Chapter Six: Web of Deception
1072 Words
Rhea’s POV
The cold morning air bit into my skin as I stared at the city skyline from the rooftop of our safe house. Orion Vale gleamed beneath the pale dawn—a city of beauty and corruption entwined. Every shimmering building hid secrets darker than the night. Secrets Cassian and I had only begun to unravel.
My phone vibrated, breaking the silence. It was a coded message from Gabriel: "The summit changes. Prepare." No further details.
My heart tightened. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t good.
I turned to Cassian, who had been silently watching me from the doorway.
“Gabriel says the summit’s moving up,” I said, voice low.
Cassian’s jaw clenched. “They’re closing in faster than we thought.”
We exchanged a look heavy with unspoken fears.
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Cassian’s POV
The summit was the epicenter of power—a gathering where Orion Vale’s most influential figures would decide the city’s fate. We needed to be there, not just as observers but as catalysts.
Gabriel’s information hinted at a deep fracture among the elites, a struggle for control masked by polite smiles and fine suits.
“We have to get in,” I said, pacing the room.
Rhea nodded. “But we’ll need fake IDs, security clearance. Gabriel’s people can’t cover everything.”
My mind raced, piecing together a plan. This wasn’t just infiltration; it was walking into the lion’s den.
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Rhea’s POV
The days that followed were a blur of preparation.
Gabriel’s contacts worked tirelessly, forging documents and hacking systems.
I immersed myself in research, memorizing names, faces, and protocols.
Every step brought us closer to the summit—and deeper into the web of deception.
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Cassian’s POV
On the eve of the summit, Gabriel pulled me aside.
“There’s something you need to know,” he said, eyes serious.
I waited.
“There’s a mole in our camp,” he whispered.
My stomach dropped.
“Who?” I demanded.
Gabriel shook his head. “Unknown. But they’re feeding information to the Black Hawks.”
The Black Hawks—the shadowy mercenaries controlling Orion Vale’s underworld—had their claws in every corner.
I glanced at Rhea. Trust was thinner than ever.
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Rhea’s POV
We arrived at the summit venue under the guise of investors from an overseas firm.
The ballroom glittered with chandeliers and murmurs of power plays.
Faces smiled, but eyes calculated.
Gabriel introduced us to several key players, including Senator Alaric Dane, a man with a reputation for ruthlessness masked by charm.
As we navigated the room, I caught whispers—plans to silence dissent, manipulate votes, and secure an iron grip on the city.
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Cassian’s POV
The tension was palpable.
I noticed a figure watching us—Elara, Gabriel’s trusted aide, but something about her gaze felt off.
I whispered to Rhea, “Keep an eye on Elara.”
She nodded.
Suddenly, the lights dimmed.
Gabriel took the stage, his voice calm but commanding.
“Orion Vale stands at a crossroads,” he began. “But the threats we face are not just external. Corruption festers within.”
The room shifted uncomfortably.
Gabriel laid bare the existence of the Black Hawks and their influence over key players.
Gasps and murmurs erupted.
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Rhea’s POV
Suddenly, a power outage plunged the room into darkness.
Screams and chaos followed.
In the confusion, I felt a hand grab my arm.
It was Elara.
“Follow me,” she hissed.
Against my better judgment, I followed, slipping away from the crowd.
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Cassian’s POV
I lost sight of Rhea in the dark.
I moved toward the exit, but a sharp pain exploded in my side—someone had struck me.
I collapsed, darkness swallowing me whole.
—
Rhea’s POV
Elara led me through a maze of corridors until we reached a hidden room.
“Why are you helping me?” I asked, breathless.
Elara’s eyes were fierce. “Because I want to stop the Black Hawks too.”
Before I could reply, the door slammed shut.
We were trapped.
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Cassian’s POV
Pain and confusion clouded my mind.
When I awoke, I was bound to a chair in a dimly lit room.
Across from me stood Marcus—the same man who had warned us before.
“Welcome back,” he sneered.
“Why am I here?” I growled.
Marcus smiled coldly. “Because you’re a threat.”
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Rhea’s POV
I frantically searched for a way out.
Elara was unconscious on the floor, a knife wound staining her side.
Suddenly, footsteps approached.
I hid behind a pillar as the Black Hawks entered.
Their leader, a masked figure known only as Cipher, spoke.
“Rhea Maxwell,” he said, voice distorted. “You’ve meddled in things beyond your understanding.”
My heart pounded.
“We’ll see how long you last,” he threatened.
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Cassian’s POV
Marcus paced, revealing the depth of the conspiracy.
“Orion Vale’s elites sell the city to the highest bidder,” he spat. “And you, Vale, stand in their way.”
I felt rage boil inside.
“We fight back,” I said through gritted teeth.
Marcus laughed. “You’ll never win.”
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Rhea’s POV
As the Black Hawks searched for Elara and me, I discovered a hidden ventilation shaft.
With effort, I crawled through, fighting panic and pain.
I emerged outside, gasping for air.
Freedom was close—but so was danger.
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Cassian’s POV
Through blurred vision, I saw an opportunity.
A guard entered, distracted.
I summoned every ounce of strength, breaking free of my restraints.
The fight was brutal, but desperation fueled me.
I escaped into the shadows.
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Rhea’s POV
I stumbled toward the rendezvous point.
Cassian was nowhere in sight.
My phone buzzed—a message from Gabriel: “Trust no one.”
I swallowed hard.
The web of deception was closing in.
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Cassian’s POV
I found Rhea near the docks, her eyes filled with fear and determination.
“We have to expose them,” she said.
I nodded. “But the closer we get, the more dangerous it becomes.”
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Rhea’s POV
Our alliance with Gabri
el was fragile.
Elara’s betrayal showed that enemies lurked within.
But the city needed us.
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Cassian’s POV
As dawn broke, we planned our next move.
The summit was just the beginning.
The real battle for Orion Vale was about to begin.
- Writer
