They reached a small clearing as dawn broke, the light filtering through the trees and casting an ethereal glow on the dew-covered ground.Louis finally stopped, setting the journal down on a flat rock.“We’ll rest here,” he said gruffly, avoiding Pearl’s gaze.Pearl sat down heavily on the grass, her shoulders slumping. Juliet crouched next to her, placing a comforting hand on her back.“He’s not thinking clearly,” Pearl whispered, her voice trembling.“He’s grieving,” Juliet said softly.“We all are. But he’s not wrong, Pearl. The Arbiter won’t stop unless we stop him.”“But at what cost?” Pearl asked, looking up at Juliet with tear-filled eyes.Juliet didn’t have an answer.Louis sat a few feet away, the journal open in his lap.His eyes scanned the pages, his mind racing with possibilities.The evidence inside was damning—names, dates, transactions—all tying The Arbiter to countless crimes.It was enough to take down not just him, but the entire Eternals network.But the system wa

Louis sat at the table, the remnants of his mother’s journal spread out before him.Pearl stood by the window, eyes scanning the darkened streets below.Juliet paced, her phone pressed to her ear as she spoke in a low, urgent tone."Yes, I know the risks," Juliet said, her voice sharp."I don’t need a reminder. Just get us the safe passage. We can’t afford to wait any longer."She paused, listening intently, her brow furrowing."Understood. Make sure it’s secure. We’ll be there tomorrow."She hung up and turned to Louis, her face grim."They’re in position. We leave at dawn."Louis looked up, his jaw clenched."And the Arbiter?""His men are everywhere." Juliet’s voice was laced with frustration."He’s turning the city against you. The law enforcement, the media—everyone's bought into his lies. The entire city is a powder keg, and we're the match."Pearl turned away from the window, her expression hardening."It won’t be easy. You can’t just walk out of here with your head held high. Y

The journey began at dawn.The road to the mountains was unforgiving, winding through dense forests and narrow cliffs.Pearl sat in the backseat, her injuries bandaged but her strength still waning. Despite her condition, she refused to be left behind."I can fight," she insisted, though her voice lacked its usual fire."I’m not sitting this out."Louis shot her a warning look."You’re barely able to sit up. You’re staying in the car when we get there."Pearl’s glare was weak but defiant."I’ve come this far. You think I’m going to back out now?"Juliet sighed from the driver’s seat."Both of you, save your energy. We’ll need it when we get there."The mountains loomed ahead, their jagged peaks cutting into the sky like teeth. As they neared the monastery, the air grew colder, the weight of their mission settling heavily on their shoulders.When the car finally stopped at the edge of a rocky trail, Louis stepped out, helping Pearl to her feet despite her protests."I’m fine," she mutt

The air in the monastery’s center was different—heavy, charged with an energy that made the hair on the back of Louis’s neck stand on end.Before them, on an ornate pedestal surrounded by intricate carvings, rested the Heart of the Eternals.The crystalline orb glowed faintly, pulsating like a heartbeat, its light casting eerie reflections on the ancient stone walls.“This is it,” Juliet whispered, her voice barely audible.She took a step closer, the journal clutched tightly in her hands.“The Heart of the Eternals.”Pearl leaned against a pillar, her injuries still evident but her determination unshaken.“Doesn’t look too scary. Guess we’ll just grab it and go.”As Louis approached the pedestal, the ground beneath their feet trembled.A low rumble echoed through the chamber, and the carvings on the walls began to glow, their light intensifying with each passing second.Juliet’s eyes widened.“Wait—Louis, stop! The journal mentioned something about a defense mechanism—”Before she co

Juliet broke the silence first.“The Heart can dismantle the Eternals’ network, but it could kill anyone tied to it? How... how is that even possible?”“It’s connected to their power,” Louis said quietly, his voice heavy.“The Eternals built their influence by linking their lives to this. If we use it, the connection will sever in the most brutal way imaginable.”Pearl, leaning against the cold stone wall for support, frowned.“What does ‘ties to the organization’ even mean? Are we talking about blood relatives? Allies? Everyone who ever worked for them?”Juliet crossed her arms, pacing the room.“If that’s true, it could kill innocent people too. Staff members, people coerced into working for them… Louis, this isn’t just about taking down the Eternals. It’s about deciding who lives and dies.”Louis stared at the orb, his hands trembling slightly as he turned it over.“She knew. My mother knew this was the cost, and she still left it for me to find.”Pearl stepped closer, her voice so