mind had already stored the notification for later. The mission had been a success. He and Eclipse had completed what they were assigned to do.
Once dinner was over, they headed home. Kendrick exchanged a few more words with his mother and sister before retreating to his room. The moment the door clicked shut behind him, he moved swiftly. His fingers tapped against the keyboard of his laptop, accessing the hidden system that connected him to The Archive.
The screen lit up with the familiar logo—a black ace inside an open book, with the words The Archive written below. As soon as he logged in, a message appeared.
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"Congratulations on successfully completing Mission Null12kd. You have received 500 points and $2.5 million. The other half of the reward has been allocated to your ally, Eclipse."
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Kendrick barely spared the reward a glance. His attention was on the next line.
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"Level Upgrade: You have accumulated 50,000 points. You are now eligible for Level 6."
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Below it, two buttons flickered.
[YES] [NO]
His fingers hovered over the keys. His heartbeat remained steady, but his mind raced.
This was it. Level 6.
He took a slow, deep breath before finally clicking [YES].
The screen changed instantly.
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"Congratulations! You are now Level 6. You have unlocked access to: Higher-Level Information (Hidden Connections, Secret Events, Secret Histories, Important Individuals)."
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A small key icon appeared. When he clicked it, multiple files and folders flooded the screen.
His breath caught as he scrolled through them.
This was what he had been waiting for. Seven years of relentless missions, dangerous assignments, and unwavering dedication—all for this moment.
He started opening files, scanning every detail that could lead him to what happened twelve years ago. His expression remained calm, but inside, his emotions churned.
The answers had to be here.
He read through hidden reports, secret connections, and classified documents. His fingers moved rapidly, his eyes scanning each line. But the more he searched, the more frustration crept in.
Nothing.
There was nothing about that incident.
Not a single record beyond the standard public information. The same sanitized version of events that the government had provided back then.
It was impossible.
The devastation he remembered—the bodies, the chaos—how could there be no mention of it? Had he really spent years believing that classified files held the real story, only to find that nothing existed beyond what the public already knew?
His hands clenched into fists.
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Across the city…
Zephany sat in her dimly lit room, her laptop screen casting a faint glow across her face.
She had spent hours doing the same thing Kendrick had.
Searching. Scrolling. Digging through Level 6 files.
And just like Kendrick, she found nothing.
Her brows furrowed, lips pressing into a tight line as frustration bubbled inside her.
This wasn't possible.
She had worked endlessly, taking mission after mission, believing that each level she climbed would bring her closer to the truth. But even with Level 6 access, the records of that day—the truth of what happened twelve years ago—were missing.
Why?
Her fingers trembled slightly as she clicked through more files.
Level 6 was supposed to be high-level clearance. It granted access to hidden people, secret events, classified reports—yet the information she sought simply didn't exist.
Or was it intentionally erased?
Her chest tightened as memories flashed through her mind.
She may have been young, but she remembered the fear. The smell of blood. The lifeless bodies scattered across the ground. Adults. Children.
And yet… the official reports had only ever confirmed eight deaths.
Eight.
How could that be possible when she had seen something entirely different?
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.
She had climbed from Level 1 to Level 6, convinced that the truth would eventually appear before her. But now, she wasn't sure anymore.
Was this the limit?
Or…
Her gaze flickered toward the highest classification level in The Archive.
Level 7+
The final level. The only one above them.
A level that no one had ever reached.
Or at least, that's what they had been led to believe.
Zephany exhaled slowly, frustration mounting.
Did she and Obscura need to take on even more missions, push themselves further, and chase after Level 7+ just for a chance at the truth?
Or was the reality much worse?
What if the truth wasn't just hidden?
What if it had been completely erased?
Her hands clenched as she leaned back in her chair, eyes staring blankly at the screen.
Across the city…
Kendrick was doing the same.
The same silent questions haunted them both.
Had they been chasing ghosts all this time?
Or had The Archive—the very organization that granted them access to secrets—been the one keeping the truth buried all along?