In a dimly lit room, a mysterious woman sat alone, her presence commanding even when still. However, her silent atmosphere was cracked by the shuffle of boots as a man in uniform stepped forward, stopping just short of the glow that outlined her silhouette. With his hands behind his back and chin held high, he reported: Their main target was last spotted near a secluded green cabin, deep in the woods. The woman remained seated, and after a long pause, she turned her head until her chin nearly touched her shoulder. Her voice was calm yet edged with warning; if they found the target, they were to bring her in alive if possible. And without a second pause, she reminded the soldier that this was a stealth mission, for she was not yet ready to make noise.
With a meticulous plan already forming in her mind, she assigned a task force led by an individual code-named "The Huntress." Furthermore, she instructed the soldier to tell a man dressed in all black with a gold tie to tag along, emphasizing that he would serve as the face of the Huntress and gather essential intel, for she preferred to linger in the shadows. The stage was set, and Kai and Torin had no idea they were caught in the sights of a mysterious and formidable force.
Another figure approached the dark office as the soldier swiftly exited to execute the orders. The atmosphere became tense as the General of the Government's Military, fueled by frustration, raised his voice, "Now, I'm getting tired of you commanding my people as if they were yours!" The mysterious woman remained silent, merely observing, her head pivoting to track the General's movements. Unbeknownst to him, he was akin to an ant attempting to command an armored giant in her mind. "We made a deal, and you have yet to honor it!" he continued to bicker.
The mysterious woman, her features still veiled in shadows, rose from her seat to approach the General with a measured stride. She confidently said, "Well, you don't seem like the honorable type, General, so what do you care?" Her words cut through the tension in the room. The dim light danced on her silhouette as she stood firm, leaving him to view her uncomfortable smile.
Finally, face-to-face with the woman and unyielding with the considerable height difference, the general maintained his masculine composure. "I care! About money and power, two things you clearly do not have," he declared, his voice firm. The woman, her sinister smile highlighted by glowing purple eyes, peered down at him with an air of hostility. Feeling a sense of unease as fear slowly wrapped around his fast-beating heart, the General discreetly scanned his surroundings, silently assessing the number of soldiers at his disposal.
However, the woman's response was a haunting telepathic whisper that echoed in his mind, "I assure you, General, power is above many things that I have." The unseen display of the strange woman having powers caused the play between them to intensify.
Satisfied with the ample number of soldiers surrounding him, the General regained his composure, and no sign of fear lingered on his face. He raised his hand, a signal that the soldiers promptly recognized, and they pointed their weapons at the mysterious woman. The General grew a confident smile as he looked up at the woman, ready to engage in a verbal exchange. "If you have so much power, why do you need us?" He inquired, his question making the soldiers laugh as if the General told a joke.
Little did the men know that she could wipe them all without breaking a sweat, with a wave of her hand, and no weapon was necessary. But it was risky to waste the little energy she had. Also, these confident pawns were essential pieces in her elaborate game. Choosing to de-escalate, the woman subdued her abilities and demeanor before responding. "Because this Realm is broken," she sighed, turning her back and retreating to her chair. "I don't know what Ra and the other gods have been doing here, but clearly, it's a disgrace. This land is infested and run by humans and other creatures," she articulated, scrutinizing the General from head to toe.
"Anyway, I know what I'm trying to do will bring attention, and at this moment, I don't have the time or power to go up against Ra or, worse, all his lackeys. Even if it still gives Ra power, I don't accept his methods. Give humans too much free will, and this is what you get. Puppets that think they are the original, pointing guns at their makers. Either way, as much as I want to show you, those guns are nothing compared. It'll be just my luck; I display the power to destroy everyone here, and suddenly, Ra decides to show up. So, until then, I need you to do what humans do best and serve as pawns, General. I hope that answers your question."
The General casually brushed off the subtle threats, injecting humor into the tense atmosphere to impress his men with a snide comment, "Not enough power sounds accurate. That little head trick was neat, but I wouldn't call it God-tier. Anyway, you promised me Zeus, Kronos, and Typhon. I expect them as soon as your little game is complete. If not, I don't mind substituting and experimenting on a female deity if that's what you claim to be. I will get my results all the same: to transfer your powers to me." His words reveal a sinister agenda, his mind and heart disregarding the possible consequences of meddling with forces beyond mortal comprehension.
