As she looked at him, he transformed from just another guy into a symbol of everything she wanted to set right in the world. Her motivation stemmed from genuinely caring for the people harmed by his actions, not from obsession. She remembered every detail: the way his dark hair casually draped over his forehead, the slight crease that appeared between his eyes when he flashed that smile, and how he carried himself with such arrogance.
Lunel couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just about catching a criminal; it was about standing up for every innocent life he had destroyed. The adrenaline rush during the chase was all about seeking justice, not seeking fame. That sense of responsibility pushed her to dig deeper and uncover the terrifying truth behind Michael Arthur's charming facade. Each new discovery only strengthened her resolve to face the reality of his crimes and honor the lives lost because of his actions.
For the past 36 hours, she had been working on breaking into Michael Arthur's digital defenses. She started with files that looked like plain shipping logs, oil trade reports, and logistics maps. At first, they seemed completely legit, but it didn't take long for her to realize they were just a tangled web of lies. The actual data was buried under six layers of tough encryption, hidden behind what appeared to be a harmless company called Lucent Trade Corp. It was clear he had a top-notch tech team.
As she dug further, she uncovered a messy web of financial deceit. Lucent Trade Corp wasn't just any ordinary company; it was involved in laundering millions through a complicated system of shell companies and fake transactions, all carefully set up to keep their illegal activities under wraps.
In her relentless search, she didn't just crack the tricky encryption; she took apart the whole operation, revealing the shady dealings that had been lurking in the darkness.
While sifting through the digital chaos, she stumbled upon crucial components: the Surveillance Feed and Internal Communications. She found internal chats on a private server in Luxembourg and quickly made sense of them.
MK_01: "A shipment will arrive at Dock 3 at midnight. We need to move it by morning since the school is reopening."
TetraRoot: "Is it the same formula?"
MK_01: "No, it's stronger. High school students like it quick."
TetraRoot: "Another overdose could attract media attention."
MK_01: "Let them die quietly. We feed them, and they feed us."
That hit her hard.
Overdose...
MK had to be Michael Arthur, and TetraRoot was probably his dealer or the guy selling items to dealers, part of a chain making sure they weren't directly selling anything. A thought suddenly clicked in her mind, and she rushed to look up local news stories from the last eight months that had been overshadowed by bigger headlines and mostly forgotten.
And then she found it.
News Article, which she pulled from the Archive.
"Seventeen-Year-Old Found Dead in Bathroom at Westwood Senior High School"
Authorities think it was a drug overdose, but they still haven't figured out what drug it was. Eli Romanov's family insists he was clean.
But she knew better now.
Eli was one of those quiet kids, smart and a whiz on the robotics team. No one would ever peg him as someone who messed around with drugs. He wasn't just addicted; he was completely hooked.
Looking through his texts that leaked online, it was clear things weren't great. One message said, "Bro, this one makes you feel like flying. One line is all I need before physics class, lol. Took five last night, I feel insane, might try six today." The contrast between the carefree vibe and the serious undertone was chilling.
Then came the silence, followed by the heartbreaking news of his death.
Jack, a twenty-one-year-old college dropout, was the dealer. After Eli died, Jack got arrested for possession a week later, but shockingly, he was out in just 12 hours because there wasn't enough evidence. No charges, no follow-up.
She decided to play detective and checked Jack's last known locations using public Wi-Fi logs, tracking his moves like it was a game. He had been in and out of the Lucent Trade Corp office three times before disappearing.
This was about way more than just drugs.
Michael Arthur was making a synthetic stimulant called "V-17," a risky new drug that messed with both the mind and body. One dose could give you an amazing high, but three doses could cause terrifying seizures, and five? That could shut your body down completely.
What was really disturbing was that teens were being used as guinea pigs for this dangerous drug. They were caught up in a risky game, lured in by the thrill and their vulnerabilities, which made everything even more tragic.
*********
After the intense confrontation in the cramped kitchen, Zayden lost it and stormed out, his frustration boiling over. He slammed the door behind him, leaving Zeynep sobbing with tears streaming down her face. She was a mess, quietly trying to comprehend what had just happened. It felt so unfair; she hadn't done anything wrong, yet she had lost everything she ever wanted.
Alone in the kitchen, her eyes were red and puffy, and she couldn't stop crying. She couldn't believe she'd lost everything she had dreamed of. Running through the forest, she was lying to everyone she met and hiding her true self. She had lost her parents, her only sister, and her friends. Eventually, she sank to the floor, covering her face with her hands and letting the tears flow. Just a year ago, her life had been perfect. Now, it felt like everything had fallen apart.
Meanwhile, outside, Zayden kicked at the stones scattered on the ground, trying to make sense of his own feelings. Why was he so mad at Zeynep for lying? They had just met yesterday, and yet he felt totally betrayed. Running his fingers through his hair, he walked to the back of the cabin, where the hidden tunnel was. Once there, he found Leo, his go-to guy, and asked, "Any updates on Lunel?"
Leo frowned, "Nope, I think he's gone. They probably took him out. If he were still alive, he'd help us like he did before. He didn't know us, but he risked everything for us. If he's out there, he'll show up when we need him. But if he's not, we've missed our shot."