WebNovels

Chapter 5 - Shadow in silk

Late night in Henry's mansion. The rain hasn't stopped for hours. The city lights flicker outside the tall windows. Everyone feels something dark brewing.

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Arina: (watching the rain) You haven't said a word since dinner. What's going on, Henry?

Henry: (fixing his cufflinks) Business.

Arina: That's what you said yesterday. And the day before. You're shutting me out.

Henry: (turns slowly) I'm protecting you.

Arina: From what? Or who?

Henry: From things you don't need to know.

Arina: You think silence will keep me safe? Because it doesn't. It just makes me feel like a prisoner in your world.

Henry: (softly) You are in my world now, Arina. And my world… isn't kind to softness.

Arina: (steps closer) Then teach me how to survive in it.

(He looks at her, torn. A knock interrupts the tension.)

Jordan: (from behind the door) Boss, we've got a situation. Elis's men were seen near the east docks.

Henry: (grim) Again? Double the guards. And find out who keeps feeding them our routes.

Jordan: (hesitates) Already working on it. But—Henry, there's something else. One of ours… disappeared last night.

Henry: Who?

Jordan: Rafi. He was supposed to be on gate duty.

(Henry's expression hardens. Arina's heart skips a beat.)

Arina: Disappeared? What does that mean exactly?

Henry: (coldly) It means someone crossed the wrong line.

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Later that night — in Henry's private office.

James: (leans back on the chair) So, a man vanishes, and you're pretending it's business as usual?

Henry: Watch your tone, detective. You're here because I allow it.

James: (smirks) Sure. But don't forget, I'm the only one keeping your operations off the radar.

Henry: (glaring) Don't test me tonight.

James: Then stop playing the saint. You think Elis won't strike again? He's hunting you, Henry. And maybe someone inside's already sold you out.

Henry: (low voice) I'm aware. And I'll find them.

(Door opens — Arina walks in quietly.)

Arina: You're both wasting time arguing. Whoever's leaking information isn't far. I've seen the tension in your men's eyes.

Henry: (surprised) You've been watching them?

Arina: I notice things. It's what I do.

James: (half-smiling) Maybe you should join the investigation.

Henry: She stays out of this.

Arina: (firmly) You can't protect me forever, Henry. Not from the truth.

(Henry's jaw tightens. The clock ticks louder.)

---

Scene shifts — Jordan in the surveillance room.

Jordan: (into earpiece) Henry, you might want to see this.

Henry: (through comm) What now?

Jordan: One of the trucks left an hour early. No clearance, no signature.

Henry: Who authorized it?

Jordan: That's the thing — someone used your passcode.

(Static crackles. Henry freezes. Arina watches him.)

Arina: Your passcode? How could anyone have that?

Henry: (quietly) Only two people know it… me and—

(He stops himself.)

Arina: And who?

Henry: Jordan. But I trust him with my life.

Arina: Then maybe someone close to him.

Henry: (pacing) Or someone closer to me.

(The lights flicker. A distant crash echoes from outside. Thunder rolls in.)

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Scene: Garage area, a few minutes later. Rain pounding on metal roofs.

Jordan: (running toward Henry) The cameras cut off near the north wing. I think someone's inside.

Henry: (draws his gun) Arina, stay behind me.

Arina: (whispers) I'm not leaving you.

(They move cautiously down the hallway. Shadows dance under the dim lights.)

Henry: (quietly) Whoever's here… they're not here to talk.

Arina: (looks around) I hear something… like footsteps.

(A door slams somewhere below. They both freeze. Jordan signals toward the basement door.)

Jordan: Down there.

Henry: I'll go first.

Arina: No—wait—

(He disappears down the stairs. A moment later, a muffled shout echoes. Jordan curses and follows. Arina hesitates, trembling, then runs after them.)

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Scene: Basement. Dim lights, water dripping from pipes. The air smells like rust and oil.

Henry: (to someone unseen) You picked the wrong house to break into.

Unknown Voice: (mocking) Maybe I picked the right one.

(Gun clicks. Arina hides behind a pillar, terrified. She can't see faces, just shadows.)

Henry: (snarling) Who sent you?

Unknown Voice: Ask your men. One of them made a nice deal.

(Sudden struggle — footsteps, a crash, silence. A gunshot echoes, sharp and deafening. Then stillness.)

Arina: (screaming) Henry!

(Jordan rushes to her. Smoke fills the air. She covers her mouth, coughing.)

Jordan: Stay back! Don't move!

(The lights flicker again. A figure collapses to the ground — face unseen.)

Henry: (voice hoarse) It's done.

Arina: (crying) Who was it? Henry, who—

Henry: (coldly) You don't need to know. Not yet.

(He walks past her, blood splattered across his sleeve, eyes unreadable.)

Arina: (grabs his arm) You can't keep hiding the truth from me!

Henry: (soft but deadly) If I told you, you'd never sleep again.

(He leaves. The door slams behind him. Arina stands frozen, the echo of the gunshot still ringing in her ears.)

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Scene: Later that night, in Arina's room. Rain still falling.

Lara: (on phone) Arina? Are you okay? I heard something happened at Henry's place.

Arina: (quietly) I don't know what happened… but I think someone's dead.

Lara: Dead? Who?

Arina: (staring at her shaking hands) That's the problem. I don't know.

(Silence. Lightning flashes outside.)

Lara: Arina… maybe you should leave that house.

Arina: (whispers) It's too late. I'm already part of this now.

(She hangs up and looks out the window. In the reflection — Henry stands in the hallway, watching her silently.)

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