The narrow corridor around him exploded with the sound of gunfire, and Enoch's legs almost buckled under him; his breath caught in his throat, his fear clutching at his throat like a vice. Whether the shot was meant for him or wide, he didn't know, but he couldn't afford to stop and find out. He kept on running.His lungs burned and his heart jackrabbited against his ribcage as he sprinted toward what he hoped was an exit. Behind him, he could hear the heavy footsteps of Michael's men closing in, the shouts of anger and frustration cutting through the air. Enoch's mind raced, searching for any way to gain the upper hand, but he felt cornered, out of options. *If I don't find a way out soon, I'm dead.*He whipped around a corner, his feet skidding on the slick concrete floor. Ahead of him now, he saw the first sign of hope: a narrow staircase headed down. Without a second's hesitation, he launched down the stairs two at a time. Pure adrenaline coursed through his body; his muscles shri
Victor skidded to a stop, heart racing in his chest. The figure before him sidled into dim light, and Victor's stomach twisted. It was one of Voss's guys, this big fella with a scar running down the side of his face. He had his gun drawn, right between Victor's eyes."End of the line, Victor," the man said quietly and calmly but in a very threatening tone. "Hand over the package."Victor swallowed hard as his mind raced. He glanced around quickly, but the alley was empty-no sign of Stephen, no way out. He swallowed his heart as he remembered he had faked the package; that lie was catching up on him now. The need to think fast was on."I don't have it," Victor said, temporizing. "You really think I'd be running around like this with the real deal?"The man's eyes went glassy. "Don't play games. You've been running for far too long. You can hand it over now, or I'll take it off your body."Victor raised his hands slightly, making sure he looked as harmless as possible. He could feel the
Victor, Stephen, and Enoch sprinted down the streets, staying as close to the shadows as possible, as they moved on toward the safe house. Enoch was limping heavily; with the blood loss, he was growing weaker as the time went by. Stephen was keeping his arm around him, practically carrying him at this point in time."We're almost there," Stephen said tightly. He kept his eyes roaming, scanning every corner, every shadow, waiting for something to pop out at them. He could feel the tension build up in his chest, coiling tighter and tighter like a spring ready to break.Victor walked a few steps behind, the weight of his failure clinging to his mind like a shroud. He couldn't avoid the nagging sense that this was all his fault. Enoch wouldn't be bleeding out if it weren't for him. Voss's men wouldn't be hunting them down if he hadn't thought he could outsmart them."How far is it?" Enoch asked, his tone weak.Just a few more blocks," Stephen said. He readjusted his grip on Enoch, fightin
When Stephen saw Victor's lifeless body lying on the floor, the pool of blood around him growing, he froze. His heart beat at an incredible rate, and momentarily the world around him became a blur. He stumbled forward, dropped down onto his knees beside Victor, but he knew that he was already too late. The cold stiffness of Victor told it all."Damn it," Stephen whispered, his voice cracking. His friend was dead, and he could do nothing to help him.The briefcase. His gaze snapped to it, still clutched in Victor's hand. He pried it loose and checked the contents, making sure it hadn't been tampered with. It was all there.Before he could even think what to do next, the chilling silence was cut through by the faraway shrieks of police sirens, louder with each passing second. The air around Stephen's chest seemed to tighten. **They were coming.** He rose up onto his feet, wincing at the weight of it all coming down on him. He couldn't stay here, but he couldn't run without a plan eithe
Stephen blinked, his vision foggy as he fought hard to orient himself to the surroundings. The cold cement of the prison cell beneath him was too real, and at the same time, his brain was still whirling from the night's chaos. He had blacked out-again."Stephen?" a voice called out.He looked up, his gaze locking onto Enoch's worried expression. "What's wrong?" Enoch asked. "You passed out.""I'm fine," Stephen growled, his voice low as he forced himself to sit up. His leg was still sore from the wound, but that was the least of his problems now. He looked to Clarke, who was standing by the cell door with that same annoying smile on his face."What did you do?" Stephen asked, narrowing his eyes.The only immediate reaction from Clarke was the releasing of a slow, satisfied chuckle. "Behold," Clarke said with a theatrical gesture, "a little touch of power-the Anti-5G system."And with that, suddenly, a holographic interface appeared in the air before them. It shimmered with strange sym
