Back in my room, the envelope felt heavier than its weight—like it held the gravity of everything I was up against.
I sat on the edge of my bed, heart pounding as I peeled it open.
Inside was a thin packet of papers, yellowed at the edges. The first thing I saw was a letter, typed but with a shaky signature at the bottom. I recognized the name instantly.
From Grayson's mother.
The letter was addressed to Elias, filled with apologies and warnings. She wrote of family betrayals, greed, and a secret project her husband had started—a project Grayson inherited. A project that went beyond the carnival, beyond any business. Something dangerous, something that could ruin lives.
Then, beneath the letter, a folder labeled "The Hook Up Files"—encrypted documents, plans, photos. Dark secrets about the carnival's tech, but also… something else.
A list of names.
Names that looked familiar—people who had disappeared, or worse, turned up broken after crossing Grayson.
I pressed my palm against my mouth.
This wasn't just about me or my family. This was a web of darkness Grayson had spun across the city.
And now, I held the map to unravel it.
My phone buzzed—a message from Wilson.
"Did you get it? Be careful. Grayson's watching."
I swallowed hard.
I was deep in the game now. And there was no turning back.