FISTFUL

Location: Abandoned Warehouse, Midnight

The air inside the warehouse was thick with tension, the darkness swallowing every corner except for the dim light above the team’s heads. Marcus stood at the center of the room, his back to Evelyn and Viktor. His mind raced as he pieced together the events of the last few days. Kane was relentless, and they were running out of options.

Evelyn (whispering): “Marcus… we can’t keep running forever. Kane will catch up eventually.”

Marcus (without turning): “I know. But we’re not ready to face him. Not yet.”

Viktor (pacing): “He’s closing in on us, Marcus. We’ve barely escaped twice, and now they’ve tracked us here. What’s the plan?”

Marcus exhaled sharply, still staring into the shadows. His heart pounded in his chest. He knew the next move had to be calculated, or they’d all be dead.

Marcus (grimly): “We need to hit him where he won’t expect. A surprise attack.”

Evelyn (alarmed): “You’re talking about going after Kane? Marcus, he’s prepared for everything. He’s got an entire network protecting him.”

Viktor (nodding): “It’s suicide. We’re outgunned and outnumbered.”

Marcus (finally turning to face them):“That’s exactly why it’ll work. Kane won’t expect us to go on the offensive. He’s counting on us to keep running, to stay on the defensive. If we strike now, we catch him off guard.”

Evelyn (frowning): “Even if we manage to surprise him, how are we going to take him down? It’s not like we can walk into his base with guns blazing.”

Marcus (eyes narrowing): “We won’t need to. We’ll make him come to us.”

Viktor and Evelyn exchanged confused glances.

Viktor: “Come to us? How?”

Marcus (coldly): “Bait.”

Evelyn took a step forward, her voice rising in frustration.

Evelyn: “Bait? And what exactly are we supposed to use as bait? We can’t risk any more lives, Marcus!”

Marcus (clenching his jaw): “We won’t have to. Kane’s biggest weakness is his ego. He thinks he’s untouchable, that no one can challenge him. We just need to make him believe we’ve got something he wants.”

Viktor (crossing his arms):“What could we possibly have that he wants more than our heads?”

Marcus (darkly): “Proof.”

Silence fell over the room as Evelyn and Viktor processed his words.

Evelyn (shaking her head):“You can’t be serious. The files we have… they’re not enough. Kane will know we’re bluffing.”

Marcus: “Not if we give him just enough to make him doubt. We leak part of the evidence, just enough to get his attention. Then we set the trap.”

Viktor (nervously): “And when Kane comes looking for the rest, what then?”

Marcus (voice firm): “Then we end this. For good.”

Evelyn stepped closer, her voice lowering.

Evelyn: “Marcus… this is dangerous. If we miscalculate, if anything goes wrong… we could all die.”

Marcus (meeting her gaze): “We’re already dead if we don’t do something. Kane won’t stop until we’re all buried six feet under. This is our only chance.”

Viktor rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uneasy.

Viktor:“And where exactly do you plan on setting this trap? We can’t risk another safe house. Kane’s men will be watching every move we make.”

Marcus (thinking fast):“We won’t use a safe house. We’ll pick a place that’s public, somewhere Kane won’t expect a confrontation.”

Evelyn (skeptical): “A public place? That sounds like a recipe for disaster.”

Marcus: “It’s the last thing he’d expect. And it gives us the advantage. Kane’s not going to risk exposing himself or his operation in front of civilians. We can use that against him.”

Viktor (nodding slowly): “A public place… it could work. But we’ll need to plan this down to the last detail.”

Evelyn: “And we still need to figure out what part of the evidence we’re going to leak. If we give him too much, he’ll know it’s a trap. Too little, and he won’t bite.”

Marcus’s mind was already racing with possibilities. He turned to Viktor.

Marcus: “I want you to go through the files. Find something small but significant—something that links Kane directly to the bioweapon conspiracy but doesn’t give away everything.”

Viktor (nodding): “I’ll get on it.”

Evelyn (worried):“And what about the meeting place? How are we going to choose somewhere that doesn’t put civilians at risk?”

Marcus (determined): “I’ll handle that. We’ll find a location that gives us the upper hand without putting innocent lives in danger.”

As the team moved into action, the weight of their decision hung over them like a storm cloud. There was no room for error. If Kane suspected a trap, they’d all be dead before they could make their next move.

Location: Kane’s Headquarters, Midnight

Kane sat in his office, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the polished wood of his desk. His phone vibrated softly beside him. A notification blinked on the screen—an encrypted message.

He opened it, his cold eyes narrowing as he read the contents.

Kane (smiling darkly): “Well, well… looks like Marcus and his little team are finally making their move.”

His second-in-command, a tall, stone-faced man named Cross, stepped forward.

Cross:** “What is it, sir?”

Kane (turning the screen toward him): “They’ve leaked part of the evidence. Just enough to pique my interest.”

Cross (frowning): “It’s a trap.”

Kane (grinning): “Of course, it is. But that’s the beauty of it, Cross. Marcus thinks he’s clever, but he doesn’t understand the game he’s playing.”

Cross (nodding):“What are your orders, sir?”

Kane (standing): “Prepare the team. We’re going to pay our dear friend Marcus a visit.”

Location: Abandoned Factory, Early Morning

Marcus, Viktor, and Evelyn arrived at the abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city. The location was isolated but near enough to civilization that Kane wouldn’t risk an all-out assault.

Evelyn (looking around): “This place gives me the creeps. Are you sure it’s safe?”

Marcus (checking his weapon):“As safe as anywhere else right now. Viktor, you got the files ready?”

Viktor (nodding): “Ready. The leak’s been sent, and the bait’s been set.”

Evelyn (nervously):“And you’re sure Kane will take it?”

Marcus (confident):“He’ll take it. Kane’s pride won’t let him ignore this. He’ll want to confront us himself.”

Viktor: “And when he does, we finish this.”

The hours dragged by as the team waited in silence. Every creak of the old factory made their hearts race. The tension was unbearable, each of them knowing that one wrong move could be their last.

Suddenly, Viktor’s earpiece crackled to life.

Viktor (whispering): “They’re here. I’ve got movement on the east side.”

Marcus tightened his grip on his weapon.

Marcus: “Positions. This is it.”

Evelyn took cover behind a stack of crates, her eyes wide with fear but her hands steady on her gun.

Evelyn (whispering): “I’ve got your back, Marcus.”

The door to the factory groaned open, and the sound of footsteps echoed through the massive space. Marcus could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Kane stepped into view, flanked by two armed men. He smiled that cold, sinister smile Marcus knew too well.

Kane (mocking):“Marcus Reed. Always the hero, aren’t you?”

Marcus (stepping out of the shadows):** “I’m not a hero, Kane. I’m your reckoning.”

Kane chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Kane: “Reckoning? You really think you’ve won, don’t you?”

Marcus: “I think it’s time someone stopped you.”

Kane took a step forward, his smile never faltering.

Kane (quietly): “You’re outnumbered, Marcus. Outgunned. You can’t win this.”

Marcus (coldly): “We’ll see.”

Suddenly, shots rang out.

The factory erupted in chaos, bullets flying as both sides clashed in a desperate fight for survival. Marcus moved with precision, his team following his every command, but the odds were stacked against them.

And then, in the midst of the chaos, a new figure appeared in the shadows—someone neither Kane nor Marcus had anticipated.

???:“You didn’t think it would be this easy, did you?”