MICHAEL NOBLES’ POV (Karen's Uncle)
People liked to believe monsters only lived in stories.
That was the lie that kept them alive.
I stood before the wide glass wall of the underground facility, my hands clasped behind my back as the city lights flickered far above us, muffled and distant. Down here, there was no illusion of normalcy. No pretending. Only truth, steel, and preparation.
The Shadow Claw Syndicate thrived on truths the world refused to accept.
“Run the footage again,” I said calmly.
The technician stiffened immediately. “Yes, sir.”
A low hum filled the room as the massive screen in front of me flickered to life. Forest terrain unfolded in grainy, heat-sensitive imagery. Trees glowed faintly. The river shimmered. Then—
“There,” I murmured.
Two figures burst across the
