Chapter 8: Safe Haven
Rachel navigated the sedan through the city's winding streets, her eyes darting between the rearview mirror and the road. I sat tensely, my mind racing with questions. Where were we going? Who was Rachel contacting? The silence between us was thick, punctuated only by the hum of the engine.
After what felt like an eternity, Rachel turned into a quiet neighborhood. The houses were modest, with neatly manicured lawns and porches adorned with rocking chairs. She pulled into the driveway of a cozy bungalow, the garage door sliding open to envelop us.
"Welcome to my safe house," Rachel said, smiling wryly. "You'll be staying here for now." I nodded, relief washing over me as I grabbed my backpack.
Inside, the bungalow was warm and inviting. Rachel ushered me to a cozy bedroom, equipped with a laptop and a secure phone line. "Use these to research, but be cautious," she warned. "We don't know who's monitoring the lines."
As Rachel busied herself in the kitchen, I began to dig into the Eclipse Project. The more I read, the more questions I had. Why had my parents kept their research hidden? Who was Nova, really?
Rachel appeared with a steaming cup of coffee, her expression serious. "Ethan, we need to discuss the conspiracy. What we're up against." I nodded, my heart racing.
"The Eclipse Project threatened powerful interests," Rachel began. "Government agencies, corporations... they'll stop at nothing to keep this buried." Her eyes locked onto mine. "You're in grave danger, Ethan. But I'll help you uncover the truth."
Suddenly, the laptop beeped, signaling an incoming message. Nova's name flashed on the screen.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone