Whispers in the Dark

Mia barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the explosion, the fire, the smoke, the injured man gasping for breath. And then the shadowy figures disappear into the night. She wasn't sure if they were chasing him… or making sure no one survived.

Her fingers traced the locket's smooth edges as she lay awake, it's cold metal a constant reminder that last night had been real. She kept expecting to see a news report about it, but when she checked her phone the next morning, there was nothing.

No headlines. No witness statements. No emergency response.

It was as if the explosion had never happened.

Mia sat up in bed, rubbing her temple. That wasn't normal. A blast like that should have drawn attention.

Someone wanted this covered up.

Her eyes flickered to the locket on her nightstand. She picked it up, turning it over in her palm. The delicate engravings were old, elegant. At first, it seemed like an ordinary antique, but then she noticed tiny numbers etched along the side, barely visible in the morning light.

07-15-1998

A date.

Her heart pounded.

She didn't know why, but a deep, unsettling feeling spread through her. She had no idea what the date meant, but something told her it was important.

She needed answers.

And she knew only one person who could help.

The repair shop was wedged between a pawn shop and a liquor store, its flickering neon sign barely visible against the glare of the midday sun.

Mia stepped inside, the scent of oil, metal, and burnt wires hitting her instantly. The place was cluttered with dismantled computers, tangled wires, and half-assembled gadgets. A slow jazz tune played from an old speaker in the corner.

Behind the counter, Caleb Reyes was hunched over a disassembled laptop, his dark brows furrowed in concentration. He was the kind of guy who could hack into a government database before breakfast, but he preferred fixing broken tech for people who didn't ask questions.

He barely looked up. "Mia? You never come here this early."

She placed the locket on the counter. "I need you to check this out."

Caleb wiped his hands on his hoodie before picking it up. "Fancy. Where'd you get it?"

She hesitated. "I found it last night."

His sharp gaze lifted to hers. He didn't press, but she could tell he wanted to. Instead, he turned the locket over, running his thumb along the numbers. His brows lifted slightly. "This isn't just some old trinket. The engraving looks military. Old, but precise."

Mia's stomach tightened. "Military?"

"Yeah. And see this?" He pointed to a tiny hinge on the side. "It's got a false back. Something's hidden inside."

Mia held her breath as he carefully worked the hinge open with a fine tool. A thin strip of paper slid out, yellowed with age.

She unfolded it, her heart pounding.

Inside were two things:

A name Nathaniel Blackwell.A Houston address.

The air seemed heavier. Mia didn't recognize the name, but something about it sent a shiver down her spine.

Caleb leaned in, his voice lower. "Mia… I don't know what you got yourself into, but this isn't random."

She swallowed. "I have to find out who he is."

Caleb exhaled slowly. "Then you better be careful. People don't hide things like this unless there's a damn good reason."

Mia knew he was right. But she also knew there was no turning back.

Nathaniel Blackwell was the next piece of the puzzle.

And she was going to find him.

The address led her to a run-down building in the Fifth Ward. The kind of place where people minded their own business and locked their doors early. Mia parked a block away, keeping her head down as she walked up the cracked sidewalk.

The building was old, its brick exterior worn and faded. The front door was slightly ajar.

Mia hesitated. Something felt off.

She pushed the door open slowly. The hinges groaned.

The apartment smelled of dust and something metallic like old pennies. A single window let in a sliver of daylight, casting long shadows across the floor.

Then she saw him.

A man slumped over in a chair, his head tilted at an unnatural angle.

Mia's breath hitched. She stepped closer, her heart hammering. The dim light barely illuminated his face, but it was clear, he had been dead for hours.

Nathaniel Blackwell was dead.

And someone had made sure of it.

Her mind raced. Was this connected to the explosion? To the locket?

She turned to leave

And then she heard it.

A soft shuffle behind her.

Someone else was in the apartment.

Mia spun just as a figure lunged from the shadows.

She barely had time to react before rough hands grabbed her, shoving her against the wall. A voice hissed in her ear, low and threatening.

"Where is it?"

Mia's pulse pounded. "Where is what?"

The grip on her wrist tightened. "Don't play dumb."

She struggled, twisting her body enough to catch a glimpse of her attacker. He was tall, built like a soldier, his face hidden beneath a black cap. Cold, calculating eyes locked onto hers.

"Let me go!" Mia's voice was sharp, but there was no fear in it.

The man's grip didn't loosen. "Give me the locket."

Mia's breath hitched.

He knew.

Before she could react, a loud knock echoed from the hallway.

"Police! Open up!"

The man cursed under his breath and released her. Without hesitation, he slipped out the back door like a ghost.

Mia stumbled forward, clutching her wrist. She barely had time to compose herself before the door burst open and two officers entered.

One of them, a tall Black woman with sharp eyes, took one look at the scene and stiffened. Her gaze landed on Mia.

"Step away from the body."

Mia raised her hands. "I just got here. He was already"

The officer's expression hardened. "You have the right to remain silent."

Mia's stomach dropped as cold metal cuffs snapped around her wrists.

She was in trouble.

And she had no idea how to get out of it.