Into the Unknown

Noah leaned back in his chair, studying Evelyn carefully. Her expression was steady, but there was something in her eyes—something between desperation and determination. She had just dropped a bombshell, asking him to help her find her missing brother, Daniel Ross.

A fighter who had disappeared six months ago after joining the Underground Tournament.

Noah exhaled, tapping his fingers against the table.

He didn't like this.

He was already knee-deep in a mess of his own. Between Adrian Black's cryptic warnings, Marcus's threats, and Xander's ruthless training, he barely had time to breathe.

Now this?

He should walk away.

Tell her no.

Tell her that the Tournament was dangerous and that missing people didn't just turn up alive after six months.

But—

Something about this didn't sit right.

Not just the request itself, but the timing.

The Tournament had existed for years, yet suddenly, just as Noah was rising through the ranks, people were coming to him with secrets.

First Adrian. Now Evelyn.

Something was happening behind the scenes.

And whether he liked it or not, he was already part of it.

Noah let out a slow breath. "Tell me everything you know."

Evelyn's hands clenched around her coffee cup. "I told you. Daniel was a fighter. He got involved in the Tournament, and then one day, he just… disappeared."

Noah's eyes narrowed. "Disappeared how? Did he tell you he was in danger? Did he act weird before he vanished?"

Evelyn bit her lip. "No. That's the thing. He was fine. He was winning fights, moving up the ranks. Then, one night, he had a match."

She hesitated.

"And?" Noah pressed.

"And he never came home," she said quietly.

The words hung between them.

Noah's fingers tightened around the table.

A fighter goes into a match and never comes back.

That wasn't normal.

Even in the Underground, fighters had reputations to uphold. If you lost, you got stronger and came back for a rematch. If you won, you kept climbing.

You didn't just disappear.

Unless—

"You think someone took him," Noah said. It wasn't a question.

Evelyn swallowed. "I don't know. I just—" Her voice wavered, but she steadied herself. "I just know he's not dead."

Noah didn't respond immediately.

Hope was dangerous.

It could keep you going, or it could get you killed.

Evelyn was holding onto something fragile, and if he agreed to help her, he'd be responsible for whatever truth they found.

He rubbed his temples. "Where was his last fight?"

Evelyn looked relieved that he was taking this seriously. "Warehouse 12."

Noah stilled.

Warehouse 12.

That wasn't just any location.

That was The Pit.

A brutal arena where only the toughest fighters survived. It was notorious for no-holds-barred fights, and the only rule was that the audience wanted blood.

It was also a place Noah hadn't fought in—yet.

Tch. This just kept getting worse.

"You're sure?" he asked.

Evelyn nodded. "I looked into it. His last recorded fight was there. He was supposed to fight someone named 'The Reaper.'"

Noah's grip on the table tightened.

The Reaper.

A name he had only heard in whispers.

A ghost. A legend.

A fighter who didn't just win—he ended people's careers.

If Daniel fought him, then—

Noah's jaw clenched.

He exhaled sharply, pushing his chair back. "Fine. I'll look into it."

Evelyn's eyes widened. "You will?"

Noah shot her a look. "I'm not making promises. But I'll ask around."

She nodded quickly. "Thank you."

Noah sighed. He was going to regret this.

He already did.

But there was no turning back now.

---

A New Lead

Noah left the café with his mind racing.

If Daniel Ross really disappeared after fighting The Reaper, then this wasn't just some random missing person case.

This was something deeper.

Something darker.

And he needed answers.

There was only one person who might have them.

---

The Informant

The underground fighting scene wasn't just about strength.

It was about information.

And nobody knew more than Elias Ward.

A former fighter turned informant, Elias had his hands in everything—the matches, the bets, the fighters, and most importantly, the disappearances.

If someone went missing, Elias knew why.

And if he didn't?

Then they were really gone.

Noah found him exactly where he expected—behind a rundown convenience store, leaning against a wall, smoking.

Elias glanced up as Noah approached.

"Well, well," he drawled, exhaling smoke. "If it isn't the rising star himself. What brings you to my humble office?"

Noah didn't waste time. "Daniel Ross. What do you know?"

Elias raised an eyebrow. "Straight to business, huh? No 'hello, Elias, how's life treating you?'"

Noah stared.

Elias sighed. "Alright, alright. Daniel Ross…" He tapped the side of his head. "Name rings a bell. Why?"

"He disappeared after a fight at Warehouse 12," Noah said. "Against The Reaper."

Elias's entire demeanor shifted.

The smirk disappeared.

The casual posture stiffened.

And for the first time since Noah had met him, Elias looked—

Nervous.

Noah's stomach dropped.

That was a bad sign.

A very bad sign.

Elias flicked away his cigarette. "Listen, kid. There are some questions you don't ask."

Noah crossed his arms. "Why not?"

Elias sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Because if you do, you won't like the answer."

Noah's pulse quickened.

"What happened to him, Elias?"

The informant hesitated.

Then, finally, he muttered—

"The Reaper doesn't just fight people, Noah."

He looked up, eyes dark.

"He collects them."

---