You're thinking, "What am I even doing? I might be talking to the boss—or maybe one of the eclipse's lawmakers—and I'm staying calm about it. She just brought up Ben, too. Is this some kind of game?"
Mara's chuckle sent a shiver down my spine, the sound echoing through the lighthouse like a whispered secret. I felt like I was being sized up, my every move scrutinized, as if I was a puzzle piece being fitted into a larger, sinister picture. Her words, "You're indeed funny, just like I was told," were laced with a subtle flirting, her tone dripping with feminine charm. It was like she was trying to disarm me, to make me let my guard down. But I wasn't buying it. I kept my expression neutral, my eyes locked on hers, as I replied, "I have my moments. But let's cut the small talk, Mara. What do you want from me?"
" Can't I have at least a nice chatting time with a new friend?" She said with a grin.
" That_infact is what I can't accept. First you send a mysterious teenager to pass me a letter, two of all places you choose here, a place it could be easier to take me out, three you said I'll know more about the whole situation especially the eclipse, and here we are you flirting with me, if you're want to kill me why not make it quick."
___ I said with a deep steady tone, even though deep down I was anxious and curious about our little meeting.
Mara's grin faltered for a moment, her eyes flashing with surprise at my words. She leaned back, her gaze never leaving mine, and let out a low, throaty laugh. "Oh, Waller, you're a clever one, aren't you?" she said, her tone dripping with admiration. "I underestimated you. You piece together the puzzle quicker than I thought."
She leaned forward again, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "Alright, let's dispense with the games. I didn't bring you here to kill you, at least, not yet. I brought you here because you're the only one who can help me."
Her words hung in the air, the only sound the creaking of the old lighthouse. I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. "Help you?" I repeated, my tone skeptical.
Mara nodded, her eyes burning with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "Yes, help me. You see, Waller, I'm not who you think I am. I'm not part of the Eclipse Project, at least, not anymore. I'm a... let's say, a defector. And I need your help to take them down."
Her words were like a punch to the gut, leaving me stunned and wondering if I could trust her. I studied her face, searching for any sign of deception, but all I saw was a glimmer of desperation in her eyes.
__Mara's grin widened, the candlelight catching the edge of her teeth. "A nice chat, huh? I thought you'd be more… formal after all the cloak‑and‑dagger stuff." She leaned back, the old chair creaking under her weight. "You know, I didn't pick this lighthouse because it's easy to kill someone. I chose it because it's the last place anyone expects a conversation."
She tapped the side of the lantern, sending a flicker of light across the cracked glass. "First, the kid with the letter—yeah, that was me. I needed a way to get you out of the precinct without raising alarms. Second, the two of us being here? Pure coincidence, if you believe in that sort of thing. And third… you're right, I do have a lot to tell you about the Eclipse. But I'm not here to flirt, even if you make it tempting."
Her eyes softened for a split second, then hardened again. "If I wanted you dead, I'd have taken the shot when you walked through that door. Instead, I'm offering you a choice: walk away now, or stay and hear the truth that could bring down the whole operation."
I felt the weight of the pistol at my hip, the cold metal a reminder that I was still in control. My heart hammered, but my voice stayed steady. "You've got my attention, Mara. What's the truth?"
She smiled, a thin, dangerous curve. "The Eclipse Project isn't just a myth. It's a network, and they've already set the wheels in motion. The eclipse is a trigger—something they've engineered to give them leverage over the city's power grid. If we don't stop it tonight, the whole downtown will go dark… permanently."
She slid a folded piece of paper across the table. The ink was fresh, the handwriting jagged. "This is the location of their control hub. It's a warehouse on the docks, right under the old shipping crane. I need you to get in, grab the main server, and upload this decryption key. After that, we can expose them and pull the plug on the whole thing."
I stared at the paper, then back at her. "And what do you get out of this?"
Mara's gaze drifted to the storm‑clouded window, where lightning briefly illuminated the sea. "I get to watch them burn. And maybe… I get a chance to finally put an end to the ghosts that have been chasing me."
The wind howled through the lighthouse's cracked windows, rattling the metal shutters. I slipped the paper into my jacket, feeling the weight of the mission settle like a stone in my gut. "Alright, Mara. Let's make this quick."
" Indeed I knew I could trust you, more than some people I once known." She replied.
" You said Ben is alive and doing well, are you friends with him?" Asking someone whom I have a distrusting idea towards was what made the question a bit surprising if not stupid.
Mara's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she regained control. "Ben's... a complicated topic," she said, her voice measured. "Let's just say we have a... history. He's alive, but he's in a precarious position. The Eclipse Project has him, and they'll use him as leverage if they can."
Her eyes locked onto mine, a hint of warning in them. "Don't trust me, Waller. I have my reasons for doing this, and they're not entirely altruistic. But I need you to trust that I want the Eclipse Project taken down as much as you do."
The air was thick with tension, the only sound the creaking of the old lighthouse. I studied her face, searching for any sign of deception, but all I saw was a glimmer of determination in her eyes.
"You're playing a dangerous game, Mara," I said finally, my voice low. "What's to stop me from taking you in right now and getting the information out of you another way?"
Mara's smile was back, a cold, calculating curve. "Because, Waller, I'm the only one who knows the full scope of the Eclipse Project. And if you try to take me in, you'll never find out what really happened to Alex... or what they're planning next."
The thought sent a shiver down my spine. How did she know about Alex? What else did she know? I felt like I was walking into a trap, with Mara pulling the strings. My mind was racing with questions, but I kept my expression neutral, my eyes locked on hers.
"Tell me more about Alex," I said, my voice firm. "What do you know about he being hospitalized?"
Mara leaned forward, her eyes glinting with a mixture of curiosity and calculation. "I know he's alive, for now. And I know the Eclipse Project wants him silenced. But that's all I'm willing to say... for now."
Her words were like a challenge, pushing me to decide how much I was willing to trust her. I felt a surge of frustration, mixed with a healthy dose of caution. This was a game, and I wasn't sure what the rules were.
"Why should I believe you?" I asked, my voice low. "You could be the one pulling the strings, using me to further your own agenda."
Mara's smile was back, a slow, deliberate curve. "You shouldn't believe me, Waller. You should verify everything I say, check every lead, and make sure you're not walking into a trap. But I'll give you this: I have no reason to lie about Alex, maybe he's in a bad moment especially been left alone in the hospital, but I want the Eclipse Project taken down, and I need your help to do it."
The air was thick with tension, the only sound the creaking of the old lighthouse. I knew I had to make a decision, and fast. Did I trust Mara, or was she leading me into a trap?
The sigh was a silent admission that I was in too deep to turn back now. Mara's eyes seemed to gleam with understanding, her expression softening ever so slightly.
"You're not in this alone, Waller," she said, her voice low and even. "I know it feels like the whole world is against you, but I'm offering a way out. We can take down the Eclipse Project, and get Alex back. But you have to trust me... at least a little."
Her words hung in the air, a fragile promise that I wasn't sure I could believe. But what choice did I have? I was in this too deep, and I needed all the allies I could get.
"Alright," I said finally, my voice firm. "I'll work with you. But if this is a trap..."
Mara's smile was back, a hint of relief in her eyes. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Waller. Now, let's get moving. The clock's ticking, and we have a lot of work to do."