The pier creaked beneath my boots, the cold night air biting through my jacket. The carnival lights were distant, a faded glow swallowed by the black of the city. This place felt forgotten—perfect for secrets.
I checked my phone again. 6:58 PM.
The water whispered against the wooden pillars, and every shadow seemed to stretch like a long finger, reaching for me.
Then I saw him.
Elias stood at the edge, back to the city, watching the waves. He was tall, lean, with dark hair that curled slightly at the ends. There was something haunted in his stance, like a man weighed down by ghosts.
I cleared my throat.
"Elias?"
He turned slowly, eyes sharp but wary. "You're brave. Or crazy."
"Maybe both," I said, stepping closer.
He studied me, like he was trying to decide if I was friend or threat.
"What do you want to know?" he finally asked.
"About Grayson. About your family," I said. "I'm trying to stop him. To protect my family."
Elias sighed, rubbing his jaw.
"Grayson... he's not the man people think. He's built walls around himself thicker than anyone's ever seen. Our parents split up years ago. I stayed with my mom; he stayed with his dad. We barely know each other. But if there's one thing I've learned—it's that power can corrupt anyone."
I swallowed hard.
"Do you know anything that could help me?"
He hesitated, then pulled a worn envelope from his coat pocket.
"This," he said, handing it over. "Was left for me years ago. Something Grayson didn't want me to have. Maybe it can help you."
My hands trembled as I took it.
"What's inside?" I asked.
Elias shook his head.
"Open it yourself. But be careful. Grayson will know if you do."
Before I could say more, Elias slipped into the shadows, vanishing like a ghost.
I was left alone with the ocean breeze and the weight of the envelope in my hands.
The game had just gotten a whole lot more dangerous.