Pulling the First Thread

As the morning light seeped through the curtains, Seraphina stirred awake, wincing at the slight burning sensation on her neck.Her fingers instinctively brushed against the skin—Lena's fault.She sighed, shaking off the thought. It didn't matter.Pushing the blanket off, she stretched and headed straight to the kitchen. Food first. Work after.

She made herself a quick, nutritious breakfast—enough to keep her focused. While eating, she grabbed her laptop and settled onto the couch.

Horizon Initiative.There was still more to uncover.

She pulled up her notes from last night and dove back in—determined, analytical, ruthless.Because today, she wasn't just looking for information.She was looking for weaknesses.

Seraphina leaned back against the couch, her fingers tapping rhythmically against the laptop. Something wasn't adding up. She had been combing through Horizon Initiative's records for hours, and at first glance, everything looked polished—too polished. The company was meticulous in its public reports, but the deeper she dug, the more inconsistencies began to surface.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, the glow of the screen illuminating the dim room. Despite the slight sting on her neck, she ignored it, weaving the pieces together carefully.

At first glance, Horizon Initiative seemed a well-funded, legitimate research organization. Their public reports were flawless, their funding transparent, their operations clean.But Seraphina had learned long ago that perfection was often the greatest disguise.And the cracks were beginning to show.

Their financial records claimed full support from private investors, yet hidden beneath layers of unrelated expenses, she found traces of government transactions—silent, unreported, and buried so deeply that an ordinary eye would have missed them. More money was being withdrawn than officially used. A significant amount had no recorded purpose, no allocation.The real question wasn't just where the money was going—it was why no one had noticed.

Scrolling further, she scanned employee records and found another pattern. Researchers resigned just before reaching major breakthroughs—no resignation letters, no explanations. Blank spaces where there should have been details, as if they had been erased.Others, still listed as employees, appeared to work impossible hours across multiple departments—either they were superhuman or their identities were being manipulated.

Her fingers stilled as she came across something else: floor plans.Restricted wings within Horizon Initiative, unlisted in official building records. No reasons given. No mention of what was inside.Security logs showed people entering these areas—but not everyone came back out.

A strange unease curled in her chest.People had vanished.

Clicking through more personnel files, she found another anomaly: a past researcher, linked to the victims they were investigating, had no records before being hired. No birthplace. No academic history. No previous employment.As if they had materialized solely for Horizon Initiative.

Seraphina's pulse quickened.It wasn't just people disappearing.Equipment had vanished too—specialized neurological research tools, advanced brain analysis machines—silently removed from labs, without any theft reports or transfer documentation.

Then there were the dummy companies.Charity organizations owned by Horizon Initiative, supposedly funding scientific advancements. On paper, they looked genuine, but in reality, they ran no real projects. Their names existed, their bank accounts moved millions, but there was nothing behind them.They were fronts, funneling money somewhere else.

At the center of it all, one name kept appearing.Not a researcher. Not a board member.Someone buried deep in donation records, financial transactions, research documents.A hidden hand pulling the strings.

Her fingers tightened around the laptop.This wasn't just a company with secrets.It was something bigger.Something designed to be untouchable.

She exhaled sharply and typed a final note at the bottom of her file:

This isn't just science. It's control.

And control, Seraphina knew, was always worth fighting for.

Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang.Seraphina groaned, pushing herself up and making her way to the door.When she opened it, Lena stood there, two cups in hand—a hot chocolate in one, a coffee in the other.

"Figured you'd need this," Lena said, stepping inside like she owned the place.

Seraphina took the cup, the warmth spreading through her fingers."You're learning," she said, taking a sip.

Lena grinned—then her gaze landed on Seraphina's neck. Her expression shifted instantly."So… are we just ignoring the burn on your neck, or are you finally going to admit I ruined your life?"

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "It's nothing."

Lena gave her a look."Right. Because hissing in pain was just for dramatic effect?"

Seraphina smirked over the rim of her cup. "Maybe."

Lena sighed, shaking her head."At least tell me you put something on it."

"Of course," Seraphina lied smoothly.

Lena narrowed her eyes. "You didn't, did you?"

Seraphina took another slow sip. "Does it matter?"

Lena groaned. "Unbelievable. I should burn the other side so it at least looks even."

Seraphina raised a brow. "That's your solution?"

Lena shrugged. "Balance is important."

A small laugh escaped Seraphina before she could stop it.For the first time that day, her mind wasn't on Horizon Initiative, hidden threats, or what came next.It was just this.And for now, this was enough.

Lena took a long sip of her coffee before leveling Seraphina with a knowing look."You have to leave for Oblivion Division soon, so go change into whatever you want first. Then I'll treat your wound—unless you want your boss to see it."

Seraphina stilled for a half-second.Ezrin.The thought came uninvited—his sharp, unreadable gaze flashing through her mind.

