Chapter 6 - Mask Off II: The Promise & The Pieces

Rayne was handcuffed, bruised, exhausted. As Soy carried him toward the old abandoned mansion, Rayne's blurry eyes focused on the entrance. There stood a girl. Her eyes were beautiful, but her aura felt like a storm in disguise.

She smiled faintly. "Hello, Rayne."

Rayne froze. "Who the hell are you?" he stuttered, tears threatening to fall. "How do you know me? Please... just leave me alone. If it's money you want, tell me! I'll give you everything."

She tilted her head, voice soft and chilling. "You ask a lot for someone with nothing to trade. We can't give you freedom so early. You should feel what your father gave us."

Before she could continue, Soy stepped in. "We gotta go in."

He dragged Rayne inside and tossed him into a cold metal room.

Rayne groaned, his body aching. "What have I done? Why me?"

Soy approached, trying to keep things calm. "Don't hurt yourself."

Rayne snapped. "Hurt?! YOU broke my nose!"

Soy shrugged. "I only hit you because you gave me no choice. If you'd listened, this could've gone smoother."

Rayne growled. "When I get out, I swear I'll make your life hell!"

Soy smiled darkly ( thinking ) "Huh. So the son carries a bit of his father's genes after all."

Rayne narrowed his eyes. "Why are you smiling?"

Soy looked away. "Nothing. You just reminded me of someone."

That was it. Rayne snapped. He launched at Soy with fury, swinging wild. His cuffs cracked against the frame, and with a sudden surge, he broke free.

Scene Snippet: "Cracked Like Glass"

Rayne roared and lunged forward, rage blazing in his eyes. His fists flew fast — sharp, angry jabs. Soy dodged the first. Blocked the second. Then—

He caught Rayne's arm mid-punch.

With terrifying calm, Soy twisted under him, his back facing Rayne. In one swift, fluid motion.

He bent down, gripped Rayne's wrist and waist, and launched him high over his back.

CRASH!

Rayne's body slammed into the steel floor. Air fled his lungs. Soy stood over him, unfazed.

"You rely too much on anger," he said coldly. "Learn to breathe before you bleed."

Rayne coughed, stunned. He stood again.

Soy nodded slightly. "You've got will. But your anger? It's your enemy."

As Rayne stepped forward again, Soy quickly shut the door. "Jesus. If you get another injury, she'll kill me."

Now locked in the dark, Rayne was left alone with his thoughts. What do they want from me? If not money... then what?

---

Outside — Command Room

Soy: "Call Seer'ah."

James: "Already did. Seer'ah!"

Seer'ah: "James, strip all tracking gear."

James: "All gear ready. Tichala, start the scrambler."

Tichala: "Already running."

Seer'ah took a deep breath and dialed the number.

The screen blinked. A familiar voice answered.

Sorius Vexis: "Who's this? Rayne?!"

Seer'ah: "Not quite."

Sorius: "Who the hell are you?"

Seer'ah: "Five years ago, there was a secret meeting on Mars. UN, Dra'vahi, all the top brass. It wasn't a peace treaty. What was it?"

Sorius went quiet.

Seer'ah: "Don't play dumb. You were there. But... we should speak in private."

"Sorius Vexis held his hand up, signaling to disable surveillance on his conn ."

Sorius looked around, signaling his aides to disable surveillance.

Sorius: "Who are you? and How do you know about that meeting?"

Seer'ah: "Wrong question. The real question is: will you give us what we want to get your son back?"

Sorius: "And what exactly do you want?"

Seer'ah: "Files. Treaty drafts. UN encryption. The full black vault."

Sorius laughed dryly. "You think I'm some global overlord? I'm just a politician."

Seer'ah: "At the cost of your son... it's not much Mr. President "

Sorius: "Wait... You're Seer'ah aren't you ?Muc'vha's granddaughter. He ( unknown ) told me about you. I feel sorry for your old man."

Seer'ah (coldly):

"I know you're one of those he (unknown) raised after he (Muc'vha) fell. Don't try to lecture me. Give us what we want—or your son dies."