Stephen blinked, his eyes foggy, trying to focus on anything. The concrete of the prison cell beneath him felt so real, yet his head was still reeling from chaos in the night. He had blacked out—again."Stephen?" a voice called out.He looked up and into Enoch's concerned expression. "What's wrong?" Enoch asked. "You passed out.""I'm fine," Stephen grumbled, low, forcing himself to sit up. His leg was still sore from the wound, but that was minor compared to what was bothering him now. He turned to Clarke, who was standing by the cell door with that same frustrating smile on his face."What did you do?" Stephen asked, narrowing his eyes.For several seconds, Clarke said nothing; he just emitted a slow, pleased chuckle. "Behold," Clarke said with an oververo reviewer gesture, "a little touch of power-the Anti-5G system."There appeared in the air in front of them a holographic interface that shimmered with weird symbols, thin lines of fire, as if it had bent reality itself. The heart
Stephen's fists clenched at his sides as he stepped backward, his mind racing with possibilities. He didn't know how, but he would stop Clarke-before it was too late.As he turned to go, Enoch looked at him questioningly. "What now?"Stephen's eyes hardened. "We find a way to destroy that system," he said, firm, his voice full of resolution. "Before Clarke reshapes this reality into something we won't even recognize."Enoch nodded, but there was still a deep furrow in his brow. "And if we can't?"Stephen didn't waste time. "We will," he let the words fall, cold and unyielding. "I won't let him destroy everything."Stephen's mind was racing as he and Enoch slipped out of the prison cell, leaving Clarke behind. He felt the weight of what they needed to do. The Anti-5G system wasn't just something-it was a weapon that could rewrite the very fabric of reality. If they didn't stop it, everything might spiral out of control.We need to find out the origin of this system," Stephen whispered,
Victor stood at the large window of his penthouse, staring out at the city below. The night sky was blanketed with dark clouds, and the dim glow of the streetlights lent the city an eerie feel. He could see everything from up here-the sprawl of the metropolis, the chaos unfolding, the quiet corners where plans were being laid. But none of it seemed to matter at this moment.His fingers tapped along the edge of the window, his mind racing through one thought and then another. He knew about the Anti-5G system. He had known of it long before Stephen or Enoch had ever heard the name. The system had been created under his watch-by people he had once trusted. And now that dangerous piece of technology was in the hands of Clarke, someone unpredictable and dangerous.Victor took a deep breath and placed his forehead against the cold glass. He had never wanted things to go this far. The Anti-5G system had been meant as a last resort, something to be activated only when the world faced an event
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late. The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late. The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen did not sa
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late. The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late. The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen did not say an
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late. The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late. The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen did not say an
Stephen sat in the corner of a dimly lit café, staring out the window. He had sat there for hours, sipping cold coffee and watching the rain trickle down the glass. The café wasn't crowded-just a few people scattered about, lost in their conversations. His foot tapped impatiently under the table. Enoch was late. Very late.The waiter had been by twice, offering Stephen polite smiles, asking if he needed anything else. Each time, he waved him off, too intent on what was to come. His mind was reeling, questions, doubts, and a growing sense of frustration building inside him. Enoch was never this late.The doorbell above the entrance jingled, and Stephen looked up. His heart stopped at the sight of Enoch stepping inside, shaking rain from his coat. He glanced briefly around the room before his eyes fell upon Stephen, and he hastened to him, an apologetic smile on his face."Sorry to have kept you waiting," Enoch said, reaching for the chair opposite of Stephen.Stephen did not say anythi
