Chapter 214: Whispers in the Dark

The once bustling city felt like a mausoleum. Silence shrouded every street corner, broken only by the distant wails of sirens and the occasional crack of gunfire. The oppressive weight of The Shepherd's regime pressed down on Amelia, suffocating her spirit. Days bled into weeks, each devoid of hope, a gnawing emptiness replacing the fire that once burned in her eyes. Huddled in the remains of the safe house, Amelia stared at the makeshift memorial wall. Photos of fallen comrades adorned the chipped plaster, each face a searing reminder of their devastating loss. Marco's picture, his warm smile frozen in time, pierced Amelia's heart with a fresh wave of grief. His absence left a gaping hole in their team, a void no amount of brooding could fill. Beside her, Ethan sat hunched over a flickering lantern, its meager light casting long shadows across the room. Gone was his usual stoic demeanor, replaced by a deep furrow in his brow and a haunted look in his eyes. "We have to do something