The woman erupted into wicked laughter, "Experiment on me, please. Everyone in this building would die and be resurrected just so I could see the confusion on your faces, then be killed again. Good luck with that. Besides, Kronos is locked away in Tartarus for a reason; I hope you understand that. Zeus is the child who gave Kronos a run for his money. I'm sure that's one kid he wishes he actually swallowed." She chuckled. "As for Typhon, he almost killed Zeus, quite a fight. Can you guess who I rooted for?"
The woman smiled and began pouring herself a drink, "Look, I'm sure you get the picture. If you don't have a way to contain all that power, they will seriously crumble you and this world in milliseconds by accident. Because I promise you, you will not be on their minds; they will go after each other. And the moment you try to stand up to a power you don't understand, it will be like an insect breaking up a fight between three elephants trying to harm each other seriously.
On that note, I have Zeus in a coma stored nearby, and for me to get the other two you requested, I need to get back to my Realm, and I can't travel like this; I'm too weak. Other than those with the power to travel between Realms. The natural way is water, but I'm sure you knew that; you're hiding it from the world, which is entirely pointless."
The General stood bewildered as it was confirmed that he and many people with a particular clearance level knew of Earth's secrets, which humanity had yet to fathom, such as using water as portals to different Realms. He stared at the woman, waiting for her to disclose precisely how to use water as a portal, part of the secret they lacked. After diving as deep as they could, the General knew there was a place untouched by human technology.
Before revealing, the woman delved into her grudge against Poseidon, asserting that it was his fault that some of the gods from her Realm were sent to this one. With the amount of power he used, she knew he was weak and vulnerable. She noted to The General that Poseidon had his son Triton and a few underwater mates guarding him as he slept, attempting to recover.
The General listened intently, torn between skepticism and a growing realization. Even though he knew of supernatural possibilities and Earth's secrets, somehow, he denied it all, his mind closed to the impossible. "Triton? The King Merman from the Mermaid movie, please. This has to be a joke. Are you insinuating that mermaids are the key to travel Realms?" He said, suddenly changing his interest as he assumed the woman was merely toying with him.
The woman gazed at him with a mixture of disappointment and understanding, realizing that some things, though in plain sight, are still beyond the grasp of a human mind. She chose to go a step further, unveiling herself from the shadows to express her frustration with human ignorance openly. "The Goddess Hera, Queen of Olympus, stands before you, and it's astonishing how closed-minded humans can be. It's no wonder you consider Sirens a mere fantasy. Let me enlighten you – Mermaids and Mermen are but one of many beings capable of traversing between Realms. When it comes to the easiest way to travel, water, sirens do it best. If you manage to capture a siren, I can use my abilities to make it open a portal. However, it's a risky endeavor. You may encounter Triton, the son of Poseidon. Who, despite your belief, is very real."
The General listened to the weight of the information bestowed upon him yet still did not take it seriously. "I'm sure we can handle some fantasy fish; plus, if I know my myths right, Triton is a watered-down version of his father, not even the real deal." The General and all of his soldiers laughed out loud. "He lacks the same thing you lack, and more so, he's not that powerful. Make sure you hold up your part of the deal; we'll grab your deformed fish and be back."
Hera shakes her head as if the General wasn't listening to what she said, "That's where you are wrong, General." She whispered, "Poseidon and his son are different from other gods. Though his son is not as powerful, they still gain strength similarly. Like all gods, they need praise and worship, but they can get theirs from creatures of the sea. It's only a matter of time before Poseidon regains the power he needs. And for your sake, you should hope your mission is complete before then."
As the scene flips, The Sheriff's heart races as the knock comes unexpectedly; the urgent pounding on the door creates an atmosphere of tension. He trudged through his small house, beer in hand, his boxers slightly under his hips and his work shirt rumpled and half-buttoned. The television blared some reality show about prison life, but it was just background noise compared to the disrespectful pounding from whoever was disturbing him at the moment. He gazed back at the TV and took another swig of beer, the bitter taste a familiar comfort.
Again, a loud pounding echoed through the house, shaking the thin walls. His eyes narrowed into a glare, and a growl rumbled in his throat.
Who the hell had the nerve to pound on his door like that?
"Damn it, can't a man get some peace around here on his downtime?" he muttered under his breath.
The Sheriff slammed his beer down on the coffee table, causing a small splash to hit the already sticky surface, and stomped towards the door, each step heavy with annoyance. His bare feet slapped against the cold floor, and he could feel his blood pressure rising with each endless bang on the door.
