Chapter 7 - CHAPTER 7: Echoes from the Past

🧾 RECAP:

In Brazil, Neil sneaks into Roman Cortez's stronghold and uncovers his part in Horizon's ascent—and the betrayal of Neil's family. Although Cortez manages to escape, Neil secures crucial intel and barely makes it out alive. Now, he's headed back to the one place he vowed never to return: his childhood home.

📖 CHAPTER 7: Echoes from the Past

Virginia, USA – Angelo Family Estate

The iron gates groaned open after almost ten years of silence. Ivy climbed the stone walls of the once-majestic Angelo manor, now shrouded in dust, decay, and memories that lingered like shadows.

As Neil stepped inside, each footfall seemed to awaken the ghosts of his past. He was no longer a boy; he had become a man shaped by betrayal, bloodshed, and fire.

Tatiana trailed behind him, quiet as a whisper.

"This place..." she murmured.

"It was a kingdom," Neil replied, "until someone poisoned the crown."

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The Vault Below

He navigated through the library, pushing aside a false wall hidden behind a shelf. Descending a spiral staircase, they arrived at the underground war room where his father once held court.

The console flickered to life, powered by a backup battery.

Dozens of faces filled the screen. Old allies. Enemies. And at the center: Cortez, Ivanov, and a third man—his identity shrouded in mystery.

Neil tapped on the shadowy figure. "Who is he?"

Tatiana frowned. "He's not listed in any of our intel databases."

A soft beep echoed in the room.

One message had remained unread all these years. From his mother.

Neil opened it.

"If you're reading this, it means we failed. But the game isn't over. The man behind Horizon... he was once my friend. He's known as 'The Architect.' He's the real danger. Trust no one—not even family."

Neil stared at the screen, his jaw tight.

"Everything I've done... I've been chasing the wrong end of the snake."

---

A Visitor in the Dark

Later that night, Neil found himself on the back porch, the chilly wind nipping at his cheeks. Memories flickered in the dim light—his mother's laughter, his father's stern commands, and the sound of his own little feet racing through the grass.

Then, he noticed headlights.

A black SUV was creeping toward him.

Tatiana stepped forward, her gun ready.

But Neil raised a hand. "No."

Out of the car stepped a man in a gray coat, clean-shaven with sharp eyes and steady hands. He appeared to be Indian-American, probably in his late 40s.

"You're..."

"I was your uncle's advisor," the man replied. "My name is Raj Malhotra. And I know who The Architect is."

Neil's gaze sharpened.

"Then start talking."

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🔫 *To Be Continued in Chapter 8: "The Architect"*