Lanz stepped out of the vehicle, his eyes scanning the familiar sight of his wife’s mansion nestled in the quiet, verdant hills of Laguna. The long drive had been filled with tension, and now, as he stood at the entrance, the weight of their situation pressed even heavier on his shoulders. Behind him, Hillarion and the others followed, their expressions weary from the journey and the mounting dangers they faced.
The grand wooden doors of the mansion swung open, and Mikee, Lanz’s wife, appeared in the doorway. Her eyes immediately locked onto her husband’s, filled with relief at seeing him safe, yet shadowed by the grief she carried with her. She rushed toward him, her arms wrapping around him tightly.
Mikee: (softly) I’m so glad you’re here, but… Constantine… I heard what happened.
Lanz held her close for a moment, his hand resting on the back of her head as he exhaled deeply. The sorrow in her voice only mirrored the pain he had been trying to push down. He gently pulled back to look at her, his face lined with fatigue.
Lanz: (quietly) It’s been hard. We couldn’t do anything. 
Mikee’s eyes glistened as she nodded, stepping back to invite them all inside. She had always known how much Constantine meant to Lanz—not just as a friend, but as someone who had fought for the same ideals, someone who believed in the same vision for a better world. His death had sent shockwaves through their close-knit circle, and the void he left felt almost too large to fill.
As they entered the mansion, Mikee turned to the others with a sad smile, offering what comfort she could.
Mikee: (gently) You’re safe here, all of you. We’ll figure things out together, but first, you all need to rest.
Hillarion, Keisha, Eli, and the rest of the group nodded in appreciation, grateful for her warmth and hospitality. The mansion provided a stark contrast to the chaos they had fled—its serene surroundings and spacious rooms a temporary sanctuary from the turmoil outside. Yet, despite the beauty and calm, the sense of loss hung in the air like an unwelcome guest.
Lanz took Mikee’s hand, his voice low as he spoke.
Lanz: (with resolve) We need to stay hidden for now, but we can’t lose focus. Avril is still out there, and he’s coming after us. We can’t let Constantine’s death be in vain.
Mikee: (nodding) I know. I just… I just wish things had turned out differently. He didn’t deserve this.
Lanz looked down, feeling the grief tug at his heart once more. Constantine had been more than just a leader; he had been a symbol of hope for all of them. Losing him felt like losing a part of their fight, but even in the darkest moments, Lanz knew they couldn’t give up. They had to continue the battle, even without Constantine by their side.
Mikee: (squeezing his hand) We’ll get through this, Lanz. We have to. For him.
Lanz: (determined) For him.
As the group settled into the mansion, the weight of Constantine’s death lingered, but so did their collective will to carry on. They would mourn their fallen friend, but they would also prepare for the fight that was still to come.
Later that evening, as the others began to settle in, Lanz and Hillarion found themselves alone in one of the quieter rooms of the mansion. The warm light from a nearby lamp flickered, casting shadows across the walls. The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was heavy with the weight of what they had to discuss. Without Constantine to lead them, the burden of facing Avril’s growing power now fell on their shoulders.
Lanz leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his mind racing as he considered the daunting task ahead. Hillarion sat across from him, elbows resting on his knees, looking equally troubled.
Hillarion: (breaking the silence) It still doesn’t feel real, you know? That Constantine’s… gone.
Lanz nodded, his face grim.
Lanz: (quietly) I know. But we don’t have time to grieve properly. Avril’s consolidating power faster than we expected. He’s already got the whole city in his pocket. And now, with Constantine out of the picture…
Hillarion: (finishing his thought) He’s going to come for us. We’re next on his list. 
Lanz exhaled, pushing off the wall and pacing the room slowly. He clenched his fists, the frustration evident in his movements.
Lanz: (angrily) That snake. He manipulated the whole city, made them believe Constantine was some kind of criminal. He’s good at playing the long game, and we underestimated him. Now, without Constantine, we’re exposed.
Hillarion: (nodding grimly) We’ve lost our leader, and without someone like him, we don’t have the same pull. But we can’t let Avril get away with this. We owe it to Constantine to keep fighting, to find a way to bring him down.
Lanz stopped pacing, turning to face Hillarion directly.
Lanz: (determined) We need a new strategy. Avril thrives on manipulation, twisting public perception to suit his needs. He’s not just attacking us physically—he’s controlling the narrative, controlling the minds of the people.
Hillarion: (thoughtfully) And without the trust Constantine had, it’ll be harder to turn the tide back in our favor. The people believe him now. They think Avril is their savior, and we’re the outlaws.
Lanz walked over to the window, looking out into the darkened landscape beyond the mansion. His jaw tightened as he considered their options.
Lanz: (quietly) We need to hit him where he’s vulnerable. We know the truth about him—about what he’s really done. We need evidence, something concrete that the people can’t ignore. Something that’ll expose him for what he really is.
Hillarion: (nodding) Agreed. But finding that kind of proof won’t be easy. Avril’s smart, and he’s probably covered his tracks. We’ll have to be careful. If we move too soon, we could tip him off, and he’ll come down on us harder than ever.
Lanz: (with resolve) We don’t have a choice. We need to be smart, yes, but we can’t wait too long either. The longer Avril stays in power, the more people he’ll bring under his control. We need to find his weaknesses—people in his inner circle, documents, anything that ties him to the syndicate or exposes his corruption.
Hillarion stood up, his expression firm.
Hillarion: (determined) If we’re going after Avril, we’re going to need more than just us. We’ll need allies, people we can trust—people who aren’t afraid to fight back.
Lanz: (nodding) Agreed. And we have to do it quietly. If we’re exposed before we have everything in place, it’s over. We need to move in the shadows, just like Avril does.
Hillarion: (gritting his teeth) I hate that it’s come to this, but you’re right. It’s time we fought him on his own terms. 
Lanz turned back to face Hillarion, his eyes filled with a steely determination.
Lanz: (resolutely) We’ll stop him, Hillarion. For Constantine. For everyone he’s hurt. But this time, we need to be smarter, more calculated. We’ll take him down from the inside.
Hillarion: (clenching his fist) Let’s do it. No more waiting.
As the two men solidified their plans, the resolve between them grew stronger. They had lost their leader, their friend, but they would not let Constantine’s legacy die. Together, they would find a way to stop Avril, even if it meant going to war in the shadows.