Iron Mercy
The Stolen Ledger
The city never sleeps. Neither does the Iron Syndicate.
At an abandoned warehouse — 11:47 PM
A figure moves through the dark
clutching a leather ledger tight against his chest. His breathing is sharp. His side is bleeding.
Cael Mercer~|mc
( mutters to himself) just a little further... come on...
Cael Mercer~|mc
(winces and presses his hand to the wound) of all the nights to get shot...
He doesn't notice the cameras. He doesn't notice the red dots tracing his steps.
He doesn't notice the silence that is too clean to be empty.
Jasper Wren~|Cael's best friend
(through earpiece, panicked whisper) Cael where are You?? you were supposed to be out ten minutes ago—
Cael Mercer~|mc
Hissing) I'm a little busy Jasper—
Jasper Wren~|Cael's best friend
Did you get it??
Cael Mercer~|mc
(grips the ledger) ...yeah. I got it.
Jasper Wren~|Cael's best friend
Then RUN—
Cael Mercer~|mc
( freezes ) ...oh no.
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
( steps out of the shadow, gun raised, voice flat ) Drop it.
Cael Mercer~|mc
Slowly raises one hand ) I can explain—
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
I said drop it.
Cael Mercer~|mc
( doesn't drop it )
Six more men emerge from the dark. Cael counts them. Counts his exits. Finds none.
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
( into earpiece ) Sir. We have him.
A pause. Then a voice — low, unhurried, and colder than the room.
Dorian Voss~|ml
( through the comm ) Bring him in. Don't touch the ledger.
Wrong Territory
Some mistakes you can't take back. Walking into Dorian Voss's territory is one of them. 🌑
🏚️ Abandoned Warehouse — 11:52 PM
Cael is shoved into a chair. His wrists are bound. The ledger sits on the table across from him — just out of reach. His side is still bleeding.
Cael Mercer~|mc
Looks around and laughs nervously ) okay... okay this is fine...
Cael Mercer~|mc
( it is not fine)
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
(crosses his arms) 😐 who sent you.
Cael Mercer~|mc
Nobody. Freelance job.
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
Freelance. (looks unimpressed) you broke into Iron Syndicate property. Alone. For a freelance job.
Cael Mercer~|mc
(winces) ...yes?
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
😑 who sent you.
Cael says nothing. Soren steps closer. The temperature in the room drops.
The door opens. 🚪
He doesn't rush. He doesn't need to. The room rearranges itself around Dorian Voss the moment he enters — like gravity shifted and chose a new center.
Dorian Voss~|ml
Glances at the ledger. Then at Cael. Says nothing for a long moment ) 🖤
Cael Mercer~|mc
( meets his eyes. Immediately regrets it)
Dorian Voss~|ml
( pulls up a chair. sits. quiet voice ) you're bleeding.
Dorian Voss~|ml
(looks at him like he is something mildly interesting) who taught you to crack a syndicate vault?
Cael Mercer~|mc
(pause) ... I taught myself.
Dorian Voss~|ml
(almost smiles. Doesn't) 🖤 Wrong territory. Wrong ledger. wrong night
Cael Mercer~|mc
(quietly) yeah. I'm getting that.
Dorian Voss~|ml
Stands. Picks up the ledger without opening it. Speaks to Soren) patch him up. 🩸
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
And then? 😐
Dorian Voss~|ml
(walks toward the door) he doesn't leave.
Cael Mercer~|mc
(calls after him) — wait. You can't just keep me here—
Dorian Voss~|ml
( doesn't stop. doesn't turn around ) 🖤 I already have.
Cael stares at the ceiling.
Cael Mercer~|mc
( whispers ) Jasper I am in so much trouble. 😩
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The Don Decides
Power doesn't announce itself. It simply decides. 🖤⚔️🌑
🏢 Iron Syndicate Headquarters — 12:15 AM 🌙
Cael sits in a private room now. Clean. Cold. Expensive. His wound has been wrapped tightly by a silent syndicate medic. The ledger is gone.
Dorian Voss is somewhere behind a closed door — deciding his fate. 😶🌫️🩸
Cael Mercer~|mc
😬 ( shifts in the chair and looks around ) okay. marble floors. crystal glasses. this is a very nice prison.
Cael Mercer~|mc
Spots a camera in the corner ) 📷😑 ...of course.
🚪 Down the hall — Dorian's private office
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
😐 he's an intelligence broker. No syndicate affiliation. Works alone mostly. His name is Cael Mercer.
Dorian Voss~|ml
🖤 (doesn't look up from his desk) age.
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
Twenty-seven.
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
Clean on the surface. Very dirty underneath.
Dorian Voss~|ml
( faint pause) ...talented then. 🖤
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
😐 Sir he stole from us. The protocol is clear—
Dorian Voss~|ml
( finally looks up) ⚔️ I know what the protocol is Soren.
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
(goes quiet) 😶
Dorian Voss~|ml
Dorian opens the ledger. Turns three pages. Stops. 📖🖤
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
😑 he didn't steal this for money.
Dorian Voss~|ml
(taps the page) whoever sent him wanted this specific page. 📄 Not the accounts. not the names. This one entry. 🖤⚔️
Soren Hale~|Dorian's shadow
😶 ...you think someone used him.
Dorian Voss~|ml
(closes the ledger) 🖤 I think he doesn't know what he was actually carrying.
🚪 Back in the holding room
The door opens.
Cael straightens immediately. Dorian walks in alone this time. No Soren. No guards. Just him. 😮💨🖤
Cael Mercer~|mc
😬 so... verdict?
Dorian Voss~|ml
(sits across from him calmly) 🖤 who hired you.
Cael Mercer~|mc
😑 already told your guy — freelance—
Dorian Voss~|ml
(quiet. Patient. Terrifying) 🖤 Cael. Who hired you.
The way Dorian says his name stops him completely.
Like it was already decided it belonged in his mouth. 💀🖤
Cael Mercer~|mc
😶 (long pause) ... I don't know his real name. Online contact. Paid half upfront. 💻
Dorian Voss~|ml
🖤 and the ledger. Did you look inside.
Cael Mercer~|mc
😐 ?..maybe.
Dorian Voss~|ml
(looks at him) 🖤🖤
Cael Mercer~|mc
😳 okay yes. I looked. I didn't understand most of it—
Dorian Voss~|ml
(stands) ⚔️ that is the only reason you are still breathing.
Dorian Voss~|ml
(moves toward the door) You will stay here. you will cooperate. And when I find whoever sent you—
Cael Mercer~|mc
And then what? you'll let me go?? 😟
Dorian stops at the door. Doesn't turn around. The silence says everything his words won't. 🌑🖤
Dorian Voss~|ml
⚔️🖤 ...we'll see.
Cael exhales like he forgot how to breathe. 😮💨💀
Cael Mercer~|mc
😩😩😩 Jasper I need you to know... if I die tonight... it's entirely your fault.
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