NXT_MARVEL

In a city where shadows hold more power than light, Detective Marcus Trent is drawn into a web of deceit, manipulation, and a chilling game that threatens to unravel everything he knows. When he receives an anonymous message promising disaster, Marcus finds himself chasing a series of cryptic clues that lead him to a mysterious figure known only as The Shadow—a mastermind pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

The clues are sinister: coordinates, encrypted messages, and cryptic warnings, all leading Marcus to a chilling truth—someone is always one step ahead. As the puzzle pieces fall into place, Marcus discovers that the game is more than just about tracking a criminal. It’s a countdown to a terrifying revelation—the endgame has already begun.

As the stakes rise and more lives are threatened, Marcus is forced to confront his own demons and question the trust he places in his colleagues. With no allies, no clear path forward, and the shadow of the mastermind looming closer, Marcus must navigate a treacherous maze of false identities, hidden motives, and twisted alliances.

The question is no longer just who is behind the chaos, but how far will they go before Marcus becomes the next pawn in a game where no one wins?

The Silent Veil: Code of Shadows

The explosion shattered the night.

Flames roared, consuming the cabin in seconds. Marcus hit the ground hard, ears ringing, vision blurred. The heat pressed against him like a vice, but he forced himself up.

"Emily! Harper!" he shouted, his voice raw.

The wreckage was chaos. Splintered wood, twisted metal — and the suffocating weight of silence.

He stumbled forward, pushing debris aside until he found Emily, blood streaked across her face, eyes wide but alive.

Together, they searched. Time stretched unbearably until they finally pulled Harper from the wreckage. He was unconscious, barely breathing.

"We have to move," Marcus said, urgency flooding him.

They disappeared into the woods just as the sound of approaching vehicles filled the air.

Hours passed in a haze of pain and exhaustion. They found an abandoned outpost deep in the forest, sheltering beneath its broken roof.

"The Ghost knew," Emily whispered. "They set us up."

"And they won't stop," Marcus said, his jaw tight. "Not until we stop them first."

It was time to turn the hunt around.

They reached out to old allies, calling in every favor they had. By nightfall, they had a lead — a location, a time.

The abandoned train yard stretched out before them, a maze of rust and ruin. Marcus led the way, every sense on high alert.

They moved in silence, the darkness their only cover.

Gunfire erupted, echoing off the metal walls. Marcus returned fire, driving them forward.

Emily dragged Harper toward an exit while Marcus covered them, his bullets finding their marks.

A figure stepped into view, calm amid the chaos.

"You're too late," the Ghost said, their voice a cold whisper.

When he came to, the world was a blur of pain. Chains bound his wrists, the room around him cold and empty.

The Ghost stepped from the shadows.

Because somewhere above, Emily had found their signal.

Ashes and Shadows