11. Hero of the Night

She pulled out her phone and opened the website she hadn’t visited in a while, typing a quick message to Shadow Master: Are you there? I need your help.

The familiar profile picture was grayed out, and there was no “typing” indicator at the top of the chat window. The lab was eerily quiet, much like her phone, with only the sound of her own heartbeat echoing in her ears. Should she apologize first? Or get straight to the point about her problem? Maybe she should even ask what he did to Jessica to make her so vengeful?

Countless thoughts raced through Lyla’s mind, each one dismissed as quickly as it came. She sat there for what felt like an eternity, staring at the screen. Just as she was about to give up and think about other solutions, her phone buzzed. A message from Shadow Master appeared in the chat: How dare you contact me?

It was just like him—arrogant and overbearing. Yet despite the coldness of the message, Lyla felt an overwhelming sense of relief, as if she had found her lif