Chapter 2 - SHADOWS OF THE PAST
Two heavy-set security guards dragged Leo down into the subterranean basement of the mansion.
The room was cold, damp, and smelled strongly of concrete and old iron.
Leo was thrown forcefully onto a metal chair under a harsh overhead bulb.
Victor stepped into the room, tossing his emerald jacket onto a side table.
He unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his white sleeves with methodical precision.
"Let’s try this again, boy," Victor said, his voice dropping into a chilling, calm whisper.
"How did you get past the perimeter security tonight?"
Leo huddled in the chair, shivering from both the cold and intense fear.
"The gate was open a little bit..." Leo whimpered, his voice cracking.
"I was hungry... I saw the lights and the food..."
"Do not play innocent with me!" Victor slammed his palm onto the metal table.
The loud metallic boom rang inside Leo's ears.
"My wife died in the attack that paralyzed my daughter!" Victor snarled.
"The men who targeted my family were never found!"
"And suddenly, on the anniversary of her death, you walk in and touch my child?"
"I don't know anything about your wife, mister!" Leo cried, tears streaming down his smudged cheeks.
"I live in the alley behind the bakery! I just came for bread!"
Suddenly, the basement door swung open with a loud creak.
Marcus, Victor’s chief head of security, stepped quickly into the dim light.
He held a sleek tablet computer in his gloved hands.
"Boss, we ran the boy's facial recognition through the federal database," Marcus reported softly.
Victor turned around, his eyes narrowing. "And?"
"He has no official identity record, no birth certificate, and no school registration," Marcus stated.
"He is completely invisible to the system."
"However... we found something else on the security footage outside."
Marcus flipped the tablet screen toward Victor.
The video footage showed a black windowless van parked two streets away from the estate gates.
A tall figure in a dark raincoat was seen pointing directly toward the mansion's entrance.
Moments later, young Leo was seen walking out from behind that exact van toward the estate.
Victor’s heart skipped a terrifying beat.
"He wasn't a random beggar," Victor whispered, his eyes burning with intense hatred.
"He was weaponized."
Leo looked at the video screen, his heart hammering wildly against his ribs.
"No! That man gave me a coin to deliver a note!" Leo screamed in panic.
"What note?!" Victor demanded, grabbing Leo's chin with crushing force.
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"Where is the note, boy?!"
Leo trembled violently, suddenly remembering the small folded paper tucked inside his left shoe.
