The sun was beginning to set again, casting a gold haze over the resort. But the warmth didn't reach the inside of Avalon.
Karen stood at the dining hall window, staring out at the woods. She hadn't spoken much since they returned from the underground passage. Not because she had nothing to say but because something in her gut refused to settle.
She checked her phone again. The message from Carla was still there, but when she tried to redial, the screen froze. The signal bar vanished entirely.
"Still nothing?" Alex asked from the hallway, his shirt slightly unbuttoned, tension in every line of his posture.
Karen shook her head. "The message is still saved, but no signal. And now… this."
She held up the screen. The text displayed only one thing now:
"She was warned."
Alex's jaw clenched. "That wasn't there before."
"No," she whispered. "It wasn't."
He walked over and took the phone, but it powered off in his hand..battery full.
"I don't think the resort's doing this alone anymore," he said, low. "Something… or someone... is trying to cut us off completely."
Karen sat down on the edge of the table, her mind racing. "When I was gone… when they had me… I kept hearing voices. Not just whispering, it was like there were orders being given. Like I was part of something. Not kidnapped but chosen."
Alex didn't like that word 'Chosen'.
He went to the desk in the corner and pulled out the old Avalon property folder they had recovered earlier. They hadn't finished going through it. He flipped it open.
Hidden in the back cover, behind the ledger and faded reports, was a torn check.
Dated: 15 years ago.
Recipient: Avalon Property Development Trust.
Signed by: Gerald Okon.
From: Company Corporate Account.
Alex's heart stopped.
Karen leaned in beside him. "Gerald… as in your board member Gerald?"
"Yes," Alex said coldly. "The one who never wanted me to be CEO. The one who always treated this company like it was his inheritance."
Karen stared at the check. "So he's not just behind what's happening at the office."
Alex nodded grimly. "He helped fund Avalon, he's part of this."
A silence settled between them then Luca's voice called from upstairs.
"Alex! Karen! You need to see this now."
They rushed up to the second floor and followed the sound to Karen's room.
Luca stood at the foot of the bed, holding something small in his hand.
A USB drive.
"I found it behind the dresser," he said. "Taped to the back of the wall frame."
Karen took it, brow furrowed. "Another clue?"
"Maybe more," Luca said. "It had a label."
He turned it to show the faded, handwritten tag:
"Project HER."
Karen froze.
"What the hell is Project HER?" Alex asked, eyes narrowing.
Luca didn't answer immediately.
Then he said, quietly, "I think… it's you."
Karen's fingers tightened around the USB.
Suddenly, the power flickered. Lights buzzed overhead, a long, drawn-out creaking groaned through the walls like the resort itself was listening.
Karen looked at Alex.
"Whatever this is… it started long before I got here but now I'm in the center of it, and they're trying to erase me to keep it buried."
Alex moved closer, his voice firm. "Then we dig until there's nothing left to hide."