Maya ducked behind a stack of crates as the garage door crashed open. Her heart thundered in her chest, each beat syncing with the relentless rhythm of the signal still echoing in her mind. Through the narrow slats, she caught a glimpse of the intruders—two figures clad in matte black armor, their faces obscured by sleek helmets. Their movements were unnervingly synchronized, like machines more than people.
One of them scanned the room with a handheld device. "Target presence confirmed," the mechanical voice declared. "Secondary subject: not detected."
Maya cursed under her breath. They were after Kieran too.
She tightened her grip on the wrench in her hand, every instinct screaming at her to run. But she couldn't—not yet. She needed time to think, to plan. If Kieran had made it out, he'd be relying on her to throw them off his trail.
The figure with the scanner paused, tilting its head slightly as if listening to something. "Subject proximity: within five meters."
Maya froze.
The other figure stepped closer to her hiding spot, drawing a baton that crackled with an ominous blue energy. Maya's mind raced. If she stayed put, they'd find her in seconds. If she moved, she'd lose any element of surprise.
"Three… two…"
Before they could finish their countdown, Maya burst from her hiding spot, swinging the wrench with all her strength. The makeshift weapon connected with the baton-wielder's arm, sending a sharp metallic clang reverberating through the room. Sparks flew, and the figure stumbled back.
Maya didn't wait to see if they recovered. She bolted toward the door, her legs pumping as fast as they could carry her.
"Initiating pursuit," the scanner-wielding figure announced, their footsteps thundering behind her.
Maya darted through the narrow alley behind the garage, her mind calculating her options. She knew these streets better than they did—that was her only advantage. She turned sharply, slipping into a gap between two buildings that was just wide enough for her.
The sound of boots grew fainter, but she didn't slow down. She climbed a rusted fire escape, pulling herself onto the rooftop. From her vantage point, she could see the two figures below, scanning the area with precision.
"Target evaded," one of them said, their tone devoid of emotion.
"Expanding search perimeter."
Maya ducked low, crawling along the rooftop to stay out of sight. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. For now, she was safe.
But she knew this wasn't over.
---
The rooftops offered her a brief reprieve as she moved cautiously, her eyes scanning for any sign of more pursuers. When she was far enough away, she dropped down into another alley and leaned against the wall, her mind racing.
Kieran was out there somewhere. She had to find him. But first, she needed answers.
Maya pulled out her tablet, the one she had managed to grab before the chaos erupted. It was linked to the same decryption program she had been running in the garage. To her relief, the program was still active, displaying the glowing map of the city with its unfamiliar pathways.
She zoomed in on one of the glowing pathways, her brow furrowing. The coordinates didn't just show a location—they pointed to an entrance. A hidden point beneath the city, right in the industrial district.
Her fingers hovered over the screen. She had a choice: she could try to find Kieran, or she could investigate the map and hope it would lead her to something that could help them both.
Before she could decide, a faint noise caught her attention. She looked up just in time to see a shadow move across the wall opposite her.
Her grip tightened on the tablet.
"Who's there?" she called, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.
A figure stepped into the dim light of the alley. Unlike the armored hunters, this person wore a long coat and a faint smirk. His face was sharp, his eyes cold, and a strange, glowing device hung from his belt.
"Impressive," he said, his tone mocking. "Not many people can evade the Enforcers. But then again, you're not just anyone, are you, Maya?"
Her stomach twisted. "Who are you?"
He took a step closer, his smirk widening. "Just someone who's been watching. You and your brother have gotten yourselves into quite the mess."
Maya didn't trust the calm in his voice. "What do you want?"
"To help," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise. "You've uncovered something big. Something they don't want you to know. But if you want to survive long enough to figure it out, you're going to need me."
Maya glared at him, her mind racing. She didn't trust this stranger, but she was out of options. The Enforcers were closing in, and Kieran was still out there, relying on her.
"I don't need your help," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
The stranger chuckled. "Maybe not now. But you will."
Before she could respond, he tossed something at her feet—a small device that began to glow faintly.
"What's this?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"A lifeline," he said cryptically. "Use it when you're ready to learn the truth."
And just like that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Maya alone in the alley with the glowing device and more questions than ever.