Chapter 8: The Syndicate
Sienna sat alone in her room, staring at the crystal ball with a mix of frustration and fear. The visions had come so erratically, leaving her grasping at fragments of images that didn’t seem to connect. Her most recent vision had been about saving that construction worker, but she hadn’t seen anything related to Farrah or the men who took her. And it was weighing on her—especially now that she knew how real her visions could be.
Just as she was drifting into thought, she felt an odd tingling sensation—a familiar signal now that something was happening. She gripped the edge of her bed as her vision blurred, and everything around her faded.
Suddenly, she saw a dimly lit room filled with shadows. A group of men, all dressed in black, were gathered around a table, and she felt the heavy sense of secrecy and danger radiating from them. One of the men leaned forward, and as he did, a small emblem on his jacket caught the faint light—a snake coiled around a dagger. The man with the emblem spoke in a deep, gravelly voice.
"Remember," he said.
"Barron doesn’t tolerate mistakes. The kid was supposed to be taken care of, along with the parents."
The image faded, and Sienna snapped back to reality, gasping for air. Her hands were shaking, but she reached for her phone and dialed Anjo’s number immediately.
“Anjo,” she said as soon as he picked up,
“I just had another vision.”
There was a slight pause on the other end before Anjo’s voice came back, serious and steady.
“What did you see?”
“I saw one of the men,” she said breathlessly.
“And he had an emblem on his jacket. It was a snake… wrapped around a dagger.”
The line was silent for a moment, and Sienna could almost picture Anjo’s face as he processed the information. Then, finally, he spoke, his tone colder than she’d ever heard it.
“A snake and dagger,” he muttered, more to himself than to her.
“That symbol… it’s connected to a local syndicate. And if they’re involved, this situation is much bigger than I thought.”
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Anjo met up with Sienna, Garner, and a few of his trusted colleagues at a small café near the police precinct. They all leaned forward as Anjo spread a few photos across the table. The photos were surveillance images, mostly grainy, but each one contained a man or woman with the same symbol—a snake coiled around a dagger, stitched into their clothing.
Anjo pointed to one of the images, his jaw set.
“This symbol belongs to Barron’s syndicate. He’s a notorious crime lord in this city, involved in everything from theft to human trafficking. If the people who took Farrah were working for him… Garner, that means your family was specifically targeted.”
Garner’s face was pale as he absorbed Anjo’s words, a mixture of fear and anger flashing in his eyes.
“But… why us? Why would this Barron want to target my family? We’re just regular people. My parents, they—” He broke off, voice cracking slightly.
Anjo placed a hand on Garner’s shoulder.
“I don’t have all the answers yet, but my instincts tell me there’s more going on here. I suspect your father might have known something—or done something—that made him a target.”
Garner clenched his fists, his gaze distant.
“I… I didn’t know my dad was involved in anything dangerous.”
Sienna’s heart ached for him. She reached out and put a comforting hand on his arm.
“We’ll figure this out together, Garner. I promise.”
One of Anjo’s colleagues, Officer Reyes, spoke up.
“Barron’s syndicate is known for covering their tracks. They’re ruthless and well-organized, and they don’t hesitate to eliminate anyone who stands in their way.”
Anjo nodded.
“This is why we need to be careful. They probably have eyes and ears everywhere. But this symbol you saw, Sienna—it’s a small but crucial piece of the puzzle. It tells us that we’re looking at a specific group with identifiable connections. We just need to find one of Barron’s people and follow the trail back to him.”
Sienna glanced at the photos, feeling a chill run down her spine. She didn’t know what this Barron looked like, but from the way Anjo and his team talked about him, she could imagine he was as terrifying as any villain from a movie. Only, this was real.
“So, what happens now?” she asked.
“We’ll start gathering intel on Barron’s known associates,” Anjo replied. “If we can find someone close to him, we might be able to get more information about why they went after Garner’s family—and where they might be holding Farrah.”
Garner was silent, his eyes fixed on the photos as he listened. Finally, he looked up at Anjo, his voice hard. “I want to help. Whatever it takes, I want to help find Farrah.”
Anjo’s expression softened. “I understand how you feel, Garner, but this is dangerous. The syndicate is nothing like schoolyard bullies. These people don’t play games.”
“Neither do I,” Garner said, his voice firm. “Farrah is my sister. I’m not just going to sit around and wait. I want to be part of this investigation.”
Anjo looked at him, considering, and after a moment he nodded. “All right, but only if you agree to follow my instructions. You’re not trained for this kind of work, Garner. One wrong move, and you could be putting yourself—and Sienna—in even greater danger.”
Garner gave a determined nod. “I’ll do whatever you say. Just… please, help me find her.”
Sienna glanced between Anjo and Garner, feeling a surge of admiration for them both. They were strong and determined to do what was right, no matter the risk. She felt her own resolve hardening as she spoke up.
“I want to help, too,” she said. “My visions might be unpredictable, but they’ve helped us before. Maybe… maybe I can use them to give us a lead, even if it’s just one small piece of information at a time.”
Anjo gave her a reassuring smile. “You’re already helping, Sienna. The visions you’ve had—they’ve been invaluable. We just need to stay cautious and make sure that each step we take is carefully planned. We can’t afford to alert Barron or his people that we’re closing in on them.”
Reyes added, “Barron’s network is vast, and he’s known to keep his location a secret. His henchmen don’t even know where he is most of the time. They communicate through intermediaries and rarely meet face-to-face.”
Sienna felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach. “So, we’re up against a ghost?”
“In a way,” Anjo said, “but every ghost leaves traces. If we find one weak link in his chain, we might have a chance.”
The team spent the next hour discussing strategy, analyzing the syndicate’s structure, and identifying locations where Barron’s associates had been sighted. Anjo, with his experience, had a keen sense of where to start, and he carefully outlined the plan.
As they prepared to leave, Anjo placed a firm hand on Garner’s shoulder. “Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep your head clear, and don’t let anger cloud your judgment.”
Garner gave him a determined nod. “I understand.”
Sienna followed them out of the café, her mind whirling with everything she’d learned. She couldn’t believe how quickly her world had changed. Just a few days ago, she’d been an ordinary girl setting up booths at the school fair. Now, she was caught up in a terrifying mystery involving kidnappers, a dangerous syndicate, and visions that she still didn’t fully understand.
As they walked down the street, Garner slowed his pace, turning to Sienna with a look of gratitude. “Thank you, Sienna. I don’t know where I’d be without you. I mean… all of this is happening, and you’re still here, helping me through it.”
Sienna felt a warmth spread through her chest. “I wouldn’t leave you to face this alone, Garner. Besides, it feels like… I don’t know, like I was meant to help somehow. These visions… they’re scary, but if they can make a difference, then maybe they’re worth it.”
Garner gave her a faint smile, his eyes softening.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. I trust you.”
They continued in silence, both feeling the weight of the mission ahead, yet comforted by each other’s presence. For now, they would lean on one another as they prepared to take on the darkness surrounding Barron and his syndicate.
Sienna took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. Whatever happened, she would do everything in her power to help Garner—and to protect the people she cared about from the shadows lurking around them.