Ethan sat in the dim light of the safehouse, the rain outside pounding against the windows like a relentless drum. The city had grown quiet, almost too quiet, but he knew better. Apex never slept.
Tari and Tessa were huddled over the laptop, tracing encrypted files, trying to map the web of corruption Ryan and her brother had uncovered.
"Ethan," Tessa said, her voice low, "these people… they're everywhere. Every contractor, every politician… it's like a spider's web, and we're stuck in the middle."
Ethan rubbed his eyes. "And the closer we get to the center, the more dangerous it gets. But we can't stop now. Ryan died because someone needed him silenced. Tari's brother… probably the same."
A sudden vibration on Ethan's phone made him jump. Unknown number. Again.
He answered cautiously. "Ethan Cole."
No voice. Just breathing. Heavy, deliberate, and slow. Then a message came through:
> Look outside.
Ethan's pulse quickened. He gestured for Tari and Tessa to stay back, and slowly approached the window.
Down the street, illuminated by a flickering streetlight, a car sat idling. Its engine roared softly, masking the footsteps of a figure leaning against it. In his hand… a camera. A single flash went off.
Click.
He caught the light on his own window reflection. The photo was already taken.
The phone buzzed again.
> We see you. Stop now, or you'll be next.
Tari's hands shook. "They know we're here. How—?"
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Doesn't matter. They've been watching us from the start."
Tessa grabbed a backpack. "We need to move. Now. Before they decide to escalate."
Ethan nodded. "We'll split up. Tessa, take Tari and get to the extraction point. I'll cover the rear."
"No," Tessa argued. "We're not leaving you!"
Ethan's eyes locked on hers. "You know the rules. This isn't about loyalty; it's about survival."
Reluctantly, she nodded.
Within minutes, they were on the move. The city's alleys twisted like a labyrinth, neon lights flickering above, puddles reflecting distorted shadows. Ethan kept his gun drawn, senses heightened, every nerve screaming.
As they rounded a corner, a black van screeched to a halt in front of them. Its doors swung open. Figures in dark tactical gear leaped out, blocking their escape.
Ethan's breath caught. "They're here."
Tari swallowed hard. "I thought we had thirty minutes."
"They changed the rules," Ethan muttered, firing a warning shot into the air. The echo bounced off the walls, startling the attackers.
A brief scuffle ensued. Ethan's combat training kicked in, every move precise, every step calculated. Tessa covered Tari, kicking one assailant into a dumpster, then pulling her along. Ethan engaged two attackers directly, taking hits but keeping them from closing in on the others.
The black van's engine roared, tires screeching as it attempted to block escape. A third figure emerged, hands raised, motionless.
It was Shadowman.
Ethan froze. The man's presence radiated menace. Silent, methodical, almost like a ghost.
"You're persistent," Shadowman said, voice low, almost amused. "But persistence has a cost."
"Who are you?" Ethan demanded, keeping his gun raised.
"I'm the consequence of curiosity," the man replied. Then he vanished into the shadows, as if swallowed by the night itself.
The van sped off moments later, leaving a trail of rain and smoke behind. Ethan, Tessa, and Tari were soaked, hearts pounding, adrenaline surging.
Tessa sank to the ground, breathing heavily. "That… that was too close."
Tari shook, clutching the laptop. "They're professional. They know us better than we know ourselves."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "They're watching everything. Every move we make, every decision, every second. We're being hunted by people who don't make mistakes."
Tessa looked at him, fear and anger in her eyes. "So what do we do? Keep running? Keep hiding?"
Ethan shook his head. "No. We fight. But we need to be smarter. We need leverage."
Tari's eyes widened. "Leverage? You mean… exposing them?"
"Yes," Ethan said firmly. "We're going to hit them where it hurts. Publicly. But first… we survive tonight. And for that, we need to disappear."
The rain continued to pour, drenching their clothes, chilling them to the bone. The city seemed indifferent to their struggle, its lights shimmering like indifferent eyes.
Ethan glanced at the flash drive in his pocket — Ryan's last gift, their only weapon against Apex.
He clenched his jaw. "They wanted to warn us. Good. That means we're close. And the closer we get… the higher the stakes. But the truth… the truth is worth every risk."
Tessa stood, determination replacing fear. "Then let's disappear, for now. But when we come back…"
Ethan nodded, eyes scanning the horizon. "When we come back, we end this. Project Vortex, Apex Systems… everyone who's been hiding behind their lies — they're finished."
Tari exhaled, a mixture of fear and resolve. "And what if they catch us first?"
Ethan's gaze hardened. "Then they'll regret it. Because even in death, truth has a way of surviving."
Above them, a single lightning bolt cut through the stormy sky, illuminating the city like a verdict from heaven.
Somewhere in the darkness, Shadowman watched, silent and calculating. The game had only just begun.