HUNTING

Marcus: "I need intel. Where is Kane hiding now?"

Agent Hall: "We’ve got reports from all over. He’s been seen in three different countries, but none of it confirms his actual location. It’s like he’s everywhere and nowhere."

Marcus clenched his fists. "He always was one step ahead. But he’ll slip. They always do."

Jackson, loading his rifle, looked at Marcus. "So, what’s the plan? Wait for him to make his move, or do we go hunting?"

Marcus gave him a hardened look. "We don’t wait. We take the fight to him. Gather the team. We hit his last known safe house. If he’s there, we take him down. If not, we make sure he knows we’re coming."

Agent Hall nodded. "Got it. I'll have the team ready in 20 minutes."

Marcus paced. "Make it 10. Kane won’t wait. Neither will we."

Ten minutes later, the team gathered at the helicopter. The rotors were spinning, the wind howling around them.

Jackson yelled over the noise, "You think Kane knows we’re coming?"

Marcus strapped in. "He’s always known. But this time, I want him to."

Agent Hall checked the GPS. "Safe house is a 40-minute flight out. We’re going in heavy?"

Marcus, firmly: "As heavy as it gets. No chances. No mistakes."

Jackson smirked. "Just the way I like it."

The helicopter descended upon the safe house, an isolated compound deep in the mountains. The team disembarked, weapons drawn, moving swiftly toward the entrance.

Marcus whispered, "Hall, you’ve got point. Sweep for traps. Kane always sets them."

Agent Hall scanned the area. "Copy that. Looks clear so far. No motion sensors."

Jackson, looking uneasy: "Still feels too quiet."

Marcus nodded. "It’s never this easy."

Suddenly, the ground shook as an explosion rocked the compound. The team was thrown back, debris flying everywhere.

Jackson coughed, pulling himself up. "What the hell was that?!"

Marcus brushed off dust. "A warning. Kane’s letting us know we’re getting close."

Agent Hall checked his gear. "We’re good. Let’s keep moving."

They pushed forward, entering the compound. Inside, it was eerily quiet.

Jackson glanced around nervously. "I don’t like this. Feels like a trap."

Marcus kept his focus. "It is. But we don’t have a choice."

Agent Hall checked his scanner. "We’ve got movement up ahead. Could be him."

Marcus gripped his weapon. "Move in. Fast and silent."

They approached a locked door at the end of a corridor. Marcus signaled to Hall, who worked on hacking the lock. The door slid open with a hiss, revealing a dimly lit room.

Marcus motioned for silence. "Stay sharp."

As they entered, the lights flickered on, revealing a figure seated at the center of the room—Kane.

Kane grinned. "Took you long enough, Marcus."

Marcus's eyes narrowed. "It’s over, Kane. Stand down."

Kane laughed. "Over? Oh, Marcus, it’s just beginning."

Without warning, Kane pressed a button, and the entire room was surrounded by automated turrets that sprang to life, their barrels trained on Marcus and his team.

Jackson yelled, "Turrets! We’re pinned down!"

Agent Hall, taking cover: "We’re sitting ducks here!"

Marcus gritted his teeth. "Kane, you don’t want to do this."

Kane, calmly: "Oh, but I do. You should know by now, Marcus. There’s always a bigger game at play."

Marcus, determined: "You think I won’t stop you? You think I won’t pull that trigger?"

Kane, mocking: "You won’t. Not this time."

Suddenly, the power flickered, and the turrets deactivated. The room was plunged into darkness.

Jackson, surprised: "What the hell just happened?"

Marcus looked around. "Backup systems must’ve cut out. Hall, get the lights back up!"

Agent Hall, working on his scanner: "Already on it. Give me a second!"

Kane’s voice echoed from the shadows. "You see, Marcus... this isn’t just a battle of bullets. It’s a battle of minds."

Marcus moved silently through the room. "You talk too much, Kane."

Suddenly, the lights flickered back on, but Kane was gone.

Jackson looked around frantically. "Where did he go?!"

Marcus, frustrated: "Damn it! He’s playing us."

Agent Hall scanned the room. "I’m picking up a heat signature moving fast. He’s heading deeper into the compound."

Marcus, determined: "We’re not letting him get away. Let’s move!"

They chased after Kane through the twisting corridors of the compound. The tension mounted as they closed in on him.

Jackson, panting as he ran: "How does he keep doing this? Always a step ahead!"

Marcus, focused: "He’s not invincible. He’ll slip."

Agent Hall pointed ahead. "There! He’s entering the control room!"

They burst into the control room just as Kane was accessing the terminal.

Marcus raised his weapon. "Kane! Step away from the controls!"

Kane grinned, his hands on the terminal. "You’re too late, Marcus. It’s already in motion."

Marcus, furious: "What are you talking about?"

Kane laughed. "The virus. It’s spreading. Every system, every network, every country... in just a few minutes, chaos will reign."

Jackson, shocked: "What the hell did you do?!"

Kane, calmly: "The beginning of a new world. One without control, without order. A world where only the strong survive."

Marcus lunged toward Kane, but Kane stepped back, pulling a hidden switch on the wall. A steel door slammed shut between them.

Marcus yelled. "No! Open this door, Kane!"

Kane, smiling through the glass: "You can’t stop it, Marcus. This is evolution. And you’re on the wrong side of history."

Marcus pounded on the door. "I’ll find a way. I’ll stop you!"

Kane, with a cold smirk: "I look forward to seeing you try."

The alarms began blaring as the countdown for the virus accelerated.

Agent Hall frantically typed on his device. "Marcus! The system’s locked! I can’t shut it down!"

Marcus, desperate: "Find a way! We don’t have much time!"

Jackson gripped his weapon tightly. "If we don’t stop this virus, it’s over. We need another way in!"

Marcus gritted his teeth. "Then we make one. Hall, blow the door if you have to!"

As Hall worked on setting explosives to breach the door, the timer on the virus kept ticking down. Every second counted.

Kane watched from the other side of the door, grinning. "Tick-tock, Marcus. Tick-tock."

The door exploded open, and Marcus charged in.

Marcus, aiming his weapon: "It ends now, Kane."

Kane laughed. "Does it?"

Before Marcus could pull the trigger, the entire system shut down. The virus countdown stopped at zero.

Marcus was stunned. "What... happened?"

Kane grinned wickedly. "I guess you’ll find out soon enough."

the room plunged into darkness as Marcus realized Kane had a final, deadly move waiting to be revealed...