HIDDEN ALPHA

The courtroom was silent as the judge went through a stack of papers. Raven Blake sat at the plaintiff's table, her dark eyes were looking straight at the judge's face. Her hands rested gently on the polished oak table, but anyone who knew her would recognize the gentle emotions boiling under her composed looks. She had spent months preparing for this moment, fighting against Carter Pharmaceuticals, a corporate giant accused of endangering lives with faulty medical devices. This was more than a case to her—it was a battle for justice.

The judge cleared his throat. "After reviewing the evidence before me and hearing the arguments presented by both sides, this court finds in favor of the plaintiff, awarding damages of $12.5 million."

Loud breath from people sounded through the room. Raven's client, a middle-aged man in a wheelchair, held her hand tightly, with tears rolling down his face. She gave him a small, reassuring smile before rising to her feet.

"Justice has been served," she said firmly, her voice filled with a mixture of victory and determination. Cameras flashed as reporters moved forward, bombarding her with questions. Raven answered a few with her regular firmness before excusing herself. The battle was won, but the war against corporate corruption was far from over.

Raven's victory made headlines that evening. Her face, covered by sleek black hair, appeared on every major news channel. They called her a warrior for justice, a fearless corporate lawyer willing to take on the most powerful opponents. But for Raven, it was just another step toward discovering the truth about her father's mysterious death, a secret which is buried deep within the corporate world she had promised to scatter.

By the time she went back to her small apartment in Silvergate, the energy in her had begun to reduce due to stress. She kicked off her shoes and poured herself a cup of red wine, then she fell on her couch in an awkward manner to signify her tiredness. Her apartment was filled with her warmth and her professional looks, with her shelves filled with law books and personal awards—photos of her late father, a recognized scientist, and her mother, whose gentle smile didnt show her quiet strength.

As she took a sip of wine, her phone rang. She peeped at the screen. The number was unknown. Frowning, she answered.

"Ms. Blake?" A deep, cautious voice greeted her. "My name is Daniel. I'm a whistleblower, and I need your help."

Raven sat up straighter and smarter. Her tiredness disappeared, replaced by the sharp focus that had made her one of the most formidable lawyers in Silvergate.

"What kind of help?" she asked.

"I have information," Daniel said. "Evidence of illegal activities at Lycos International."

The name sent a shiver in Raven's body. Lycos International was one of the largest conglomerates in the city, known for its state-of-the-art technology and philanthropic efforts. But rumors about shady dealings in the corporation under its different look to the outside world had always occurred.

"Go on," Raven said to the speaker, covering her curiosity with a professional tone.

"I worked in their research division," Daniel continued. "I saw things… experiments that violated every ethical boundary. People disappeared. Projects were buried. And now they're trying to silence me."

Raven's pulse increased at what was said. "Do you have proof?"

"Yes, but I can't discuss it over the phone. It's too dangerous. They're watching me." His voice was shaking displaying his fear for the information he is revealoing. "Can we meet? Tomorrow night, at the Silvergate Docks. Dock 14, 9 PM."

Raven hesitated. The docks were isolated and risky, but Daniel's desperation was genuine. She couldn't ignore a lead like this.

ignore a lead like this.

"I'll be there," she said firmly.

The next day, Raven's mind filled with questions about Daniel and his claims. She spent the morning researching and getting everything she could find about Lycos International. Its CEO, Killian Thorne, was as mysterious as he was powerful. Attractive and seriously private, he had built Lycos into a global empire. But despite his public image, various talks of corruption and cover-ups always happen.

By evening, Raven felt a mix of excitement and unease in her. She dressed in dark, practical clothes and hid a small recording device into her jacket. If Daniel's story was true, she needed to gather as much evidence as possible.

When she arrived at the docks, the air was filled with salt and the small sound of distant machinery. Dock 14 was dimly lit, its shadows stretching like fingers into the night. Raven's footsteps sounded as she approached.

"Daniel?" she called gently.

A figure emerged from the shadows, a man in his late thirties with scattered hair and blue eyes. He held tightly a brown envelope firmly to his chest.

"Ms. Blake," he said, his voice low. "Thank you for coming."

"Do you have the evidence?" she asked, her tone steady.

Daniel handed her the envelope. "This is just the beginning. There's more, but it's hidden. They've already killed people to protect their secrets. If they find out I spoke to you…"

Suddenly, a loud crash sounded through the dock. Daniel's eyes opened in serious fear.

"We're not alone," he whispered.

Raven barely had time to react before a group of men stepped out from the shadows, their faces covered by masks. One of them pointed directly at Daniel.

"You should've stayed quiet," the man mentioned.

"Run!" Daniel shouted, hiding the envelope in Raven's hands.

The masked men jumped. Daniel tried to push them off, but he was outnumbered. Raven turned and ran for her dear life, holding onto the envelope tightly. Her heart pounded as she maneuvered through the stack of shipping containers, the sound of heavy footsteps chasing her seriously kept sounding in her ears.

She reached her car, trying to arrange through her car keys as energy moved through her veins. Finally, she managed to start the engine and sped away, her hands shaking on the wheel. In the rearview mirror, she saw the masked men moving back into the darkness.

Back in her apartment, Raven locked the door and drew the curtains before sitting at her desk. She opened the envelope, her breath seized as she examined what it contains. There were photographs, documents, and USB drives—evidence of experiments that defied belief. Human test subjects, genetic manipulation, and secret references to something called "Project Lycan."

Her phone rang again. It was an unknown number.

"Ms. Blake," a cold, male voice said. "We know you met with Daniel. Drop the case, or you'll regret it."

The line went dead.

Raven stared at the phone, her jaw tightening. Whoever they were, they underestimated her. She wasn't about to back down—not now, not ever.

"You messed with the wrong person," she uttered, determination filled her eyes.

As she began organizing the evidence, one name stood out repeatedly in the documents: Killian Thorne. The mysterious CEO had just become the central figure in her little quest for justice.

And she intended to take him down.