Chapter 4: Awakening in Desperate Circumstances
Three o'clock in the morning.
The window was smashed.
I jumped up from the sofa and rushed to Tommy's bedroom.
It's too late.
Four masked men had already dragged Tommy out the window.
I rushed to the window and saw a van downstairs. They shoved Tommy into the van, closed the door, and started the engine.
"Damn it!"
I grabbed my coat and rushed out the door.
He ran down the stairs and rushed into the street.
The van had already driven far away.
I took out my phone.
Short message.
"East Warehouse. One hour from now. One second later, your brother will die. — Allen"
A photo is attached.
Tommy was tied to a chair, his mouth taped shut. There was a needle mark on his neck, from which blood was still seeping.
My phone rang.
Sophia.
"Jace, Tommy was—"
"I know."
"Where are you?"
"At my doorstep."
"Don't move, I'm coming right away."
Five minutes later, Sophia arrived by car.
I got on the bus.
"East Warehouse."
"Wait a minute," Sophia stopped me. "Did you see the pinhole camera in the photo?"
"I saw it."
Her expression was grave. "A fast-acting poison developed by the military, taking effect in 60 minutes."
How did you know?
"Because I participated in the research and development."
I was stunned.
"What?"
"I'm a member of the Night's Watch," Sophia said. "A former military engineer, involved in Project Shadow."
Project Shadow.
That secret project that transformed me into an invisible warrior.
"you--"
"This is not the time for explanations," Sophia interrupted me. "Tommy only has 60 minutes. We must act immediately."
"How should we proceed?"
"A direct assault." She took a briefcase from the back seat of the car and opened it. "Here are weapons, maps, and communication equipment."
I looked at the equipment in the suitcase.
"You were prepared all along."
"Yes," Sophia said, "because I know Allen won't let you get away with this."
Why did you help me?
"Because I owe a life to the victims of Project Shadow." She looked at me, "Including you."
I remained silent for a few seconds.
"You said you were involved in Project Shadow. Did you know I have a limiter?"
"I know," Sophia said. "A military-grade chip was implanted between the third and fourth vertebrae of the spine. Its function is: jamming capability + GPS tracking."
"Well, you also know that once I use my abilities, the military will—"
"They'll send a retrieval team to arrest you," she interrupted me. "I know. That's why I can help you remove the limiter."
"Cancel?"
"Yes. I helped design that chip, and I know how to remove it," Sophia said. "But the surgery takes 45 minutes. It's too late now."
"That--"
"Save Tommy first." She started the engine. "We'll deal with removing the limiter later."
The car sped wildly through the streets.
Do you have a warehouse map?
"Yes." Sophia handed me a tablet. "A 3D map, updated in real time."
I looked at the screen.
The warehouse occupies 5,000 square meters and has three floors. It is surrounded by a wall and has two exits.
There must be at least thirty guards.
"You come in through the back door, I'll provide support from the outside," Sophia said.
East Warehouse.
I climbed over the wall and landed silently .
A sharp pain came from my spine.
The limiter is warning me.
I know. I won't use my abilities.
I pulled out a dagger and moved close to the wall.
The first guard had his back to me.
I slit his throat from behind. He fell to the ground silently.
The second guard was smoking.
I plunged a knife into his heart.
The third, the fourth, the fifth...
I harvest lives in the darkness like a butcher.
Every cut was precise, and every movement was made close to the blind spot.
But there were too many people.
The sixth guard discovered his companion's body and shouted.
The alarm went off.
Damn it.
I threw away the dagger and picked up an AK from the ground.
The magazine is full, with thirty bullets.
not enough.
I rushed into the main building of the warehouse.
Bullets came from all directions.
I rolled to dodge, and then fired three shots in quick succession.
The three guards fell to the ground.
Severe spinal pain.
The limiter is punishing me because, in the instant I rolled over, my body tried to activate invisibility again.
Hold on.
I leaned against the wall and changed the magazine.
Twenty-seven rounds remain.
"Jess, Tommy's upstairs!" Sophia said into the headset. "40 minutes left!"
"receive."
I rushed towards the stairs.
Two guards tried to stop me, so I opened fire.
They fell.
Twenty-one shots remain.
Go up the stairs.
There were three guards at the top of the stairs, and I threw a grenade.
explode.
They rushed up to the second floor.
There were six guards in the corridor.
I shot as I ran.
We've run out of bullets.
I threw away my AK and charged at the nearest guard with my bare hands.
He smashed his nose with a punch, snatched his gun, and turned to shoot.
Three people fell down.
There are three left.
They raised their guns and pointed them at me.
The pain in my spine had reached its limit.
I gritted my teeth and endured it.
A sweeping kick sent the first guard sprawling to the ground.
An elbow strike shattered the second guard's throat.
The last guard threw away his gun and pulled out a dagger.
We were facing off.
He stabbed at me.
I sidestepped him, grabbed his wrist, and twisted his joint.
The dagger fell to the ground.
I picked it up and slit his throat with a knife.
All the guards fell.
I was panting, covered in blood.
Two ribs were broken, the left arm was dislocated, and there was a tearing pain in the spine.
But I am still alive.
The room at the far end.
I kicked the door open.
Tommy was suspended from a steel beam by a rope connected to a pulley system.
Allen stood next to the pulley, holding a remote control in his hand.
"Jace," he smiled, "you've come."
"Let him go."
"You killed thirty of my men," Allen said. "I admire that. But that doesn't change anything."
He picked up the remote control.
"See this? The dead man switch. If I let go, the rope will snap. Your brother will be smashed to pieces."
I raised my gun and aimed it at his head.
"I can kill you before you let go."
"Then Tommy will die too," Allen said. "This remote control is connected to a pulley system. The rope will automatically snap as soon as my heart stops beating."
I stared at Allen, calculating the distance.
It's too late.
"Make a choice, Jess," Allen said. "Is it your brother's life, or your freedom?"
"Brother..." Tommy struggled, tears streaming down his face, "Don't... don't worry about me..."
" You made me lose everything. "
"And I will watch you lose everything."
He released the button.
I looked at Tommy. He was struggling, his eyes filled with tears.
To use or not to use?
Using my abilities = saving Tommy but my GPS is exposed + I'm being hunted by the military
Not using your abilities = watching Tommy fall to his death
I made my decision.
The rope broke.
Tommy fell.
I--
Extend your hand.
The sharp pain in my spine suddenly disappeared.
Instead, a warm force took its place.
My pupils began to turn silver.
