A Second Chance by the System

Chapter 31: Shadows of Doubt

The aftermath of the battle left the alley in eerie silence, save for the faint hum of damaged power lines and the distant echoes of escaping enforcers. The group stood in the wreckage, their faces lit only by the flickering streetlamps overhead. Ethan leaned against the crumbling wall, gasping at the sharp pain in his side. Lila stood beside him, her breathing labored but steady, her eyes fixed on the spot where Kade had disappeared into the smoke.

For a moment, the team was still, catching their breath after the intense fight. The looming sense of unease hung in the air like a thick fog, and it was clear that while they had survived this encounter, their victory felt far from complete.

Jaxon was the first to break the silence. “So… what the hell just happened?” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “That guy, Kade, he just vanished like smoke. How did he……”

“We underestimated him,” Lila cut in, her tone sharp. “And he’ll be back. Stronger. We need to regroup, gather more Intel,