Frank and Leo moved carefully through the hidden passage behind the old mill. The air was damp and smelled of dust and mildew, but Frank's focus never wavered. Every creak of the floor, every shadow, every faint sound could mean danger.
At the end of the passage, they found a small, dimly lit room, barely bigger than a storage closet. Inside, Frank's eyes immediately landed on a table cluttered with papers, maps, and a small, sealed envelope. The envelope had the same black insignia that had appeared on the scraps of fabric and the parchment from the watchtower.
"This has to be it," Frank whispered, crouching to examine the envelope. "Whatever's inside… it might tell us who's behind all of this."
Leo leaned closer, curiosity mixed with anxiety. "Do you think it's safe to open it?"
Frank shook his head briefly. "Nothing about this is safe. But we need answers. Knowledge is our best weapon right now."
He carefully opened the envelope. Inside were several pieces of parchment, filled with handwriting and symbols that seemed familiar from the previous map. Among them was a detailed plan for an upcoming strike—routes, timing, and targets marked clearly.
Frank studied it, his eyes narrowing. "They're planning something big… and they've been watching us every step of the way. The warehouse fire, the alley attacks, even the ambush tonight—it's all part of a bigger strategy."
Leo frowned. "Do you think we can stop them?"
Frank clenched his jaw. "We have to. And now we know where they'll strike next. That gives us an advantage. But it also confirms something I feared… this leader is smarter than we thought. They're not just attacking—they're testing us, learning our patterns, and predicting our moves."
Leo swallowed hard. "So… we need a plan?"
"Yes," Frank said firmly. "A plan that uses what we know, what we've prepared, and the town itself. And we need to be ready for anything, because whoever this leader is… they won't hold back."
He glanced at the papers again. Among the maps and symbols was a single, cryptic mark, one that seemed like a signature: a twisted circle with a sharp slash across it. Frank's stomach tightened.
"That symbol… I've seen it before," he murmured. "Not in the attacks—but somewhere else. Someone who knows the town, someone who's been planning this for a long time."
Leo looked at him, tense. "Then… we're close?"
Frank nodded. "Close, but not safe. Whoever left this clue knows we're looking. And now, they'll expect us to act. This is just the beginning of the real challenge."
Outside, the wind carried a faint whisper from the shadows:
"There he stands… and now he knows too much."