The moment the armed men poured into the shop, chaos erupted. Sparks flew from overturned monitors, and the smell of burning electronics filled the air. My heart pounded as Festus shoved me behind a stack of crates.
"Stay quiet," he hissed, eyes scanning every shadow.
I gripped the flash drive like a lifeline. Mom is alive. I have to survive.
One of the men advanced toward the terminal. Festus swung a wrench, connecting it with a satisfying thud against the intruder's helmet. The man crumpled, but two more were already closing in.
"Back door!" Festus barked.
I didn't hesitate. We sprinted through the narrow alley behind the shop. Rain had started, slicking the pavement and soaking us instantly, but I barely noticed. Every splash underfoot sounded like thunder in my ears, every shadow a possible threat. My only focus was survival — and the memory of Mom on that screen, terrified and tied up.
A man emerged from the darkness, his gun trained on us. Festus threw himself between us and tackled the intruder to the ground. The gun discharged with a deafening bang. My stomach lurched, but I kept running, slipping on the wet pavement, hands scraping against rough brick walls.
We rounded another corner, only to face a dead end. The black vans were close, their headlights piercing the darkness. I felt the sharp edge of panic rise in my chest.
"There!" Festus pointed. A rusted metal door was partially open, hidden behind a stack of abandoned crates. Without hesitation, we dove inside.
The door groaned shut behind us. We were in a narrow, musty corridor, the air damp and heavy. My clothes clung to me, cold and soaked. I leaned against the wall, gasping, trying to steady my racing heart.
"You… could have been killed," I whispered, trembling.
Festus shook his head, voice low but firm. "You're stronger than I thought. But this… this is only the beginning."
I pulled the flash drive from my pocket and stared at it, like it held the answer to everything. "Project Veil… Mom… Hills… What are we really up against?"
Festus's eyes darkened. "Something that can erase not just lives, but reality itself. Hills Morgan isn't just a man anymore. He's… a weapon."
We moved deeper into the corridor, finding a hidden subway entrance Festus had used in the past — a secret escape route beneath the city. He punched a code into a rusty keypad, and the metal door creaked open. Steam hissed from the tracks below, the dim lights flickering like warning signals.
Once inside, we leaned against the damp walls, catching our breath. My mind spun with questions and fear. I had so many doubts now — about Festus, about my mother, about what I was about to face.
"Why did Mom trust you?" I asked finally, my voice breaking the silence.
Festus looked away, jaw tight. "Because I promised her I'd keep you safe. But she didn't know everything… about Hills… or what I'd have to do to survive."
I swallowed hard, fighting the bile rising in my throat. "You lied to me. You let me live a lie."
"I had no choice," he said quietly. "If you knew everything too soon… you wouldn't have survived tonight."
A distant rumble echoed through the subway tunnel, growing louder. I stiffened. The vans… they're still on our trail.
Festus's hand fell on my shoulder. "We need a plan. Fast."
I looked down at the flash drive in my palm, the small device suddenly heavy with responsibility. "I'm finding her," I said, determination hardening in my chest. "Mom is alive. And I will get her back. No matter what."
Festus nodded, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Then we start with the first key — the one that unlocks the secrets Hills doesn't want you to see."
We moved cautiously through the dark tunnels, every sound amplified in the emptiness: dripping water, scuttling rats, distant echoes of the city above. I couldn't shake the thought of Hills Morgan's calm, taunting voice echoing in my head:
> "Welcome, Kendra. Let's see how far you can go."
A sharp metallic clang made me jump. Festus's eyes narrowed. "They're trying to follow us underground. We're not safe yet."
We came to a fork in the tunnel. Festus hesitated, then pressed a hidden button on the wall. A section of the concrete slid open, revealing a narrow passage. "This way. It's a risk, but safer than staying above ground."
I squeezed the flash drive. Every step brings me closer to her… closer to the truth.
The tunnel narrowed until I could barely move without brushing the walls. My chest ached, and my legs were screaming, but I kept going. Festus stayed close, guiding me, warning me about weak spots and sudden drops.
Hours—or maybe minutes, time had lost all meaning—passed before we finally emerged in a hidden alcove beneath an abandoned train yard. Rain dripped through cracks above us. I looked up, heart swelling with relief and terror at the same time.
Festus turned to me. "This is our starting point. We plan, we strike, and we bring your mother home. Are you ready?"
I tightened my grip on the flash drive. "I don't have a choice. Let's finish this."
Above us, somewhere in the shadows, I could almost hear Hills Morgan's voice again, calm, patient… terrifying:
> "The game has only begun, Kendra. And you… are already behind."