Chapter 4 — Siblings at Odds

Derek

The safehouse clung to the Silhouette District like a forgotten relic, its crumbling facade dissolving into the rain-soaked decay of its surroundings. Water streaked the grime-encrusted windows, distorting the view of the narrow alleyways below. Inside, Derek’s screens cast a cold, blue glow across the dimly lit room. The metallic tang of damp concrete mingled with the faint, fried-wire scent of his tangled mess of cables, which sprawled across the floor like invasive vines. His wrist computer pulsed faintly on the desk beside him, matching the rhythm of his own racing thoughts.