Chapter 28: Secret revealed

The city buzzed with life the morning after the battle at the warehouse, but the team felt none of its energy. Back at their hideout, they were gathered in the common room, nursing bruises and trying to process what had happened. Despite their victory, the new villain’s ominous warning lingered in the air.

Peter paced restlessly, his thoughts racing. “He said this is only the beginning. What does that mean? What’s coming next?”

Carly, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a notebook in hand, shrugged. “If he’s working alone, it’s likely a bluff. But if he has allies, we could be looking at something much bigger than Hood Kripson ever was.”

James leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “He wasn’t bluffing,” he said grimly. “The way he fought, the way he left—it wasn’t desperation. He has a plan.”

Lucian, standing near the window, turned to face them. “Then we need to be ready. We need to find out who he is, where he came from, and why he’s targeting us. Until we do, we’re fighting blind.”

Peter stopped pacing and looked at Lucian. “You’re right, but we’re going to need help. We can’t do this alone.”

Bella raised an eyebrow. “You’re not seriously thinking of involving the authorities, are you? They’d arrest us before they’d help us.”

Peter shook his head. “No. But there might be someone else who knows about him. Someone with connections to the Hoods.”

All eyes turned to Lucian, who frowned. “Don’t look at me. Hood never talked about anyone like this. He was obsessed with his own power, his own plans. If this guy’s connected to the Hoods, it’s a connection I never knew about.”

Carly sighed, closing her notebook. “Then we’re back to square one. Unless…” She trailed off, her eyes unfocusing as if deep in thought.

“Unless what?” Bella asked, leaning forward.

“I can try entering another trance,” Carly said hesitantly. “The last one revealed a lot about Lucian and Peter’s connection. Maybe I can see more—about him, about what’s coming.”

James frowned. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? The last time you did that, you were out cold for hours. What if it’s dangerous?”

Carly gave him a small smile. “Everything we’re doing is dangerous. Besides, it’s the only lead we have right now.”

Peter nodded. “If you’re willing, then do it. But we’ll stay close. If anything goes wrong, we’ll pull you out.”

Carly agreed, and they cleared a space for her in the center of the room. She sat down, closed her eyes, and began to focus. The others watched nervously as the air around her seemed to shimmer, her body relaxing as her mind delved into the unknown.

\---

In the trance, Carly found herself standing in a vast, empty expanse. It was silent, save for the faint echo of her own breathing. Slowly, the space began to shift, forming shapes and colors. She saw glimpses of the past—Peter and Lucian as children, separated by forces they couldn’t control. Hood Kripson’s shadow loomed over them, his manipulations weaving their fates together without their knowledge.

Then the vision shifted, revealing the scarred man who had attacked them. His face was twisted in pain, his eyes filled with rage. Carly felt his emotions wash over her—anger, sorrow, betrayal. She saw flashes of his past: a family torn apart, a home destroyed, all at the hands of the Hoods.

He wasn’t always like this, Carly realized. He’s not just a villain. He’s someone who lost everything and wants revenge.

But the vision didn’t stop there. It showed her something even more unsettling: the scarred man wasn’t working alone. Behind him stood a group of shadowy figures, their faces obscured but their presence undeniable. They radiated power, and Carly knew instinctively that they were a threat unlike any the team had faced before.

\---

Carly gasped as she snapped out of the trance, her body trembling. Peter was at her side instantly, his hand on her shoulder. “What did you see?”

She took a shaky breath. “He’s… not what we thought. He’s not just a villain. He has a reason for what he’s doing. The Hoods destroyed his life. But there’s more. He’s not alone. There are others—powerful others—working with him.”

The room fell silent as the weight of her words sank in.

James was the first to speak. “So, what do we do? If he’s got allies, we’re outnumbered.”

“We don’t have to fight them all at once,” Lucian said. “If we can figure out who they are, we can take them down one by one.”

Peter nodded, determination hardening his features. “We’ll find them. We’ll stop them. But first, we need to deal with him. If he’s the one leading them, he’s the key.”

Bella glanced at Carly. “Did you see where he is? Anything we can use to track him?”

Carly shook her head. “No, but I saw his past. He’s hurt, and he’s angry. If we can find a way to get through to him…”

Lucian snorted. “You think you can talk him down? After everything he’s done?”

“It’s worth a try,” Carly insisted. “If we can understand him, maybe we can stop this without more bloodshed.”

Peter looked at Carly, then at Lucian. “We’ll try her way first. But if it doesn’t work, we need to be ready to fight.”

\---

The next day, Peter returned to college for the first time since the team had reunited. It felt strange, stepping back into a world that seemed so normal compared to the chaos he’d been living. But he wasn’t alone. Lucian was there too, much to Peter’s surprise.

“What are you doing here?” Peter asked as they walked across campus.

Lucian smirked. “What, you thought you’d get rid of me that easily? Besides, someone’s gotta keep an eye on you.”

Peter rolled his eyes but couldn’t help feeling a flicker of gratitude. Despite everything, it was good to have his brother by his side.

\---

That night, the team regrouped, ready to take the next step. With the city on edge and the government patrols increasing, they knew time was running out. The scarred man and his allies were out there, plotting their next move.

But so were they. And this time,

they were stronger. Together.