A week had passed since ZeroCrypt's mission had come to a successful end. Life at the computer shop had returned to its usual pace, the chaotic intensity of hacking replaced by the quiet hum of cooling fans and keyboards. Jojo and Zark spent their days maintaining the shop, with Zark occasionally tinkering with new scripts or practicing coding techniques in the basement.
It was a calm night, and Jojo had stepped out to pick up a few late-night snacks from the nearby 7/11. The streets were dimly lit, the orange glow of the streetlights casting long shadows over the empty roads. As he made his way down the street, Jojo couldn't shake a nagging feeling that something was off.
He entered the store, glancing over the racks of chips and bottled drinks. As he filled his basket with some snacks, he caught sight of a group of men standing outside the store, dressed unusually in sleek black suits. They stood out against the relaxed, casual atmosphere of the neighborhood.
"What are they doing here?" Jojo muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes as he kept his gaze on the men.
His instincts were on high alert, but he continued shopping as if nothing was amiss.
One of the men entered the store, his expression hard and his footsteps deliberate. He walked straight toward Jojo, pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket and unfurling it to reveal a photo.
"Excuse me," the man said in a low voice, his tone flat and almost mechanical.
He held up the picture in front of Jojo's face.
"Have you seen this guy around here?"
Jojo's heart nearly stopped. His eyes immediately recognized the face in the photo—Zark. His mind raced, but outwardly, he kept calm, not letting a hint of recognition flicker across his face.
"No," Jojo replied casually, shaking his head.
"Never seen him before. Who is he?"
The man studied Jojo's face intently, clearly suspicious.
"Are you sure?" he pressed, his voice dropping lower.
"You seem like someone who knows the neighborhood. Thought you might've seen him around."
Jojo forced a chuckle, shaking his head again.
"Look, man, lots of people come and go around here. I run a small computer shop, but I don't remember seeing this guy. Sorry, wish I could help you out."
The man's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Jojo thought he might push further, but then the man gave a slow nod.
"Alright," he muttered, tucking the photo back into his pocket.
"If you see him, you let us know."
"Yeah, sure," Jojo replied, turning back to grab a bag of chips as if the encounter hadn't rattled him.
The man gave Jojo one last hard look before leaving the store and rejoining his group outside. Jojo watched through the store's glass window as the men walked down the street, their heads scanning the area as if hunting for someone. It was clear—they were Jason Cheng's men, still searching for Zark.
The moment they were out of sight, Jojo's pulse spiked.
"Shit," he whispered, tossing a few bills onto the counter for the cashier and hurrying out of the store.
He took off down the street, his pace quickening as he neared the computer shop. His mind raced with questions.
"How long have they been looking for him? Have they tracked us? No, they can't have. They must just be searching randomly. Damn it, Zark's not safe here."
Jojo burst into the shop, quickly locking the door behind him. His breaths came fast as he ran down to the basement, where Zark sat at his desk, absorbed in his work, oblivious to the danger that was now closing in.
"Zark!" Jojo shouted, startling Zark as he turned in his chair.
"What's going on?" Zark asked, blinking in confusion.
Jojo didn't waste any time. "You need to leave. Right now."
Zark frowned, clearly caught off guard.
"What do you mean? Why? What's happening?"
"I just saw Jason Cheng's men," Jojo explained, his words tumbling out in a rush.
"They were outside the 7/11, showing your picture around. They're still looking for you, Zark. You need to get out of here before they find this place."
Zark's face went pale, his hands gripping the edge of the desk.
"But… I don't have anywhere to go," he said, his voice shaking slightly.
"Where can I go that they won't find me?"
Jojo's mind was already working, and he pulled out a small piece of paper from his jacket pocket.
"Here," he said, handing it to Zark.
"This is an address where you can lay low. It's a safe place, but you need to get there fast. Don't stop, don't let anyone follow you. Just go."
Zark stared at the paper, the reality of the situation sinking in.
"I… I don't know what to say. I didn't think this would happen so soon," he muttered, feeling overwhelmed.
"Don't think about it too much," Jojo urged.
"You just have to survive. Pack up what you need and get out of here before they come back around. And don't let them see you."
Zark nodded, grabbing his backpack and quickly stuffing it with the clothes and essentials Jojo had provided for him. His heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to stay calm. He couldn't afford to panic now.
As he zipped up his bag, Zark glanced back at Jojo.
"Thanks, man. I don't know how to repay you for this."
Jojo gave him a tight-lipped smile.
"Just stay alive, alright? Don't make this harder than it already is."
With that, Zark slung the bag over his shoulder and darted toward the door. His pulse raced as he exited the shop, his eyes darting around, scanning for any sign of Cheng's men. The streets were quiet for now, but he knew they could be lurking anywhere.
Zark ran down the narrow alleyways, his footsteps echoing in the silence. His mind was a whirlwind of fear and adrenaline as he finally reached a busy intersection. A jeepney pulled up to the side of the road, and without hesitation, Zark hopped in, taking a seat at the back.
The vehicle began to move, and Zark exhaled, trying to catch his breath.
"Taguig," he muttered under his breath, staring out the window as the familiar streets of Chinatown disappeared behind him.
The destination felt miles away, but it was the only option he had. He knew that once he reached Taguig, he'd have to figure out his next move.
His mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over. Jason Cheng's reach was long, and as long as Cheng wanted him dead, Zark knew he'd have to stay one step ahead if he wanted to survive.
As the jeepney sped away, leaving the safety of Jojo's shop far behind, Zark clutched the backpack in his lap, knowing that his journey was just beginning. The chase had only just begun, and it would take everything he had to stay out of Jason Cheng's grasp.