CHAPTER 162: Insurrection-31

CHAPTER 162: Insurrection-31

In the main hall of Enid Corp, the lobby television broadcast the German news, the anchor's voice clear, almost solemn:

"Authorities have confirmed that those responsible for the incident in Berlin on October 31st have been identified as Viktor Koval and Darem Sentinel. Both have been arrested and are in custody, awaiting trial. It is expected that further details linking Helena Strauss and other figures within the former clandestine military structure will come to light in the coming days."

The images showed Viktor and Darem in handcuffs, heads covered, descending from a vehicle surrounded by armed agents.

Phoenix, sitting on the floor, held a box full of Christmas ornaments. Enid, supported by her almost-healed bandages, stretched a silver garland to hang on the freshly assembled tree.

"It's finally over," said Phoenix, hanging a small wooden wolf on a branch. "I thought this would take us years."

Enid smiled, adjusting a red bauble.
"Sometimes justice is slow, but it arrives. And this time it arrived just before Christmas." She paused for a second, looking at the screen. "I'm glad it's all out in the open. That the truth is out there."

"You know what's strangest?" Phoenix remarked, pulling out another box with lights. "For the first time in months… I don't feel like I have to watch my back."

Enid let out a soft laugh.
"That's called peace. It takes some getting used to."

"And you?" he asked, standing up to reach a high branch. "How do you feel about all this?"

Enid leaned against the edge of the sofa, looking at the nearly complete tree.
"I feel… alive. And that's already a lot." Then she glanced at him sideways. "Besides, I don't get to decorate it with you every day. If someone had told me a few months ago we'd end up doing this…"
"You would have broken their face," Phoenix replied, amused.
"Probably."

They laughed in sync, while the screen continued showing looped headlines, now weightless over them.

Phoenix plugged in the lights. The tree came alive in warm tones and soft glimmers.
"It looks good," he said.
"No. It looks perfect," Enid replied.

And, for the first time in a long while, the silence that followed was comfortable.
It wasn't the end.
But it was, finally, a respite.

"Phoenix… I need you to stay calm," she said in a firm but not cold tone. "We fly to New York tonight. You will be key witnesses in the case against Viktor and Darem."

Phoenix let his arms fall to his sides. He didn't seem surprised, but slightly weary inside.
"So it's official," he replied. "I knew it would happen sooner or later."

Enid nodded, walking until she stood in front of him. It wasn't an order; it was a request.
"Your testimony is essential. No one else was as close to everything that happened. And not just you. Lucian, Marcus, even Vanessa… you're all part of this. Without your testimony, they could negotiate lighter sentences. We can't allow that."
"I know," he said, with no trace of doubt. "I don't like going back to the US, but… I guess it's what needs to be done."
"Don't guess," Enid corrected with a slight smile. "It's the right thing. And this time you won't be alone. You have your team. You have me."

Phoenix looked at her silently for a second, something different in his gaze. Calmer, as if certainty had settled in the right place.
"Then we'll go," he finally said. "We'll testify. And we close this chapter for good."

Enid raised a hand and straightened the collar of his jacket, a simple, almost domestic gesture.
"I hope so. Because when all this is over…" Her voice lowered, soft, intimate. "I want a Christmas with no shocks. One where we can sleep without weapons under our pillows. Can you imagine?"

Phoenix let out a small laugh.
"Yes. And we can even put up more lights if you want."
"Don't push it," she replied, and they both smiled.

Outside, the Berlin night was preparing for snow.
Inside, the tree glowed warmly behind them.
And fate, for once, didn't seem like a threat, but an inevitable journey.

Agnes peeked her head through the glass lobby door, interrupting the moment.
"Phoenix… it's time," she said, with that half-smile she'd worn since everything ended.

He nodded and walked over, leaving the tree and Enid behind, who watched them silently. Phoenix and Agnes walked together towards the exit, where snow was beginning to fall softly on the nighttime city.
"I still don't understand why you insist I leave this," said Agnes, shoving her hands in her pockets. "I can stay. I can help you. You don't have to carry everything alone."

Phoenix avoided her gaze at first, as if searching for the right words. But when he spoke, he did so with an almost disarming honesty.
"Because I care about you too much," he confessed. "And I won't risk getting you killed because of me. I've already lost too many people. I'm not adding your name to the list."

Agnes pressed her lips together, holding back an emotion she didn't want to show.
"And what am I supposed to do now? Go back to my city, my boring life? Forget all this?"

Phoenix slowly shook his head and took an envelope from his coat.
"You don't need to go back to anything. I got you a job in Washington D.C. All legal, paid, and safe. House included, expenses covered… You'll be fine. And far from this chaos."

Agnes opened the envelope. Inside were several hundred dollars in cash and a card with an address.
Her hand trembled slightly as she held it.
"And when were you planning to tell me?"
"Now. Because if I'd said it before, you would have come up with a thousand reasons not to," he replied, almost smiling.

Agnes looked at him for a second, then hugged him. Without words at first. Just a sincere, warm, nostalgic strength.
"Thank you…" she whispered. "I had the most epic adventure of my life. I don't regret a thing."
"Neither do I," Phoenix replied quietly. "Thank you for staying when no one else did."