Lisbon, Portugal.
Elian Cross moved through the quiet back halls of the Ministry building where his “civilian” post resided. Government analysts came and went — files in hand, heads down, lost in paperwork and whispers.
They had no idea who truly walked beside them.
His secured device pulsed again in his coat — a subtle vibration no normal comm would carry.
He turned into a side stairwell, pausing under the dim emergency light, eyes narrowing as the message unfolded:
> "Evaluation Phase: Target Sigma. Field observation begins. Maintain cover."
Elian smiled faintly. His real work began now. Someone — something — had drawn the Abyss' deeper attention.
His personal curiosity stirred. A new candidate, perhaps? A threat?
Whatever it was, Lisbon would see quiet ripples before the storm came.
He smoothed his tie, slipping back into the quiet rhythm of the Ministry’s maze — just another forgotten ghost behind a desk.
---
Berlin, Germany.
Sofia returned to her quiet pharmacy after dropping her daughter off at school.
The bell chimed softly as the door opened — a familiar customer stepped inside, asking about painkillers and sleep aids.
Routine. Familiar.
Yet her senses stretched wide. Every word, every motion, weighed against her agent’s instinct.
Her personal tablet, hidden beneath the counter, flickered once — a silent message from the Berlin Substation.
No text. No symbols. Just a flicker — the signal all field operatives knew.
"Eyes watching. Be ready."
She smiled at the customer, voice gentle. "Let me check the back for you."
In the storeroom behind the shelves, she pulled the hidden pistol case free for a breath’s check — loaded, silent, cold.
Berlin was awake. And something stirred beneath its surface.
---
New York City, USA.
Liam Hart stretched lazily behind the counter of the high-end gym, flashing smiles at clients — Wall Street bankers, elite lawyers, trophy wives.
But his private comm buzzed — a candidate file uploaded, flagged "Priority Evaluation."
His fingers danced over the tablet, eyes narrowing. A new potential Alpha recruit — untested, dangerous, raw.
> "Observation status: green light. Engage cautiously."
He grinned, folding the tablet away.
“Looks like someone gets their trial by fire,” Liam muttered, tossing a towel over his shoulder.
Another soul on the edge of Alpha’s hidden world — they’d either rise… or quietly disappear.
---
Unknown Location – Abyss Facility.
Seer stood alone before the vast tactical screen, watching the threads of Alpha’s network ripple and shift. Dozens of lives, dozens of missions — all moving in quiet harmony under unseen command.
One thread pulsed brighter than the rest — Target Sigma — unusual, unpredictable.
He tapped the glass softly, voice low and thoughtful.
> "Background anomaly. Behavioral flags. Possible wildcard."
A risk. Or an opportunity. Or both.
His gaze swept over the data streams — agent reports, surveillance feeds, evaluation requests. All meticulously ordered, all feeding into the quiet machine that kept the world from breaking.
A faint smile touched his lips.
> "We’ll see how this one dances," he murmured.
Behind him, the vast War Room remained silent — no audience, no questioning eyes. Only Seer and the endless web of threads.
The facility watched. As always.
YOU ARE READING
The Abyss Protocol
Mystery / ThrillerIn the modern world of Veyra, the quiet surface of nations hides a war fought by unseen hands. At the heart of this shadow conflict stands Alpha; an organization led by five faceless rulers, hidden even from their own agents. Beneath the ocean in an...
