When The Rain Fall

The city of Vienna stretched before them, a tapestry of history and secrets.

Liam adjusted his earpiece as they walked through the cobbled streets. "Jonah, you still have a signal?"

Jonah's voice crackled through. "Yeah, but the interference is weird. Almost like someone is scrambling frequencies."

Mia's eyes scanned the buildings. "Seraph knew we'd come."

Noah led them through an old quarter, pausing outside a deserted bookstore. The sign above the door was faded, the glass cracked.

"This was one of Seraph's safe houses," Noah murmured.

Evelyn tested the door. Locked.

Liam stepped forward and expertly picked the lock. The door creaked open.

Inside, dust clung to abandoned bookshelves. Papers were scattered on the floor. A half-burned notebook rested on a table.

Mia picked it up, heart pounding. The pages were filled with fragmented notes. Diagrams. A symbol she recognized but couldn't place.

And one message, scribbled in red ink:

"The Harmonic Nexus was never destroyed. They lied."

Noah's breath caught. "That's not possible."

Evelyn frowned. "What's the Harmonic Nexus?"

Noah's expression was grim. "It's what started all of this."

Mia's fingers tightened around the notebook. "Then we need to find it."

A sound from behind them—a floorboard creaking.

Liam spun, gun drawn.

A figure emerged from the shadows.

They wore a mask.

And in their hand was a knife covered in blood.

Mia's breath caught. The masked figure tilted their head, as if studying them.

Then—they moved.

Faster than humanly possible.

Liam barely had time to react before the knife sliced through the air. He blocked the attack, pushing the assailant back.

Evelyn lunged, aiming for a takedown, but the figure twisted, dodging effortlessly.

Mia's heartbeat pounded. They're testing us.

Noah's voice was sharp. "Stand down."

The figure froze.

A tense moment stretched between them.

Then—they removed the mask.

Mia's breath hitched.

The face beneath was familiar.

A scar ran down their cheek, but the eyes—the eyes were unmistakable.

Noah's voice was barely a whisper.

"…Seraph."

Seraph's gaze swept over them. "You shouldn't have come."

Mia stepped forward. "We didn't have a choice."

Seraph exhaled. "You still don't understand, do you?"

They placed a hand on the table, fingers brushing against the notebook.

"The Harmonic Nexus never died." Their voice was low, urgent. "It was buried. And if you dig too deep…" Their gaze locked onto Mia's. "…you won't like what you find."

Mia's fists clenched. "Then tell us the truth."

Seraph hesitated.

Then, finally—they spoke.

And the truth they revealed changed everything.

A heavy silence hung in the air after Seraph's words. The old bookstore, dimly lit by the faint glow of streetlights outside, felt like a forgotten relic of the past—just like the secrets they were about to uncover.

Mia's breath was steady, but her pulse raced. She had come here searching for answers, but the weight of Seraph's presence made her hesitate.

Noah broke the silence first. "You said the Harmonic Nexus wasn't destroyed." His voice was calm, controlled. "Explain."

Seraph looked at each of them carefully, their sharp gaze lingering on Mia. Then they exhaled, running a hand through their dark hair.

"The Harmonic Nexus was never meant to be found," they finally said. "Not by you. Not by anyone."

Mia's jaw tightened. "Why?"

Seraph hesitated.

Then, as if making a decision they had been resisting for years, they turned to an old bookshelf, pressing a hidden panel. With a faint click, a secret compartment slid open. Inside, there were stacks of old files, some burnt, others covered in faded writing.

Jonah, standing near the entrance, narrowed his eyes. "Government records?"

Seraph didn't answer. They simply pulled out a single document and placed it on the dust-covered table.

Mia stepped closer. The paper was fragile, its edges crumbling with time. But the words written in bold ink sent a shiver down her spine.

PROJECT HARMONIC NEXUS

Status: Classified.

She read further.

"The Nexus was created as an experimental harmonic frequency capable of altering cognitive patterns. Initial tests resulted in enhanced perception, memory manipulation, and—"

The rest of the sentence was scratched out.

Mia's fingers traced over the page. "This isn't just about sound, is it?"

Seraph shook their head. "The Nexus isn't just an object. It's a living frequency—one that was designed to synchronize with specific minds. People who could hear the Echo."

Mia's stomach dropped. "Like me."

Noah exhaled sharply. "And like me."

Liam frowned. "But what does that mean? If this thing was created, who was behind it?"

Seraph's voice was grim. "The Hollow Veil."

Evelyn tensed. "You're saying the Hollow Veil was responsible for the Nexus?"

Seraph nodded. "Not just responsible. They built it. They spent decades fine-tuning the frequency, selecting individuals who could harness it. But something went wrong."

Mia felt a dull ache in her temples, memories pressing against the edges of her mind. "What happened?"

Seraph's gaze darkened. "The Nexus wasn't stable. It fractured reality—created ripples in time, in memory, in perception. The people who were exposed to it either lost themselves completely… or became something else."

Jonah muttered, "Echoes."

Seraph inclined their head. "Yes. People like Mia and Noah—those who survived—are living fragments of the Nexus itself."

Mia swallowed hard. "But you said it wasn't destroyed."

Seraph exhaled. "Because it wasn't."

They reached for another file, flipping it open. Inside was a map—a location deep in the Swiss Alps.

Mia's eyes locked onto the coordinates. "This is where it is."

Seraph nodded. "What's left of it."

Liam's expression hardened. "And the Hollow Veil?"

Seraph's voice was cold. "They never stopped searching."

A sudden static noise made them all turn toward Jonah. His laptop screen flickered.

"What the—" Jonah's fingers flew over the keyboard. "Someone's trying to break into the system."

Liam drew his gun. "We've been tracked."

Seraph's expression was unreadable. "They found you faster than I expected."

Mia's breath hitched. "Who?"

Seraph's gaze was sharp. "The Hollow Veil."

Before anyone could react, the lights went out.

The sound of breaking glass. A low, mechanical hum filled the air.

Then—gunfire.

Liam shoved Mia to the ground as bullets tore through the walls. Noah flipped the table for cover. Evelyn pulled out her own weapon, eyes scanning the darkness.

Mia's heart pounded. They were here.

Then—a voice.

Cold. Familiar.

"You should've stayed hidden, Mia."

Her blood ran cold.

She knew that voice.

And the moment she saw the figure stepping through the doorway—a face she thought was long dead—

Her world shattered.