When he reached the door, he didn't open it right away. Instead, he leaned close, his breath hissing through gritted teeth. "Whoever you are, you better have a damn good reason for this!" the Sheriff barked, his voice edged with fury.
The pounding didn't stop. His patience, already thin, snapped like a brittle twig. With a forceful yank, he flung the door open, his glare fixed on the intruder with the intensity of a man pushed to his limits. "What the hell do you want?" His disheveled appearance did nothing to soften the harshness of his stare. The knot on his head, his split lip, and his swollen eye completed his shirt hanging off his frame, and the beer on his breath made him look more like a bear rudely awakened from hibernation than a man greeting a visitor.
With the door finally open, the Agent, dressed in black with a gold tie, stormed into the house, flashing his badge once and very quickly. Even the way the Agent spoke was speedy, as if he were always in a rush. "Good evening, Sir. I'm not here to take up much of your time. I need a few questions answered, and I'll be out of your hair. Yes, that's simple if you make it."
The Sheriff, having dealt with Kai's father, was entirely over military personnel attempting to assert their status above him. "Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing? Show me some identification! Flashing your wallet isn't going to be enough. I was only able to tell it was military. What level of clearance do you have? Do you even have a warrant?" he demanded.
The Agent stared the Sheriff down as he was equipping his hands with gloves. Again, his speedy voice said, "You dare speak to me about a warrant, Sheriff Charles Webbs? Divorced for thirteen years, with your son, Taylor Webbs, attending Franklin High School. Your son is a well-known criminal, but no one speaks about it since you are the Sheriff. You held seven men in jail only to raid their drug spots and then let them go. You are well known throughout the criminal world and often let drug dealers pass through as long as they pay you, because this is your town. Highly questionable.
You even recently put military vet, Mr. James Dean, on house arrest because he attacked you. Also, questionable. I know your wife owns that cabin in the woods. At first sight, it doesn't show any ties to you because it was her mother's. And because your wife took her father's last name, and her parents were never married. Her mother made a perfect crime spot, correct? They are all rhetorical questions, so don't answer—everything was facts," the Agent stated firmly. "I'm busy, so you'll have to walk and talk with me. It would be best to cooperate with a positive attitude, okay?"
The Sheriff's mouth formed profanities as he struggled to find words to deny everything he had just been told. Before he could respond, the Agent continued digging through random spots in the house. "I'm assigned to the case you couldn't solve in your town. Now, question one: The girl you possibly kidnapped, drugged, and trafficked. What is her name, and where could she be heading?"
The Sheriff instantly got angered and charged at the Agent, snatching him by his collar. "What are you talking about? I need you to leave; you can't be here without a warrant. I am the Sheriff of this town, and just so you know, my son and I are helping search for that young lady!"
Red and green lasers traced across the Sheriff's body like moving poke-a-dots, covering him from head to toe. Stunned and confused, the Sheriff was immobilized as the Agent grabbed his hands and forcefully removed them from his clothing. "Yeah," the Agent retorted, dusting himself off.
The Sheriff, still trying to comprehend the situation, scanned the room, attempting to locate the source of the lasers, which all came from outside, pointing through different windows. "The kind of people I have with me will shred this house and have it looking newly renovated afterward. Could you not play games with me? I told you to have a positive attitude, didn't I?"
The Sheriff, realizing he had finally met his match, folded under pressure and began to plead for his life, "I'm sorry, this was a misunderstanding. Everything just happened too fast-"
Cutting him off by placing his finger over the Sheriff's mouth, the Agent shushed him, "Shhh, keep the same energy you just had. There wasn't a misunderstanding a second ago. I just told you your second biggest secret, and you still doubt my knowledge. So, I'm going to state something else. You butchered your wife on November 12th, two days after the divorce she filed against you was finalized; I'm sure you know the year. Your son was about eight years old when you did it. You lied to your son and the town for ten years; that's almost a record.
This is my last time asking the first set of questions. What is her name, and where was she heading?"
While the Agent talked to the Sheriff, the stealth soldiers searched the house quietly and quickly. The moment when a vital piece of information was found, the Agent was radioed the secrets in his ear. "There is a desktop in the son's room; maybe he used it to monitor the cabin. Also, the Huntress has been listening, and she wants the Sheriff."
The Agent walks off and puts his finger to his ear. "Good work. Stand by for further instructions."