She forced it away."Who cares if he sees it? It's just a burn," she said casually, taking another sip.

Lena smirked."Maybe. But it looks like something else."

Seraphina frowned slightly. "Something else?"

Lena leaned in, her smirk widening."A mark."

The moment the words registered, a pillow flew across the room.

Lena barely dodged it, laughing as she stepped out of range."I'm just saying—"

"Stop saying," Seraphina cut in, already grabbing another pillow as a warning.

Lena raised her hands in surrender, but the teasing glint in her eyes didn't fade."Fine, fine. But I stand by what I said."

Seraphina exhaled, rolling her eyes as she got up."You're impossible."

"And you're in denial," Lena quipped.

Seraphina shot her a warning look before heading to her room to change.But as she closed the door, Lena's words lingered.

A mark.

She shook her head, pushing the thought away.It didn't mean anything.

When Seraphina stepped out, now dressed and ready, she found Lena seated on the couch, a first-aid box open beside her.

Lena glanced up and arched a brow. "Come and sit." Her tone was so motherly that Seraphina almost rolled her eyes.

Still, she obeyed, settling in front of her.

Lena gently pulled her hair aside, exposing the burn. Her expression darkened the moment she saw it."You should've treated this yesterday. It looks worse now."

Seraphina shrugged, unbothered.

Lena huffed under her breath, dabbing ointment onto the wound. The cool sensation made Seraphina's muscles relax slightly.

Once finished, Lena carefully covered it with a bandage."There. At least now it won't get infected," she said, satisfied.

Seraphina smirked."You really sound like my mother right now."

Lena scoffed. "Unlike you, I actually care about your well-being."

Seraphina chuckled but said nothing.

Lena studied her for a moment. "Speaking of mothers, when are you planning to visit home?"

Seraphina's smirk faded slightly. She leaned back against the couch, arms crossed."No idea. It's been a while since I even called her."

Lena's expression fell."Are you serious?"

Seraphina gave a nonchalant shrug.

Lena sighed dramatically, shaking her head."Are you really her daughter?"

Seraphina smirked again but didn't answer. She simply reached for her hot chocolate, taking a slow sip.

Somewhere deep down, Lena's words settled into a place she didn't want to acknowledge.

Without warning, Lena stood up and made her way toward the closet.Seraphina barely paid attention—until a silk scarf came flying at her.

"Wear it," Lena said lightly, though the smirk on her lips betrayed her amusement."You don't look good with a bandage."

Seraphina caught the scarf mid-air, rolling her eyes."Right. Because looking good is my priority."

"It should be," Lena teased, crossing her arms.

Seraphina sighed but didn't argue.Lena was impossible.

She finished her last sip of hot chocolate, then loosely wrapped the scarf around her neck, covering the bandage.

By the time she gathered everything she needed—especially her laptop—it was already 4:30 PM.

Lena glanced at the clock and nodded."I'll take that as my cue to leave. Try not to get burnt again."

Seraphina smirked."No promises."

Lena rolled her eyes, muttered something under her breath, and left.

Ten minutes later, the car arrived.

Seraphina stepped into the car, her expression shifting back into calm composure as the vehicle moved through the darkening streets, heading toward Oblivion Division.

The moment she arrived, she didn't waste time.First stop—Kieran's office.

She pushed open the door without knocking, dropping a single slip of paper onto his desk."Find him," she said simply.

Kieran picked up the paper, scanning it before glancing back at her. His gaze flickered briefly to her neck—and then he smirked.

"So, you had a good time?" he said, voice laced with amusement.

Seraphina followed his gaze and instantly realized what he was referring to: the scarf.

She sighed."Yes, Kieran. It was amazing. Life-changing," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

His smirk widened."Glad to hear it."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and walked out, heading toward Ezrin's office.

Seraphina knocked once before pushing the door open.

Ezrin was seated at his desk, fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard, eyes locked on the screen. He didn't look up immediately—his focus, as always, unwavering.

She walked in, pulled out the chair opposite him, and sat down.Only then did he glance up, his expression calm. Unreadable.

But when his gaze flickered briefly to the scarf around her neck, something shifted.

Seraphina's mind betrayed her, flashing back to Lena's teasing words.It looks like something else.

She kept her expression blank, but it lingered—an invisible thread in the air between them.

Under the desk, Ezrin's fingers curled slightly into a fist.A small, almost imperceptible movement.But it was there.

His expression, however, remained perfectly composed.

Oblivious to his subtle reaction, Seraphina exhaled and placed her laptop on the desk."This is what I found after searching Horizon Initiative," she said smoothly. "A lot of inconsistencies."

Ezrin's gaze dragged away from her scarf and settled on the screen. His posture remained collected—but internally, his mind wasn't.

Not entirely.

Forcing himself back into focus, Ezrin leaned forward, turning the laptop toward himself.His sharp eyes immediately caught the details—the inconsistencies, the buried truths she had uncovered.

But even as he analyzed the information, part of his mind kept drifting back.The scarf.The way she had adjusted it slightly before speaking.

His jaw tightened.Ridiculous.He forced the thought away.

Instead, he leaned back, fingers steepled together, tone neutral when he finally spoke."Impressive work."A pause. Then, sharper—"How certain are you about these gaps?"

Seraphina met his gaze without hesitation."One hundred percent."

Ezrin nodded once, satisfied. Then, in that slow, deliberate way of his, he tilted his head slightly."Then tell me—how deep do you think this runs?"

He was testing her. Watching her.

But this time, it wasn't just about the case.

Seraphina didn't hesitate.She never did.

Her eyes met his with unwavering certainty, her tone steady—measured, yet carrying an edge of something sharper.

"Deep enough that we're only seeing the surface."

She leaned forward slightly, tapping a single finger against the laptop screen.

"These inconsistencies aren't mistakes. They're deliberate. Someone buried them knowing that an ordinary investigator wouldn't catch on." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle."But we're not ordinary investigators, are we?"

Ezrin's steepled fingers tapped once—a silent acknowledgment.

Seraphina continued, her voice carrying a quiet, chilling confidence.

"This isn't just corruption. It's a system. A machine running beneath the surface, designed to look untouchable.The moment we start pulling at these threads, we won't just be hunting the truth."

A slight smirk ghosted over her lips.

"We'll be in their game. And they'll know it."

Ezrin held her gaze for a long, measured moment. Silent. Calculating.

Then—a flicker of satisfaction.

"Good," he said simply. "Then let's pull the first thread."

As the words left his mouth, Kieran entered the room.

Seraphina's sharp gaze locked onto the file he placed on the desk.

"I've traced all the transactions," Kieran said, crossing his arms. "Most of them were funneled through different accounts, but—"He tapped a particular page, "—one thing stands out."

Ezrin flipped through the pages, eyes narrowing.Every transaction led back to different shell companies.Different sources.But one pattern remained constant.

The initials M.

"Marionette," Ezrin muttered under his breath.

Kieran nodded."Looks like our manipulator's been funding key operations. He's careful—switching accounts, rerouting funds—but he made one mistake."

Ezrin's jaw tightened slightly, a glint of cold amusement flickering in his eyes."He thinks he's smart," he said quietly, "but he's a fool. Changing accounts doesn't matter when you leave the same signature everywhere."

Then, his gaze landed on a particular transaction.Different from the others.

No initials. No obvious pattern.

Seraphina leaned in, scanning the page carefully.Something about it felt off.

She tapped the page, her mind already working.

"This one's different."

Ezrin and Kieran watched her closely as she analyzed it, her expression shifting.

Then she spoke, voice low but certain.

"This transaction isn't funding something. It's a payment. A payoff."

A silence stretched between them.

Ezrin's smirk deepened slightly.

They had just found their first real thread.

Ezrin glanced at Kieran."What about Seraphina's fake identity?"

Kieran smirked, completely unbothered."Almost done."

Ezrin gave a short nod, then turned back to Seraphina, about to speak—

But before he could, she was already on her feet."I'm going to get ready for training."

Ezrin smirked faintly, but before he could say anything, Kieran clicked his tongue.

"Go easy on her today. Her situation seems... different. Maybe she doesn't have the energy."

His gaze dragged up and down meaningfully, the implication clear.

Seraphina's jaw clenched. She knew exactly what he meant.But she didn't flinch.

Her voice was firm, unwavering."I don't want him to go easy on me. And my situation is no different today."

She held Kieran's gaze coolly, making it clear his words meant nothing to her.

But to Ezrin?

They did.

They did something dangerous.

Ezrin's smirk vanished. His jaw tightened, his mind darkening with unwelcome thoughts.He hated that Kieran had noticed something.He hated it more that she didn't deny it fast enough.

He was controlling himself. Barely.Controlling the urge to demand answers.Controlling the urge to drag the truth from her lips—by force if necessary.

But before he could act, Seraphina turned on her heel and left, her steps light, unbothered.

A heavy silence settled between the two men.

Kieran let out a low chuckle."She's something, huh?"

Ezrin didn't reply.His fingers tapped once against the desk—slow, deliberate, dangerous.

Different.

"If she wants me to go all out," Ezrin said calmly, his voice sharpened into steel,"then she better be ready."

Kieran smirked."You sure you're talking about the training?"

Ezrin's gaze snapped to him, cold and warning.

Kieran raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning."Alright, alright. I'll go finish her new identity."

As Kieran exited the office, Ezrin leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, fingers steepled together.

He was still controlling himself.

For now.