Speaker 1: Yeah, Welcome back to Dark Tails Uncovered, where the shadows whisper,
the truth is never what it seems, and the line
between hunter and praise raise the thin. This season we'll
continue and I des sent into Bloodline Urban Shadows, where
Mere's journey into the world of Crimson has taken has
taken her further than she ever imagined, and there's no
turning back. She started as an outsider, a journalist looking
for a story, but in the first sip, she tasted
the darkness for herself. Now in chapter five The Hunter's Mark,
Mia thus now come to terms with what she has become.
The night now has new rules. The hunger is real
and in this world, power is everything. But Mia isn't
the only thing watching from the shadows. Someone has marked her.
Is she still the storyteller or has she become the hunted?
The city's underbella is alive with whispers, and the hunt
has begun. The question is who is the predator? Who
is the prey? Chapter five, The Hunter's Mark, The darkness
swallowed me a hole, the door slamming shut behind her
with an echo that lingered too far. She gripped the
flashlight from her bag, but it has been barely cut
through the oppressive blackness. Every sound, her own breathing, her
shuffle of her boots, felt amplified, as if the shadows
were alive and listening. The whispers had whispers had subsided,
replaced by a low, rhythmic hum that pulsed in her ears.
The Crimson app on her phone vibrated. She pulled it out,
and a new message flashed across the screen. Locate the target,
bring them alive. Use your senses, new senses, lea thought.
Staring at the words, she had already felt something shift
within her. After drinking the vial, her vision seemed sharper,
and even in the dark, she could faintly make out
shapes and movements. She took a deep breath, trying to focus.
All right, senses, let's see what we've got. The darkness
began to recede, not entirely, though, but enough for me
to make out faint glimmers of light. Ahead. She followed
the trail, her footsteps cautious as she moved. The air
grew heavier, tinged with a coppery set that made her
stomach churn. The trail led to an ode. The trail
led to an old staircase, rusted and creaking under her weight.
She descended carefully, gripping the rail. The hum grew louder,
almost melodic, now drawing her deep into the labyrinth for
the warehouses under belly. The bottom of the stairs, the
space opened into a vast chamber. Crates and broken machinery
lay scattered. But it was the figure crouched in the
center that caught MEA's attention. A man dressed in a
tattered leather jacket was frantically sorting for a satchel. His
movements were jerky, desperate, like a corded animal. Mia stepped closer,
her new senses honing in on him. She could hear
his heartbeat, a rapid, uneven rhythm that betrayed his fear.
She could smell the faint twang of sweat and the
metallic bite of blood. This must be hymns, she thought, hey,
Mia called, her voice, echoing. The man whipped around, a
knife glint in his hand. His eyes were wide, darting
around as if searching for an escape. Stay back, he growled.
I know who you are. Mia stopped, holding up her hands.
I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to talk.
He laughed bitterly. Talk is that what they told you
to say? You're one of them, now, aren't you. I
don't know what I am, Mere admitted, but I'm not
your enemy. Just tell me why they're after you, The
man hesitated, his grip on the knife, loosening, Because I
got out, I saw what they really are, and I
walked away. That's not something they forgive. What are they?
Mere pressed, taking a cautious step closer. They're monsters, he spat.
They look at people in with promises of power and immortality,
but it's a lie. They don't make you stronger, They
make you theirs forever, and once you're in, you can't
escape me. As stomach twisted, man's words echoed what she'd
already begun to suspect. Then why are you're still alive,
she asked, Because I learned their secrets, he said, his
voice trembling, and I know how to fight back. Before
Mia could respond, her phone buzzed violently. She glanced at it,
and the Crimson app displayed a single word. Now, a
cold realization washed over her. The app wasn't just tracking her,
it was watching her every move. I can help you,
the man said quickly, his eyes, pleading. If you're new
to this, you don't understand what you're dealing with. We
can stop them, but you have to trust me. Mia hesitated.
If she brought him back to the woman, she might
get closer to saving Ethan. But if this man was
telling the truth, he could be her only chance to
fight back against whatever Crimson really was. And the hum
of the hum in the air grew louder, more insistent.
The app blashed again. Time is running out, it gritted,
her teeth, torn between two paths in front of her.
Make your choice, the man urged. But if you take
me back with them, you'll be signing your soul away too.
Her grip tightened on a flashlight. The way of decision,
of the decision pressed down on her. For the first time,
she realized just how dangerous this game had become. She
stepped forward, her heart racing. All right, she said, her
voice firm, But this only works if you don't give
me a reason to regret it. The man's eyes widened
and surprised, but he nodded quickly as Mia helped him
to his feet. The whispers returned, louder and more insistent
than ever. The shadows in the room seemed to ripple,
warning her that her decision had been seen and that
the consequences were already in motion. The apated pat in
the fi