"There is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak."
— Ecclesiastes 3:7
Part I – The Decision
Rebecca Hart couldn't sleep. Since she had found the Bible on her table and that handwritten note, fear had mixed with obsession. Someone knew what she was investigating. And they didn't want her to go further.
But Rebecca wasn't the kind to back down.
She sat in front of her typewriter, eyes red, coffee gone cold. She had two options:
Write the article and reveal everything she'd uncovered.
Stay silent… and keep digging for stronger evidence.
She decided to do both.
She wrote a short piece for the paper:
"Who Is The Pastor? A Vigilante Among Shadows."
It contained no names or direct accusations. Just rumors, anonymous testimonies, and open questions. But it carried a hidden message:
"I'm close. Show me who you are."
She locked her real notes into a sealed folder. If anything happened to her, someone would find the truth.
Part II – The Confession That Shouldn't Have Happened
That night, at 3:05 a.m., Samuel Book walked through an alley behind an underground club. There was no moon. Only artificial light and the echo of his steps.
His target: Rafael Duarte , a former lawyer for Lorenzo Márquez who had helped cover up dozens of crimes.
"Stand up," Samuel said, pointing the gun at him.
Rafael lifted his head. He was injured, but not afraid.
"I knew it," he murmured. "I knew you'd come."
Samuel raised an eyebrow.
"You knew I was going to kill you?"
"No. I knew you would come. The dark pastor. The man who kills in God's name."
Samuel didn't answer. He offered him water and knelt before him.
"Confess," he ordered. "Confess Jesus Christ as your Savior… and die in peace."
Rafael smiled weakly.
"And if I already did before?" he asked.
Samuel stared at him.
"Then tell me… why do you still sin?"
Rafael took a deep breath.
"For money. For power. For fear. The same reasons others kill. Only I did it in a suit and with a pen."
A long silence followed.
"Do you have anything to say before you die?" Samuel asked.
Rafael nodded.
"Yes. I'm not the only one. And she's watching you."
"She?" Samuel asked.
"The woman. The reporter. She's looking for you. And you already know it."
A chill ran through Samuel. His jaw tightened.
"Confess," he repeated. "Or stop talking."
Rafael did. Tears fell from his eyes as he whispered:
"Lord Jesus… receive my soul."
Samuel pulled the trigger.
Part III – An Unexpected Encounter
The next day, Lucas Kane received an anonymous call. A male voice gave him an address:
"Go there. You'll find answers."
When he arrived, he found Rafael Duarte's body.
The Bible.
The marked verse.
And a handwritten note:
"Not all who preach love live by it."
Lucas felt the air leave his lungs.
He had been following The Pastor's trail for weeks…
And now he had something real. Tangible.
But he also had doubts.
What did that note mean?
Did someone else know what he was starting to suspect?
He decided to visit Rebecca. She might know more.
Part IV – The Dangerous Question
Lucas entered the newspaper office and went straight to Rebecca's desk.
"I need to talk to you," he said without preamble.
She looked surprised.
"About what?"
"The Pastor. "
Rebecca shivered. Lucas didn't seem just curious. He seemed worried.
"What do you know about him?"
"Enough to know you're not entirely wrong," Lucas replied. "But also enough to know that if you keep digging, you could disappear like so many others."
Rebecca swallowed hard.
"So you think he's real?"
"I think," Lucas said, "it's better not to know. But if you insist… you need to be careful. Because you're not alone."
Rebecca stared at him.
"He's watching me, isn't he?"
Lucas didn't answer. He simply nodded.
And then left without another word.
Part V – The Shadow Behind the Light
That night, Samuel Book preached before a faithful crowd.
"Brothers and sisters," he said, "we live in a world full of lies. Where good disguises evil… and evil disguises good."
He glanced toward the back of the church.
There, among the faithful, was Rebecca .
Sitting. Listening. Watching.
Samuel didn't change his tone. Or his expression.
But inside, something stirred.
She had found him.
And he already knew he couldn't let her go.
"For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, nor has anything been secret that shall not be known."
— Luke 12:2