COLD FRONT by GIC
Chapter 2: RISING TENSIONS IN VANCOUVER
Chapter 1: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Rain streaked down Alex’s apartment window as he scrolled through the forums. The encrypted chat logs, cracked open by a contact in the Vancouver tech underground, revealed the inner workings of True North Front’s plans. Threads titled “Northern Dawn Logistics,” “Target Zones,” and “Recruitment Zone” buzzed with activity.
It was worse than Alex imagined.
Members shared detailed maps of immigrant-heavy neighbourhoods, discussing routes of coordinated attacks. Photos of local activists were posted alongside chilling captions like “Know your targets” and “Traitors will burn.”
Alex’s stomach churned when he stumbled upon a username he recognized: NorthernWolf88. It was David. His younger brother wasn’t just following these threads—he was one of the most active contributors.
A recent post from David caught Alex’s eye: “Phase One starts downtown. Let them know we’re taking back what’s ours. Watch the sparks fly.”
Alex leaned back, his heart pounding. David wasn’t just parroting TNF rhetoric. He was deeply involved in planning the chaos.
He picked up his phone and called David again—straight to voicemail.
“David, it’s me. Call me. Please. You’re in too deep.”
The community centre bustled with quiet urgency as Aisha directed volunteers: families, primarily refugees and first-generation immigrants, huddled in corners, their eyes filled with fear. The TNF rally was set to occur in a few hours, and no one doubted it would end in violence.
Alex slipped through the front doors, his laptop bag slung over his shoulder. Aisha spotted him and waved him over.
“What do you have?” she asked.
Alex opened his laptop and showed her the forum screenshots. “They’re planning to target Chinatown and South Van after the rally. I’ve got the timestamps, usernames, everything.”
Aisha scanned the screen, her jaw tightening. “We need to get this out there. Can your editor publish it?”
Alex shook his head. “He’s under pressure from the network to avoid anything ‘too political.’ They’re afraid of blowback.”
“Cowards,” Aisha muttered.
“I can try leaking it online,” Alex said. “But TNF’s got an army of bots ready to discredit it as fake news.”
“Then we need to hit the streets,” Aisha said. “Let the people know what’s coming. Maybe we can evacuate some neighbourhoods before it’s too late.”
Alex hesitated. “They’ll be watching us. We’ll paint targets on our backs if we're too loud.”
Aisha’s eyes burned with determination. “People are already targets, Alex. The difference is whether they’re sitting ducks or prepared to fight back.”
The rally in downtown Vancouver started like a political theatre production. TNF banners hung from lampposts, their maple-leaf-and-wolf insignia fluttering in the wind. Frost stood on a makeshift stage, his booming voice amplified by speakers as he addressed the growing crowd.
“We are the True North!” Frost declared, his arms raised like a preacher. “We are the defenders of this great land, and we will not bow to globalist traitors or foreign invaders! We’re not hyphenated! We’re Canadians!”
The crowd erupted into cheers, waving flags and chanting, “Canada for Canadians!”
Alex watched from the edge of the plaza, his camera hidden under his coat. Beside him, Aisha whispered, “This isn’t just a rally. It’s a call to arms.”
The Vancouver Police Department formed a loose perimeter around the crowd, their presence more symbolic than functional. Across the street, counter-protesters gathered, holding signs that read “Hate Has No Place Here” and “Unity Over Division.”
When the first bottle flew, it felt almost inevitable.
The bottle smashed against the asphalt near the counter-protesters, and chaos followed. TNF supporters surged forward, fists flying. Within minutes, the plaza devolved into a full-blown riot. Shops were smashed open, flames licking the edges of display windows.
Aisha grabbed Alex’s arm. “We need to go!”
But Alex was frozen, his eyes locked on a familiar figure in the crowd. David.
His brother stood near the stage, his face painted with TNF’s insignia. He held a megaphone, directing groups of men into the fray.
“David!” Alex shouted, breaking free from Aisha and rushing forward.
David turned—his expression a mix of surprise and anger. “What are you doing here?”
“Stopping you from making the biggest mistake of your life!” Alex yelled. “This isn’t who you are!”
David’s jaw tightened. “You don’t get it, Alex. You’ve never understood. This is about protecting what’s ours.”
“No, it’s about hate!” Alex shot back. “You’re being used!”
Before David could respond, a TNF supporter shoved Alex. “Move along, traitor.”
David stepped between them. “He’s not worth it.”
Alex reached for David’s arm, desperation in his voice. “Please. Walk away from this.”
David pulled away, his eyes cold. “You should leave, Alex. It’s not safe for you here.”
Hours later, Alex and Aisha sat in her car, the air thick with tension. The riot had been quelled, but the damage was done. Several counter-protesters were hospitalized, and Chinatown was in ruins.
Alex stared at his phone, replaying the moment he’d seen David. “I tried to reach him. I really tried.”
Aisha placed a hand on his shoulder. “Sometimes people are too far gone. But we still have a job to do.”
Alex nodded, his resolve hardening. “We’ll leak everything. The forums, the plans, all of it. If the media don’t pick it up, the people will.”
He opened his laptop, typing furiously. He drafted a post detailing TNF’s plans, attaching screenshots and logs. “If this doesn’t blow the lid off their operation, nothing will.”
As he hit “Upload,” his phone buzzed.
It was a message from an unknown number.
“Alex. You need to leave Vancouver. Now. The wolves are coming.”
Alex stared at the screen, his blood running cold.
“It’s from David,” he said quietly.
Aisha leaned over to read it, her brow furrowing. “What does he mean?”
Alex shook his head, dread settling in his chest. “I don’t know. But if David’s warning me... it’s bad.”
Outside the car, the rain fell harder, washing away the blood and ash from the day’s violence. But no amount of rain could erase the growing shadow of the wolves that stalked the city.