Present Day
The city lights flickered in the distance as Hiro approached the old abandoned factory. The air was thick with the scent of rust and decay, the structure looming like a ghost of his past. His footsteps echoed against the cracked pavement, his muscles tense with anticipation. "I really hope I make it out of this in one piece." He shook the thought away, gripping the edge of his jacket. He had made a promise—to himself, to Lucina. He wasn't going to break it.
As he neared the factory, his eyes widened. The place was heavily fortified. Armed guards patrolled the perimeter, their sharp eyes scanning the area. More of them stood watch on the upper levels, rifles slung over their shoulders. Hiro clenched his jaw. This wasn't just some rundown hideout anymore. Aidan had turned it into a fortress. "I should've known it wouldn't be easy." He crouched behind a stack of wooden crates, scanning the building for a way in. The main entrance was out of the question—he'd be gunned down the moment he stepped inside. "Maybe I could disguise myself as a delivery guy… No, that's stupid. They'd shoot me before asking if they ordered a pizza." He let out a quiet sigh, rubbing his temples. Think, Hiro. There has to be another way.
Then, it hit him. The secret entrance. Years ago, when he first joined the gang, he had discovered a hidden access point—a maintenance hatch tucked away in a back alley. It had been his escape route the night he left. "There's no way they left it unguarded… but it's my best shot." Keeping to the shadows, Hiro made his way around the factory, retracing the steps of his past. When he reached the alley, his heart pounded. The hatch was still there. And, to his astonishment, it wasn't sealed.
"They didn't block it? Aidan… you got cocky." Hope flickered in Hiro's chest as he lifted the hatch and slipped inside. He landed in a dimly lit storage room, the scent of old metal filling his lungs. Ducking behind a row of barrels, he peered through the gaps. His breath caught in his throat. Aidan.
The man who had once been his closest friend now stood in the center of the room, flipping through a stack of files. Hiro's files. Aidan muttered something to himself before tucking the documents under his arm and heading toward his office. Hiro's jaw tightened.
"That's where the blackmail is." But getting in wouldn't be easy. Aidan's office had no windows, no emergency exits—only one way in and out. If Hiro went in while Aidan was inside, there'd be no escape. Then, an unexpected opportunity arose. A crackling voice echoed over the factory's intercom. "All personnel, except Antony, Danji, and Umito, are dismissed. Leave the building immediately. Antony, Danji, and Umito—report to my office." Hiro tensed as the guards obeyed without question, filing out of the building. He had no idea what Aidan was planning, but right now, it didn't matter. He had an opening.
The moment Aidan stepped out of his office, Hiro moved. He kept low, navigating through the maze of crates and metal beams. When he reached the door, he exhaled slowly, reaching for the lock. "Still got it." Years of experience kicked in as he worked the lock with practiced precision. Within seconds, the door clicked open, and Hiro slipped inside. He wasted no time. He tore through Aidan's desk, flipping through papers until— There. A folder with his name on it. He grabbed it, but before he could leave—
The sound of footsteps. Hiro froze. He didn't have time, he chose to hide under the desk. Suddenly, the door opens. Umito searched Aidan's office. He searches around everywhere. Eventually, he gets to the wardrobe and opens it. And finds nothing. Hiro was desperately hoping that they wouldn't find him. But eventually hears the door close. He waits a few seconds and comes out when he thinks it's safe. He approached the door. But as soon as he reaches for the knob he gets knocked down to the ground by Umito.
"Did you really think you could sneak in here unnoticed, Hiro?" Hiro coughed, struggling against the weight pinning him down. He glanced up—Umito. "Umito… let me go," Hiro gritted out. "You don't have to do this." Umito's expression remained blank. "I'm sorry, Hiro," he said quietly. "But you know how this works." Hiro's heart sank. "So that's it?" he asked bitterly. "After everything, you're just going to hand me over?"
Umito didn't answer. Instead, he hauled Hiro to his feet, twisting his arms behind his back. As Umito dragged him down the hall, Hiro's mind raced. He had been so close. Now, he was walking straight into Aidan's hands. The factory's main floor came into view, where Aidan and the remaining gang members—Antony and Danji—waited. Aidan smirked the moment he saw him.
"Well, well, well," he drawled, spreading his arms. "Look who decided to drop by." Hiro clenched his jaw, refusing to look away. "How did you know I was here?"
Aidan chuckled. "Come on, Hiro. You really think I never found that little escape route of yours? The moment you stepped through that hatch, you set off a sensor. I knew you were coming." Hiro's stomach twisted. "Then why dismiss everyone?" Aidan's smirk widened. "Simple. I wanted you to feel like you had a chance. To make you cocky." He motioned to Umito. "And he played his part beautifully." Hiro turned to Umito, betrayal flickering in his eyes. "You knew," Hiro murmured. "You knew they were waiting for me, and you still brought me here?"
Umito makes Hiro fall to his knees, pinning him. Antony joins Umito and Pins Hiro down to his knees. Hiro is in despair as he thinks that he has lost and will soon die. Aidan grinned and said to Hiro
"Checkmate, Hiro..." Hiro couldn't believe this. He was shocked to find out he was being played by Aidan. He never thought he would have been tricked into Aidan's little game. Aidan then proceeds to ask Hiro. "So what's it going to be, are you going to join back or will I have to kill you by selling your info... or... will I have to kill you myself." Hiro stayed quiet, he was looking at the ground. Aidan, getting angry, screamed at Hiro, "ANSWER ME WHEN I ASK YOU SOMETHING." Hiro says out of nowhere to Aidan, "No... I won't join you... and if anything, you just became more of a coward than I thought..." He then looks at Aidan with a smile on his face. Aidan, even angrier, said, "WHAT DID YOU SAY HIRO?" Aidan now pissed said to him. "You really think you're gonna get out of here alive... if anything, I have you trapped... You won't be able to escape... I guess I'll have to give you the same fate as I gave your dad." Hiro, stunned after hearing this, clenched his fist and asked him with a death stare. "What... did... you... say?..."
(End of Chapter 3)