With a new plan in mind, the Agent turns to the Sheriff with disappointment, asking if they could walk to the son's room to look around. Immediately, the Agent walks in to find what was told and imparts some words of wisdom to the Sheriff. "Okay, new plan. You've wasted your time, which shows how important time is. Was your son watching the cabin from here? Maybe on his phone? Storing any saved files?" The Agent asks the Sheriff, pointing at the monitor on the desk.
"This whole time, I have been asking you only the first set of questions when you could have pointed me to your son. Let me welcome you to the game since that's what you like to play. All you have to do is run and survive. She hates her prey standing in one spot."
The Sheriff quickly looked around, and his first instinct was to head to his room. He grabbed his utility belt and gun before asking, "What game and who is she?" But he received no answer, so he headed for the back door and burst into a run. Meanwhile, The Agent hopped into a black-on-black SUV and drove to Taylor's high school.
The school announcements chimed, echoing through the school. "Taylor Webbs, please come to the front office. Taylor Webbs to the front office. Thank You."
The students around Taylor all roared, "OOHHH, Taylor!" However, this was normal for Taylor, as he was always called to the office, except he knew he hadn't bullied anybody recently. As he rounded the corner into the office, he was met by the Agent, who explained that something had happened to his father and that Taylor needed to go with them. Feeling the suspicious eyes behind his back, the Agent turned to ease the school staff's minds, creating a story not far from the shared whispers throughout town, suspicions of the Sheriff being involved in some nasty business.
The Agent explained how they could only mention that it involved a girl who once went to this school and had been missing. The teachers and staff members covered their mouths as they gasped and wondered about Kai. Taylor and the Agent started to head out of the building, loading into the black SUV, but the interrogation began before they could even drive out of the lot. The Agent started to ask who the girl was and if Taylor knew the last few people to have a visit with the girl. He boosted Taylor's ego by telling him how brilliant he was, which could help his father. The Agent assumed there was no way Taylor didn't try to tell his ignorant father to at least keep a list, a sign-in sheet, or backup pictures of the IDs of the people who came in.
Instead of answering, Taylor had his own questions, setting the tone of the interrogation to his terms. "What exactly happened to my father? Did our place get raided, or did he run off?" Taylor inquired, his eyes narrowing.
The Agent's following words hit Taylor like a punch to the gut. He felt a mix of shock, disbelief, and a tremendous amount of grief. Despite the heavy news, the Agent insisted on getting answers. "Your father is dead, but I need you to answer the question. The sooner I find the girl and whoever she's with, the sooner I find the person who did this to your father."
Taylor's mind raced with uncertainty, seeking answers that might offer him a glimpse of control in this chaotic situation. He knew the Agent was trying to manipulate him and decided to cut to the chase. "What will happen to me and our house? If I cooperate, will I still be taken to jail?"
The Agent smiled for a split second, removed his dark sunglasses, and wiped them. "Ready to end this game of beating around the bush, huh. As much as you deserve to be locked away forever, I don't care about what you do in this town. We left all the money alone; the house is yours, and the money is yours. In exchange, we want to know everything about the girl, even information we already possess. Any horrific things you did besides the girl don't interest me because I know it will catch up to you, and one day, your name will reach my desk. Until then, all I need is information about the girl, and you can be the richest eighteen-year-old in this crappy minuscule town."
Undisturbed by the Agent's threats, Taylor felt relieved upon hearing that all the money he and his father stashed from Kai was still intact and the property still belonged to him. In Taylor's mind, life was good, and he was more than willing to provide any information to hasten the Agent's departure. "Yeah, her name is Kai Dean, and she is eighteen years old. Um, she's taller than an average girl, about five-eleven, if not six-one in height, and about one sixty-five in weight. She's lean yet has a curvy physique with defined muscles, particularly in the arms, legs, and core. I noticed it when we went swimming.
She's so fit, but I've never seen her play sports. Then again, her father is ex-military, so there's no telling. Her hair was always black, but it changed recently when strange things started happening to her. You can find that in the video. I used to monitor the camera in her room from my phone. I would save the clip, then upload it to my computer. I'm unsure how, but her hair is multicolored; you'll know it when you see it.
Her parents live not far from the school, a bit private from the rest of the town. They own a massive chunk of land. The footage also shows everyone who has visited since I installed it there. Other than that, my dad ran every person's background, well, only those he wasn't familiar with or didn't trust. I don't know if you can access it in the database or however that works."