Chapter 3 MEMORIES

Lena tossed and turned in her sleep, her mind consumed by a dark and twisted nightmare. She was running through a deserted alleyway, pursued by shadowy figures that seemed to be closing in on her from all sides. She could hear the sound of footsteps echoing off the walls, growing louder with every step.

As she ran, the figures seemed to be getting closer and closer, their faces twisted into grotesque grins. Lina's heart was racing, her breath coming in short gasps. She knew she had to keep running, but her legs felt heavy and unresponsive.

Suddenly, she saw a flash of light in the distance. It was her younger sister, Alexandra, no more than ten years old, with a look of terror on her face. Alexandra was calling out to Lina, begging her to come and help.

Lina tried to run towards Alexandra, but her feet felt rooted to the spot. The shadowy figures closed in, their arms reaching out to grab her. Lina let out a scream, but it was muffled by some unseen force.

She woke up with a start, her heart still racing and her sheets drenched in sweat. She sat up in bed, her eyes scanning the dark room as she tried to catch her breath.

It was just a nightmare, she told herself. But the memories it stirred up were all too real.

Lina's mind flashed back to the night her family was torn apart. She was just a teenager at the time, and Alexandra was only ten years old. Their parents had been killed in a brutal attack, and Alexandra had gone missing in the chaos.

Lena's eyes filled with tears as she thought about that night. She had been searching for Alexandra for twenty years, scouring the streets and questioning anyone who might have information. But every lead seemed to end in a dead end, and Lina was starting to lose hope.

Despite the pain and the loss, Lina had refused to give up. She had built a life for herself in the underworld, using her skills and resources to survive. But deep down, she knew that she was still searching for Alexandra, still hoping that one day she would find her sister alive and well.

Lena's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone buzzing. She picked it up, her eyes scanning the message. It was from one of her contacts, a rumor about a possible lead on Alexandra's whereabouts.

Lena's heart skipped a beat as she read the message. Could this be the break she had been waiting for? She quickly typed out a response, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

Lina's heart skipped a beat as she read the message on her phone. It was an address, a location where she might finally find a lead on her missing sister, Alexandra. The message read: "Meet us at the Harrington construction site. We have information about your sister."

Lina's eyes narrowed as she read the message. She didn't know who was behind this, but she was willing to take a chance. She quickly grabbed her bag and headed out the door, making her way to the construction site.

As she arrived at the site, she noticed that it was deserted. There were no workers, no signs of activity. Lina's instincts told her that something was off, but she pushed on, determined to find out if there was any truth to the message.

She walked around the site, calling out to see if anyone was there. But there was no response. It was as if she was alone.

Lina's eyes scanned the area, searching for any sign of a trap. She knew that she had to be careful, that the underworld was full of tricks and deceit. And it seemed that this was just another dead end.

She stood there for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions. Disappointment, frustration, and anger all swirled together in her chest. She had been so sure that this would be the lead she had been waiting for.

With a sigh, Lina turned to leave. She would have to keep searching, keep following every lead, no matter how small. As she walked away from the construction site, she decided to stop and grab a cup of coffee. Maybe it would help her clear her head and think of her next move.

She walked into a nearby café and ordered a cup of coffee. As she waited for it to be prepared, she couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness. Another dead end, another disappointment.

The barista handed her the coffee, and Lena took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her body. She paid for the coffee and left the café, sipping it as she walked back to her car.

But while walking and glancing on her phone, she accidentally bumped into a rugged-looking construction worker. Apologetic, she struck up a conversation.

"Hey, sorry about that! I'm Lena."

The worker, whose name tag read "Jake," smiled. "No worries, I'm used to rough mornings on site."

As they chatted, Lena learned that Jake worked on the Harrington family's construction project. Her ears perked up.

"Harrington family, huh? I've heard they're...interesting to work with."

Jake's expression turned serious. "You have no idea. Working conditions are hazardous, pay is subpar, and they're always pushing us to meet impossible deadlines. It's like they don't care about our safety or well-being."

Lena's journalist instincts kicked in. "That sounds like a serious issue. Have you reported it to anyone?"

Jake hesitated. "I'm afraid to speak up. I've seen guys get fired for complaining. But it's not just me – many of us are suffering in silence."

Lena's determination grew. "I want to help. Can you give me more information about what's going on?"

Jake glanced around nervously, then handed her a folder containing documents and photos. luckily he had been keeping records of every dark crimes the Harrington family has been carrying out for a while now, he had been thinking of submitting these evidence to the police, but one of his close friend's who's also a worker there advice him against it, and he was planning to return them to the hidden safe, he never expected encountering someone's who's willing to help today. "Be careful, Lena. The Harrington won't hesitate to silence anyone who gets in their way."

Lena's investigation revealed that....

- Workers were being forced to work long hours without proper safety gear or compensation.

- The Harrington were using substandard materials to cut costs.

- Several workers had been injured on site, but the Harrington had covered up the incidents.