A Strange System: Matteo's Rebirth

Chapter 5

The Shadow’s Edge

The rain fell steadily over London, a soft rhythm that seemed to sync with Matteo’s restless thoughts. He crouched in the corner of a motel room, the journal from his father open before him on the table. The small lamp above flickered occasionally, its weak light casting shadows over the worn binding.

Matteo’s hands trembled as he flipped through the pages. His father’s handwriting was precise, each line carrying the weight of secrets Matteo had only begun to grasp. He knew the System was powerful, but he hadn’t yet realized how deep its influence ran—or how much danger it carried.

“Our legacy is bound to the System, Matteo. But it is not ours alone. For centuries, others have sought to claim it, to twist it for their purposes. Beware the Order of Eryndor. They are relentless, and they will stop at nothing to possess what we protect.”

The words felt like a warning from beyond the grave. Matteo’s grip on the journal tightened as a faint knock at the door startled him. He froze, his breath catching in his throat. He hadn’t told anyone where he was staying.

The System chimed faintly in his vision.

Warning: Unknown entity detected outside. Threat Level: Moderate.

Matteo cursed under his breath and reached for the knife he’d tucked under his jacket. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. Moving silently, he pressed his ear to the door.

“Matteo,” a voice called softly from the other side. “It’s me. Open up.”

Matteo’s brow furrowed. The voice was familiar, but not comforting. Slowly, he unlocked the door, leaving the chain latch in place.

Through the crack, he saw a woman in her early thirties, her dark hair plastered to her face by the rain. Her green eyes locked onto his.

“Lena?” Matteo’s voice was a mix of disbelief and suspicion.

“Let me in,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder. “They’re coming.”

Lena’s Warning

Matteo hesitated for only a moment before undoing the latch. Lena slipped inside, her wet boots squeaking against the floor. She shut the door behind her, locking it firmly before turning to him.

“What are you doing here?” Matteo demanded, his voice low.

“I’m here to warn you,” Lena said, pulling off her soaked jacket. Underneath, she wore a black tactical outfit, the kind only someone familiar with dangerous missions would wear.

“The Order knows you have the journal. They’ve sent a retrieval team.”

“How do you know that?” Matteo asked, his grip on the knife tightening.

“Because I used to work for them,” Lena admitted, her gaze unwavering.

Matteo stepped back, the knife raising slightly.

“And now you’re here to betray me? Hand me over to them?”

Lena sighed, running a hand through her wet hair. “If I wanted to hand you over, I wouldn’t have come alone. Look, Matteo, I’ve been out of the Order for years. But when I heard they were after you, I couldn’t just stand by. Your father saved my life once. This is me repaying that debt.”

Matteo studied her for a long moment, trying to read her intentions. Finally, he lowered the knife. “If you’re lying---”

“I’m not,” Lena cut him off. “But we don’t have time for this. We need to leave. Now.”

Warning:

Hostiles inbound. Evacuate immediately.

The System’s alert coincided with the distant sound of heavy boots on the motel’s stairs. Matteo grabbed the journal and shoved it into his bag.

“Where to?” he asked, slinging the bag over his shoulder.

“I know a safe house,” Lena said, already heading for the window. “But it’s not close.”

“Lead the way,” Matteo said.

The Chase

The alley behind the motel was slick with rain, its path illuminated by streetlights. Lena led the way, moving with the agility of someone who had spent years running from trouble. Matteo followed close behind, his ears straining for any signs of pursuit.

“Who are these people?” Matteo asked, his breath misting in the cold air.

“The Order of Eryndor,” Lena said without breaking stride. “A shadow organization obsessed with controlling the System. Your father kept it out of their hands, but now that he’s gone, you’re their target.”

“They want the journal?”

“They want the System,” Lena corrected. “The journal is just a means to an end.”

Behind them, the sound of shouting and footsteps grew louder. Matteo glanced over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of dark-clad figures moving through the alley.

“We’re not going to outrun them,” Matteo said.

“We don’t have to,” Lena replied, turning sharply into another alley. She stopped at a rusted metal door, her hands working quickly to unlock it.

“Hurry,” Matteo urged, glancing back.

The door creaked open, and they slipped inside just as their pursuers rounded the corner. Lena shut the door softly, pressing a finger to her lips as she motioned for Matteo to follow.

The building was dark and abandoned, its air thick with dust and mildew. Lena led Matteo through a maze of corridors, her movements purposeful.

“Where are we going?” Matteo whispered.

“There’s a hidden exit in the basement,” Lena replied. “It’ll take us to the safe house.”

As they descended a rickety staircase, Matteo couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed to press in closer, their silence oppressive.

Warning:

Presence detected. Threat Level: High.

Matteo stopped, his hand reaching for the knife. “Lena,” he whispered, “we’re not alone.”

Lena froze, her own hand moving to the gun holstered at her hip. The sound of footsteps heard faintly from above.

“They’re here,” Lena said, her voice grim.

A Fight

The first attacker came silently, dropping down from the staircase above. Matteo reacted instinctively, the knife in his hand slicing through the air. The blade caught the attacker’s arm, drawing a grunt of pain.

Lena fired her gun, the sharp crack echoing through the basement. Another figure fell, but more were closing in.

“Keep moving!” Lena shouted, firing again.

Matteo didn’t need to be told twice. He pushed forward, using the knife to fend off anyone who got too close. The basement was a chaos of movement and shadows, the fight a blur of violence and desperation.

Finally, they reached a metal hatch in the floor. Lena yanked it open, motioning for Matteo to go first.

He slid down into the darkness, landing on damp stone. Lena followed, slamming the hatch shut behind her.

The Safe House

The tunnel led to a small, hidden bunker carved into the earth. It was sparse but functional, with a few cots, a table, and a makeshift kitchen.

Lena collapsed onto a chair, wiping sweat from her brow. “We should be safe here for a while.”

Matteo dropped his bag onto the table, pulling out the journal. “You knew my father,” he said, his tone accusatory. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It wasn’t my place,” Lena replied, her gaze steady. “Your father wanted to keep you away from this. He thought he could protect you.”

“Well, he failed,” Matteo snapped.

Lena’s expression softened. “He did the best he could, Matteo. The System is a burden no one should have to bear alone.”

Matteo opened the journal, flipping to a page marked with a faint fold. The text was dense, filled with references to the Order, ancient rituals, and something called the “Veil.”

“What’s the Veil?” Matteo asked, looking up at Lena.

Her face paled. “It’s a barrier,” she said softly. “A boundary between our world and... something else. The System is tied to it, and so is the Order’s power.”

“Why would my father be involved with something like that?”

“Because someone has to keep it in check,” Lena said. “If the Veil falls, the consequences would be catastrophic.”

Matteo stared at the journal, the weight of his father’s legacy pressing down on him. He didn’t ask for any of this, but now it was his responsibility.

“Fine,” Matteo said finally. “But if I’m going to do this, I need answers. All of them.”

Lena nodded. “You’ll get them. But first, we need to figure out our next move.”

Next Objective:

Locate the Veil’s anchor point before the Order does.

Reward: Unlock [Dimensional Insight].

Matteo closed the journal, his resolve hardening. The fight wasn’t over—not by a long shot.