Stephen stood by the door, watching as Victor’s car grew smaller in the distance. The rumble of the engine slowly faded, leaving nothing but the usual quiet that hung around the small neighborhood. He let out a breath, resting his hand on the doorframe. The last two months had been tough—tougher than he ever imagined.Without the system—the network of contacts and favors that once made his life easy—Stephen had to figure out a way to survive on his own. And it wasn’t glamorous. Every day was a grind, a constant scramble for enough money to cover the basics. Work wasn’t easy to come by, not when you’d burned as many bridges as he had. But he’d managed to find some odd jobs here and there—just enough to scrape by, though never enough to truly get ahead.He closed the door softly, the sound echoing through the small room. Glancing around the cramped space, he couldn’t help but think of the penthouse he once called home. The stark difference between his old life and this one weighed on hi
Stephen stood in the door and watched as Victor's car dwindled to a dot on the horizon. The rumble of the motor died out, leaving only the silent night air hovering over the little neighborhood. He exhaled a breath, his hand falling to rest on the doorframe. The last two months had been rough-tougher than he ever imagined.No system to fall back on now-the network of contacts and favors that oiled his life-Stephen was forced to scrounge some means of survival for himself. Not quite glamorous, the daily fight, the eternal hustle just for the real basics. Jobs were not easy to find, not when one had burned bridges as he had. But he'd been able to find odd jobs here and there, enough just to scrape by, never enough to get any further ahead.He closed the door behind him with a quiet click. The softness echoed inside the tiny room. Glancing around at the cramped quarters, his mind strayed to the penthouse he once called home. The stark dissimilarities between where his life used to be and
Two months later, Victor stared at the address on his phone, then at the small, run-down building in front of him. It didn’t look like a place Stephen would be living. The paint was peeling off the walls, and the grass in front was overgrown. This was far from the sleek, modern apartment Stephen used to own.Victor killed the engine, stepped out of his car, and walked toward the house. It was a self-contained unit—cheap, cramped, and barely enough for one person. He checked the address again. Room number 9. It matched. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.When he reached room 9, he knocked hard. The wood felt thin under his knuckles, like the door could break if he wasn’t careful. He knocked again, louder this time.After a moment, the door creaked open. Victor’s eyebrows shot up. Standing in front of him was Stephen, but he was almost unrecognizable. His hair was longer, his face covered with a scruffy beard, and he’d gained weight—his old sharp features now s
Standing beside Ariane's bed, his mind was spinning as he stared down at the screen of the system on his phone. His fingers trembling, he hit the icon for healing skills. He muttered under his breath, "Why can't this work on her? Why can't I save her?The system kept mum-no explanation, no solution. The shallow breathing of his daughter echoed in the room; every weak breath made him helpless. Stephen swallowed hard as his throat went dry. He could fix deals, he could manipulate numbers, but here in this hospital room, he was powerless.The door creaked open, and Stephen turned to see Enoch step in. Gone was Enoch's usual smug expression, replaced with a concerned frown. "What are you doing here?" Stephen's voice was low, edged with suspicion.Enoch shrugged, glancing over at Ariane. "Heard she was sick, so I decided to come by. How's she doing?"Stephen stared at him for a long moment, unsure of how to reply. His mind flashed back to his earlier doubts. Ariane wasn't his daughter, at
Stephen sat cross-legged on a soft mat, his eyes closed to focus on the calm voice of the guru. The air around him was scented with burning incense; a low hum of chanting echoed softly from the walls. He had called in the guru in a last-ditch effort to clear his mind, escape the relentless pull of the system. It had started to devour him, bit by bit, till it was all he could think of, all he could perceive.He was losing his grip, and he knew it.The guru's voice came, calm: "Breathe in. breathe out. let your thoughts flow like water. Do not cling to them."Stephen sucked in an enormous breath, then let it slowly out again, as if to expel everything at the same time: the market crash, the system, the deals that went right past him. The tension between him and Enoch was endless. He'd gotten pulled into something so much bigger than he was that he couldn't possibly control it himself, and however hard Stephen fought his way free of it, he felt ensnared.Then, though, as his breathing st