Sorius leaned back. "Kill him."

Officer (nervously): "Sir... that was your only son."

He muted the call and said

Sorius: "Then history ends with me."

Everyone froze.

Seer'ah: "You what?!"

Sorius: "I'll make another."

Seer'ah (angrily): "You'll regret this."

Sorius: "We'll see."

Call ended.

Sorius (slamming the desk, eyes burning):

"Get me every goddamn task force we have—FBI, NSA, SpaceNet, every black-ops unit under our control. Even the orbital command teams. I don't care if they're stationed on Earth, Mars, floating above Unarus, or buried in deep space—I want them found, tracked, and buried."

Seer'ah threw the communicator against the wall.

Seer'ah stormed to Rayne's cell. She opened the door and beat him, fists and boots landing like rain. Blood smeared across his lip.

Soy stepped in. "Stop!"

Seer'ah turned, furious. "Because of his father, I lost mine. I lost everything."

She broke down.

Soy pulled her close. "I promised him I'd protect you. Right or wrong even if world is against yourself I'll be against world I'm with you."

Seer'ah: "Why?! Just because of a promise to a dead man?!"

Soy: "It's not about if he's dead. It's about the promise. People die but promises aren't those are the words spoken by our hearts We made it to someone who never cried for himself, only for the lives he couldn't save. That was real."

She hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Soy. If you weren't here, I'd be lost."

Rayne: "You bitch! You hit me while I'm cuffed! Fight me for real!"

Seer'ah leaned close. "You suffer because your father is a devil."

Rayne froze. She knows about my father...

He kicked at her.

Soy: "Damn. Forgot to tie him."

But Seer'ah caught Rayne's leg one-handed.

Rayne (thinking): That strength... she's not human.

Rayne glanced at her skin , relieved when she hold his leg , green shiny cold

Rayne: ". Your not human You're a Dra'vahi! That's illegal! The peace treaty forbids it. You broke it. My father will—"

Seer'ah: (laughing) "Poor guy. Doesn't even know his own father."

"Soy felt for Rayne, thinking he had done...

nothing wrong he was facing these just because he is his son ? This isn't right'

They walked out.

------

At the Hospital

Siya: "Who were those guys?"

Kael: "I told the police everything."

Siya: "Some retired officers are in my NGO i think they might help. I'll arrange a secure terminal."

Kael: "If you want to help, could you please arrange a computer or laptop for me?"

Siya: "okay but what happened'

Kael : "nothing i can explain right now'

Siya smiled : "kael I am Happy your safe and sorry for my behaviour you are right our family sucks dad is busy in his office mom always on shoots and as your big sis it was my responsibility to take care of you but I failed"

Kael held her hand : "everything you've done for me are enough its my mistake too I always give responsibility to other i am scared of it but now I'll become a man . You are not world's best but your my best sister."

Siya : "haha stop it I'll arrange a laptop for you give me few minutes"

She gave him the laptop kael said just for few minutes leave him alone

Kael opened the darkweb node, typing Soy's name.

Partial matches. Images. IDs. Symbols. Then—

Classified Military Entry: Dra Army - General. Status: AWOL. Identity: HDH. Type: Unknown.

Kael: "He's... half-Dra what's his type ?"

Then a new ping:

"Related Subject Found - Arrival Files. Level 2 Access"

Kael clicked.

A rabbit hole opened.

------

Private HQ - Briefing Room

Soy: "Are all the members here?"

James : "yes sir"

Seer'ah: "We move to Plan A."

Tichala: "Wasn't this Plan A?"

Seer'ah: "It was a test. Real Plan A: hack the Black house."

------

At hospital again

Kael stares at Soy's classified file.

Ex-military. H.D.H. Unknown Type.

Then the Arrival Files begin loading...

And everything changes.

------

Secrets are slowly turning into scars. Rayne now realizes he's just a pawn in a game written long before he could choose sides. And Kael? He just opened a door that might change everything he thought he knew about Soy, Seer'ah... and his own father.

Next Up: Chapter 7 - The Arrival