Chapter 3
January 8, 2012 — 10:15 a.m., Saturday
Grey and Maeve's morning had begun with such promise, but even the best-laid plans could unravel in an instant. The city library, a destination they had built up in their minds as a treasure trove of knowledge, now loomed before them, a closed sign mocking their anticipation.
"Closed for fumigation."
Maeve stared at the printed notice, lips pressed together in frustration. A part of her wanted to stomp her foot or mutter under her breath, but she caught herself, forcing a small, rueful smile.
Grey, standing beside her with his usual calm, shrugged lightly. His brown eyes scanned the quiet street, considering options. Where most would see disappointment, he saw opportunity, a chance to adapt.
"Not a problem," he said, voice soft but steady. "We can talk to the locals instead. People who've seen this city grow… firsthand. That'll give us better insight than any book."
Maeve's face brightened at his suggestion. "You mean… interview the older residents? That's actually a great idea."
Grey nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching in a rare, small smile. Textbooks are static. People… people remember the texture of history. The struggles, the victories, the little details that never make it to the pages. That's what we need.
So, armed with a notebook and a small recorder, the two set off toward the oldest standing structure in the city: the century-old city hall. Its brick façade and tall, arched windows carried the weight of generations, and its polished marble floors reflected the morning sunlight like a quiet promise. Grey and Maeve were greeted by clerks and employees whose eyes carried the faint spark of curiosity, people who had witnessed decades of change, of the city's rise from a modest town to a middle-sized urban hub, shaped largely by the military base that had become its economic backbone.
While Grey and Maeve navigated this urban archaeology, the Chevalier household was quieter but no less eventful. Lailah, the youngest sibling, had taken it upon herself to tidy the living room. Her small hands could lift only the lighter boxes, but she arranged them meticulously, leaving the heavy crates for later. Each object placed neatly brought her a small sense of triumph, her contribution restoring order to a space cluttered with remnants of family life.
Then, the unexpected beep of her cellphone broke her rhythm. A scheduled email notification glimmered on the screen, instructing her to open her father's laptop in the basement office. Curiosity, tinged with unease, propelled her downward. She pressed the power button, and almost immediately, a video began to play.
It was her father, his face serious but composed, speaking directly to the camera. The message lasted an hour, detailing events from two years prior—military operations, unusual occurrences in Derbent, Russia, and instructions meant to guide the family in emergencies.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she paused, rewound, and played segments again. On her small screen, a group of unidentified creatures emerged from the shadowy depths of a tunnel, moving with an eerie, unnatural fluidity. Lailah's heart pounded as the images scrolled across her display, each second more horrifying than the last.
Then, without warning, the file vanished.
A hidden program had executed a command to delete it from the laptop. Panic flared, but she had already recorded the playback with her phone. Relief washed over her in small waves, at least she could preserve the evidence. Still, the questions swirled relentlessly.
Where were her parents? Were they safe? What had these creatures been? Why had her father left instructions in such a clandestine manner?
She debated calling immediately, but hesitation rooted her in place. Security protocols likely prevented her parents from revealing details over a casual line. If they can't tell me… who can? Her mind raced with possibilities. Someone in the field of paranormal research? Allies of the peacekeeping force? Perhaps someone who had encountered these creatures before.
January 7, 2012 — 2:30 p.m., Saturday
Grey returned home after dropping Maeve off at her grandparents' farmhouse. The warmth of the Chevalier living room did little to calm the knot in his stomach. He found Lailah hunched over her father's laptop, eyes wide and alert, fingers poised to replay the video she had recorded.
"What's wrong?" he asked, rushing over.
Lailah explained in quick, clipped words, her anxiety barely contained. Grey watched the video on her phone as it played, witnessing the underground tunnels, the shadowy forms of the creatures, and the careful, deliberate actions of the military team operating there. Questions flooded his mind Why had this footage been hidden? Were the Chevaliers' parents in danger?
Grey reached for his own phone, attempting to contact the relevant military branch. The connection failed. With no immediate answers and the weekly video chat scheduled for tomorrow, they were forced into a tense wait.
Hours passed. Dinner went untouched. Short naps replaced sleep, as both Grey and Lailah stayed alert, anxious to witness any news of their parents' safety. Each passing minute deepened the tension in the isolated home, surrounded by dense trees and the quiet hum of nature that offered no reassurance.
Grey tried to research online, scanning for any reports about Derbent, military deployments, or unusual sightings in the area depicted in the video. The weak connection made progress painfully slow. His frustration built, tempered only by the thought of Maeve, of her gentle smile, her curiosity, and the hope she inspired.
Time is the enemy, he thought. Every second we wait, questions grow larger. But we have to stay calm. We have to be prepared.
The siblings resolved to explore every possible avenue, neighbors, nearby towns with better connectivity, even reaching out to trusted contacts within the military or academic research networks. Every minute wasted was a minute further from the truth, yet Grey remained steadfast.
By evening, the house was quiet again. Lailah sat cross-legged on the living room floor, reviewing notes from the video, while Grey stared at the setting sun, planning their next steps. Somewhere in the fading light, he felt a stirring, a sense that the days ahead would demand more than courage. They would demand understanding, strategy, and, perhaps, a bravery neither he nor his sister had fully realized they possessed.
And somewhere beyond the mountains, in Derbent, shadows waited.
The question that haunted them both was simple yet terrifying:Would their parents return safely?
And if they didn't… would Grey and Lailah be ready for what came next?