Chapitre 107: Chapter 107: Ashes and Shadows
Cole stood outside the smoldering remains of the warehouse, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he watched the last of the flames consume what was left of the underground's stronghold. The night air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and burning debris, the dark sky illuminated by the flickering glow of fire. His muscles ached, and his mind buzzed with the gravity of what they had just done.
Danton was dead.
It was over.
Yet, as he stood there, his body still tense from the fight, something inside him whispered that this was just the beginning.
"Are you okay?" Lina's voice broke through his thoughts. She appeared at his side, her face streaked with dirt and ash, but her eyes were clear and sharp, as always.
Cole nodded, though his heart felt heavy. "Yeah. It's done."
She gave him a small, understanding nod. "We did what we had to do."
The rest of the crew gathered around, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and relief. Ty and Zack looked especially worn out, their clothes singed from the heat, but there was a sense of accomplishment in their eyes. They had fought hard, and they had won.
"We should move," Ty said, glancing around at the surrounding streets. "The fire will attract attention, and we don't want to be here when the authorities show up."
"Agreed," Zack muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "I've had enough of this place."
Cole took one last look at the burning warehouse before turning to the crew. "Let's get out of here."
They moved quickly, slipping into the shadows of the city streets, the warehouse fading into the background as they disappeared into the night. The tension in the air slowly began to dissipate, but the weight of what they had just done lingered. Danton was gone, but the repercussions of his death would be felt throughout the city.
As they made their way back to the safe house, Cole couldn't shake the feeling that something was still wrong. Danton had been a powerful figure in the underground, but he hadn't built his empire alone. There were still people out there—people with influence, connections, and the resources to retaliate.
And Cole knew they wouldn't stay quiet for long.
---
By the time they reached the safe house, exhaustion had settled over the crew like a heavy blanket. The adrenaline that had kept them going during the mission was fading, leaving only the ache of tired muscles and the dull throb of bruises.
Ty collapsed onto a battered old couch, groaning as he stretched out. "I don't know about you guys, but I could use a long nap."
Zack slumped into a chair, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Yeah, I think we've earned it."
Lina leaned against the wall, her eyes still alert despite the weariness in her posture. "We can rest, but not for long. We've dealt a serious blow to the underground, but that doesn't mean they're gone. There will be fallout from this."
Cole stood near the window, looking out at the city beyond. Lina was right. Danton's death would create a power vacuum, and someone would try to fill it. The question was, who? And how long would it take for them to come after Cole and his crew?
"We'll need to keep an eye on the streets," Cole said, his voice quiet but firm. "Danton's people will be looking for revenge. We can't afford to let our guard down."
Ty groaned from the couch. "You mean we're not done yet?"
Cole shot him a small, wry smile. "Not even close."
Zack let out a low chuckle. "I had a feeling you were going to say that."
Lina pushed off the wall and crossed her arms. "We've come too far to stop now. We need to be ready for whatever comes next."
Cole nodded, his gaze still fixed on the city. He could feel it—the shift in the air, the subtle tension that always preceded a storm. The underground was reeling from the loss of their leader, but that didn't mean they were finished. There were always others waiting in the wings, ready to seize power.
And Cole knew that their fight was far from over.
---
The next few days passed in a blur of preparation and vigilance. Cole and his crew stayed low, keeping a close watch on the streets for any sign of retaliation from the underground. The city was unusually quiet, as if it were holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
But the quiet didn't last.
Late one night, just as the crew was settling in at the safe house, a loud knock echoed through the door, startling everyone to attention.
Cole was on his feet in an instant, his hand instinctively going to the gun at his waist. Lina, Ty, and Zack were right behind him, each of them tense and ready for whatever might be waiting on the other side of the door.
"Who is it?" Cole called out, his voice low but commanding.
There was a brief pause, then a familiar voice replied from the other side. "It's Maria."
Cole's brow furrowed in confusion, but he signaled for the others to lower their weapons. He unlocked the door, and Maria, the widow lawyer who had helped him out of prison, stepped inside. Her face was pale, her usual calm demeanor replaced with a look of worry.
"What's going on?" Cole asked, his voice tight with concern.
Maria glanced around the room, her expression grave. "We need to talk."
The crew gathered around, sensing the seriousness of her tone. Maria had never come to them without a good reason, and if she was here now, it meant something was wrong.
"Danton's death is making waves," Maria said, her voice steady but laced with tension. "The underground is in chaos, but there's more going on than just a power struggle."
Cole's jaw tightened. "What do you mean?"
"There's a faction within the underground that's been waiting for this moment," Maria explained, her eyes scanning the faces of the crew. "They were loyal to Danton, but now that he's gone, they see an opportunity to seize control. They're more ruthless than he ever was, and they're not just looking to rebuild—they want revenge."
"On us," Lina said, her voice flat.
Maria nodded. "On all of you. They see you as a threat to their plans, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate that threat."
Zack let out a low whistle, leaning back in his chair. "Great. Just what we needed."
Cole's mind raced, already calculating their next move. "Who's leading this faction?"
Maria hesitated for a moment before answering. "A man named Victor Larkin. He was one of Danton's top lieutenants, but he's been building his own network behind the scenes for years. Now that Danton's out of the picture, he's making his move."
"Larkin..." Cole muttered, the name ringing a bell. He had heard whispers about the man in the past, but he had never crossed paths with him directly. "What does he want?"
Maria's gaze hardened. "Power. Control. And he'll destroy anyone who gets in his way."
Lina crossed her arms, her face set in a determined scowl. "Then we take him down, just like we did with Danton."
"It won't be that simple," Maria warned. "Larkin is smart, and he's already consolidated a lot of support within the underground. He's not going to fall as easily as Danton did."
Cole's eyes narrowed. "That's not going to stop us."
Maria looked at him, her expression softening slightly. "I know it won't. But you need to be careful. Larkin's different. He's not just trying to survive—he's trying to build something new. Something worse."
There was a heavy silence in the room as the weight of Maria's words sank in. Danton had been a brutal leader, but he had always been driven by greed and control. If Larkin was as dangerous as Maria said, then they were facing something far more dangerous—a man with a vision, willing to do anything to see it realized.
"We'll stop him," Cole said finally, his voice steady with conviction. "Just like we've stopped everyone else who's tried to come after us."
Maria nodded, though there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "I hope you're right. Because if you don't... the city might not survive what's coming."
---
Later that night, after Maria had left, Cole stood alone on the rooftop of the safe house, staring out at the city. The skyline was dark, the streets below quiet, but he could feel the storm brewing. Larkin's rise to power wasn't just about the underground—it was about something bigger. Something that could tear the city apart if they didn't stop it.
Lina joined him, as she always did, her presence a steady comfort in the chaos. She didn't say anything at first, just stood beside him, watching the city in silence.
Finally, she spoke. "You think we're ready for this?"
Cole's jaw tightened as he stared into the distance. "We have to be."
Lina glanced at him, her expression softening. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
Cole nodded, his resolve hardening. They had come too far to back down now. They had faced the worst the underground had to offer, and they had survived. But this was different. This was bigger. And if they didn't stop Larkin, the city would fall into a darkness it might never recover from.
"We'll take him down," Cole said quietly, his voice cold and certain. "No matter what it takes."
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone