Chapter 4: The Web of Lies

The morning after the stormy night was eerily calm. The streets of Veytross still glistened with rain, the filth of corruption temporarily washed away—but beneath the surface, nothing had changed. The powerful still ruled, the weak still suffered, and the city remained a battleground of unseen wars.

But something was different.

Prastha's actions had left a mark. The underworld had begun whispering about the woman in the shadows—the one who did not fear the system, who did not play by their rules. The higher-ups were growing nervous. And when powerful men were afraid, they made reckless moves.

---

The Council of Shadows

In the grand halls of the **Black Lotus Club**, a secret meeting took place. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of cigars and expensive whiskey. The most influential figures in Veytross sat around a circular table—politicians, crime lords, corporate giants. They were the true rulers of the city, the ones who controlled everything from law enforcement to the media.

A man in a tailored suit, known only as **Chairman Rael**, tapped his fingers against the table. His expression was unreadable, but the flicker of irritation in his eyes betrayed his emotions.

"This… vigilante," he said slowly, his voice sharp like a blade. "She is a problem."

A smirk curled on the lips of **Victor Kade**, the most ruthless businessman in the room. "A problem easily dealt with," he said. "Find her. Break her. Make an example of her."

A third voice, colder than the others, interrupted. **Detective Roy Harris**, a corrupt officer, leaned forward. "She isn't just another thug. She's smart. She doesn't leave loose ends. If we move too fast, we risk giving her the attention she craves."

Silence settled over the table.

Rael finally sighed. "Then we do it the old-fashioned way. We use the city itself to destroy her."

---

A Dangerous Trap

Meanwhile, Prastha stood on the rooftop of an abandoned building, gazing down at the streets below. The sun cast long shadows over the city, but she knew the real darkness lay within its people.

She had spent years preparing for this war. Every criminal she took down, every corrupt officer she exposed, was just a step toward a larger goal. But something felt… off. The silence from the city's elite was unsettling.

Then the news broke.

"A vigilante terrorist is targeting Veytross. A masked woman known only as 'Prastha' is responsible for multiple violent attacks, putting innocent lives at risk. Authorities urge citizens to report any suspicious activity."

Prastha clenched her fists.

They had turned the city against her.

The game had changed. She was no longer just a shadow in the night. She was a public enemy.

And that meant they were closing in.

---

The Betrayal

As Prastha navigated the back alleys, she reached out to one of her few trusted contacts—**Arjun**, a former hacker who had helped her expose multiple corruption scandals. He was the one person she could always rely on.

Or so she thought.

When she arrived at their usual meeting spot, an abandoned warehouse, she sensed something was wrong. The air was too still. The shadows too deep.

Then she saw it—the red laser dot on her chest.

Snipers.

She barely had time to react before gunfire erupted around her. She dove behind cover, her mind racing. How had they known? Who had betrayed her?

Then she heard a voice. Arjun's voice.

"Prastha, surrender. There's nowhere to run."

She peeked over the crates, her heart sinking as she saw him standing beside Detective Harris, a gun in his hand. His face was unreadable, but the guilt in his eyes was unmistakable.

"They gave me no choice," he said. "They found my family."

Prastha's jaw tightened. She understood. The system never fought fair.

But that didn't mean she would go down without a fight.

---

The Escape

Within seconds, she formulated a plan. She reached into her belt, pulling out a smoke grenade. With a swift motion, she slammed it against the ground, filling the warehouse with a thick, blinding fog.

Gunfire erupted again, but she was already moving. She sprinted through the maze of crates, dodging bullets, leaping over obstacles. She had to escape. Not just for herself—but because if they caught her now, Veytross would never have a chance at freedom.

The moment she reached the rooftop, she didn't stop. She leaped across the gap to the next building, rolling onto the concrete just as bullets shattered the ledge behind her.

She had made it. Barely.

But this was only the beginning.

---

A New War Begins

As Prastha disappeared into the city, the Council of Shadows watched the failed capture unfold on their surveillance screens.

Victor Kade smirked. "She's resilient. I like that."

Rael's expression darkened. "Enjoy it while you can. Because now, we stop playing games."

He turned to Detective Harris. "Burn the city if you have to. But I want her dead."

Harris nodded, already making plans. "It won't be long."

Meanwhile, Prastha stitched her wounds in a dimly lit hideout, her mind racing. They had tried to kill her. They had turned her only friend against her.

But she wasn't broken.

No.

She was angrier than ever.

If they wanted war… she would give them war.