After the apartment exploded and we escaped from the police, the van took us to another place.I was so confused; in less than twelve hours, my life had completely changed.
"We're almost there," Sophie said through her intercom.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a pair of gates opened in a building that looked abandoned.
"This is the operations base we set up here a year ago," Eleonor commented.
When I walked in, I was left breathless. Screens showed views of the entire town. I could see the office where I reported every day, the coffee shop, the library, even my apartment.
I looked back at Sophie and asked her:
"Were you spying on my apartment?"
"Yes, but we didn't put cameras in your bathroom," she replied with a mocking smile.
I started paying closer attention to everything around me, struggling to believe it.
"How could you build something like this in such a short time?" I asked Eleonor.
"From the moment you told Grandma Ciara you wanted to move to this place, she ordered it," she replied.
That impressed me so much that I couldn't think for a few seconds.
"You didn't really believe they would just let you leave and that would be the end of it," Eleonor said."You are the bearer, whether the rest of the family likes it or not. With everything that has happened, I know you're already aware of what that entails."
"I don't want to interrupt," Sophie said, "but I think you should call Mrs. Maeve to report the men who attacked us. I'm not entirely sure who they are, but I have an idea," Eleonor replied.
"For now, I'm going to take a shower while we still have time. We need to move in less than five hours. I'm sure they're already looking for us. Leave everything to me."
A tall man approached and handed me a cup of coffee.
"So you can relax, Mr. Noah."
I thanked him.
Suddenly, I noticed Sophie adjusting her weapon with precise movements. She no longer looked like just a simple assistant. Every gesture spoke of training… and secrets.
"Do you think they'll find us?" I asked her.
Sophie nodded.
"That's why we'll move as fast as possible."
Sophie stopped, looked at me, and said:
"After what happened today, we're more than certain someone betrayed the family. Their attacks were very well coordinated and in very specific locations."
"Alright, seriously… who are you?" I asked her directly.
Sophie took a deep breath. She smiled and said:
"I work for the Atlas Division."
I frowned.
"And what is that…?" I asked.
"An organization created after World War II," she explained. "Humans who discovered fragments of the hidden world. They made contact with the leaders of that time."
"Their job is to monitor, contain… and, if necessary, eliminate threats."
"Threats like what?" I asked.
Sophie looked me straight in the eyes.
"Threats like the ones trying to kidnap you."
Everything fell silent for a moment.
"Like you and Eleonor, I was born into it," she continued. "I was trained from childhood."
"That's why I know how you felt wanting to live a normal life. While other girls went to school, I learned how to use magical weapons."
She looked at the bracelet and said:
"A couple of years ago, we discovered something. Some relics were stolen from a safe house in Warsaw."
Without noticing, Eleonor had already finished showering.
"Is it almost time?"
"Will your division be coming?"
She slowly shook her head.
"I was ordered to go with you, and only four escorts. The rest will be relocated."
"So… what do we do?" I asked them.
Eleonor unfolded an ancient map.
"Russia."
Sophie raised an eyebrow.
"The old enclave?"
"The last one," Eleonor replied."The survivors of the old order."
"If the world is going to break apart… we need allies who remember how it was held together before."
I looked at the map.
I saw a place marked with a circle.
"What's in that place?" I asked.
"It's where the second guardian lives," Sophie replied.