DYLAN
The compound Isabelle marked on the map is old — once part of a private estate now swallowed by the outskirts of Abuja. The entrance is shielded by lush hedges and black iron gates so overgrown with bougainvillea, it's nearly invisible to a casual eye.
But not to me.
Not anymore.
I stand in front of the gate as the team sweeps the area. Inside, we'll find her. Hermione.
Or at least, a clue.
Adrian hands me a secure satellite phone just as I'm about to step in.
"Sir. It's Daniel. Urgent."
I take the call. "Daniel, I'm—"
"I know. Listen, Dylan. I need you to brace yourself."
My spine stiffens. "Go on."
He exhales. "It's Seraphine. The body they found weeks ago — they ran final dental records. It's her. She's gone."
A chill washes over me, colder than anything I've felt in years.
Hermione's soft laugh. Seraphine's teasing voice. The way she always touched Hermione's shoulder when she hugged her. The warmth of that friendship.
Gone.
"Isabelle did it?" I ask tightly, though I already know the answer.
"Yes," Daniel replies. "And that's not all. Claire and Lia… they're missing. Their phones went dark a day ago. No contact. No sightings."
I clench the phone so hard my knuckles turn white.
"She brought them here," I whisper.
"Where?"
"Nigeria. I'm here now. I think she has them all." My voice lowers, lethal. "She's unraveling faster than we thought, Daniel. She didn't just kill Seraphine out of desperation — she planned it. Executed it. And now she's baiting Hermione. Making her suffer."
Daniel's voice turns urgent. "You want me there?"
"First flight," I say. "Take my jet. Get here now. We need to divide forces. If we don't find them in time—" I stop. Swallow the dread tightening in my throat.
Daniel's quiet for a second. "We won't lose them."
"I won't let her kill Hermione too," I murmur. "She already stole enough."
"Send me coordinates," he says.
I hang up, turn to Adrian, and nod once.
"Bring the dogs in. Begin aerial recon. We isolate this area and start the sweep."
Adrian gives the order immediately.
As the gate creaks open and we file inside, every nerve in my body is on high alert. The scent of dust, heat, and something coppery coats the air. The building is silent.
Too silent.
I pull out Isabelle's letter again. There was a message written faintly on the back — a riddle, almost.
If you want to see them again, walk where ghosts remember,
A house with no echoes,
A garden with no bloom.
Adrian steps beside me. "Sir… there's an abandoned chapel on the south end of the estate. Matches her cryptic message."
"Then that's where she's keeping them," I say.
I grip my gun tighter, jaw clenching.
Hold on, Hermione.
We're coming.