The air at the old dock seemed to freeze, and Barkley's heartbeat merged with the low hum in the warehouse. He felt that the laser aiming points seemed to be burning against his skin, and they would penetrate his body in the next second. Nora's eyes were still sharp, and she was not panicking, but Barkley could see the faint anxiety in her eyes.
"They are coming." She whispered, her tone calm and composed.
Barkley's mind was working fast, and he knew that now was not the time to digest the shocking secret that Nora had just revealed. He had to survive first before he could find out more of the truth behind it. He quickly glanced around, and the abandoned equipment in the warehouse was piled up into a mountain, and almost every corner might hide deadly dangers.
"Follow me." Nora suddenly whispered, interrupting Barkley's thoughts. She quickly grabbed his wrist and took him to the back of the warehouse.
Before Barkley could say anything, his footsteps followed Nora's rapid running. The two walked through a pile of rusty old cargo boxes and bypassed several collapsed walls. There was an almost forgotten small door behind the warehouse. Nora pushed it open with ease, revealing a narrow dark alley.
"Hurry." She looked back, and Barkley heard low footsteps and slight mechanical sounds behind him, which were the sounds of well-equipped pursuers approaching.
As soon as the two ran into the dark alley, Barkley heard a dull explosion behind him. A deafening gunshot and shock wave almost made him lose his balance. He subconsciously lowered his head to avoid it, and felt the metal fragments flying in the air brushing against his cheek.
"They used heavy firepower." Barkley said in his heart. He knew that he was facing an organization that was more dangerous than ordinary law enforcement agencies.
"Don't stop." Nora reminded loudly in front, her pace did not slow down, and she was obviously used to such a situation. She led Barkley through several dark and narrow alleys quickly, and from time to time she would go around behind an abandoned building to try to avoid being followed by anyone.
Finally, they came to the entrance of a secret underground passage. Nora pushed open a hidden iron plate and took Barkley in. The passage was dark and damp, full of musty and corrupt smells, but Barkley didn't care about that at the moment, as the pursuers could catch up at any time.
After entering the passage, Nora finally stopped and took a breath. Barkley's breathing also became rapid due to the intense escape. He leaned against the wall and tried to sort out the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
"Do you know who they are?" Barkley finally couldn't help asking.
Nora took a deep breath, her eyes flashing with complex emotions. "They belong to an organization called the 'Shadow Council', which specializes in tracking and controlling those who have subversive technology."
"Shadow Council?" Barkley frowned, obviously the name was unfamiliar to him. He has lived on the edge of legality for many years, but has never come into contact with such forces in the shadows.
Nora nodded, "This is a very secretive organization, almost no one knows their true existence. They have countless resources behind them, and even have influence in government departments. Their purpose is simple, to control all technologies that can change the world pattern, to ensure that power and secrets belong only to them."
Buckley listened to her words and felt that he was involved in a conspiracy that was completely beyond his understanding. This pursuit beyond the norm is completely different from his previous life in the field of tax evasion. This is not a simple struggle about wealth or power, but a deep-seated struggle involving the entire world order.
"So... they are for my genes?" Buckley's voice trembled slightly. Although he tried to stay calm, this fact was too incredible. He used to think that his parents' research was just an ordinary scientific work, and never thought that it would involve such a dangerous level.
Nora glanced at him with a serious expression. "It's not just your genes, but the secret information your parents implanted in you. This is a highly complex genetic code, and only a few people know how to decode it. But as far as I know, the key to unlocking these codes will reveal a core secret about the multidimensional universe."
Barkley's mind was in a mess. He had never heard of the concept of "multidimensional universe", or he had never seriously thought about this kind of surreal scientific theory. He has always relied on reason and logic, but now his worldview is being completely overturned.
"Then what should I do? How can I get rid of these pursuers?" Buckley asked in a low voice, trying to get some clear answers from Nora.
Nora did not answer immediately, but fell into a brief silence. She seemed to be thinking about something, and then slowly said: "We must find the clues left by your parents. They must have foreseen all this and left a way for you to escape."
"My parents?" Buckley frowned, "But they have disappeared for so many years, without even a trace."
Nora shook her head and looked at him firmly. "They didn't really disappear, they just hid themselves temporarily. They left some clues, buried in the most inconspicuous corners of your life. And these clues will lead us to them."
Barkley was silent for a while. He knew that what Nora said might be true. Although he lost his parents at a very young age, he always felt that some details in his life seemed to be wrong over the years. The occasional strange faces, some unexplained events, and even the flukes he had escaped from accidents in the past made him begin to recall some fragments that had been neglected.
"Do you really believe that my parents are still alive?" Barkley finally spoke with a hint of doubt in his tone.
"I can't be sure if they are still in this world, but what is certain is that their research and their plans are still going on." Nora replied, "No matter where they are, they will not give up on you easily. You are their hope and the key to stopping the Shadow Council."
Barkley took a deep breath and tried to digest every word Nora said. He suddenly felt that the burden on his shoulders was so heavy that he almost couldn't breathe. His ordinary life seemed to have never really been in his own hands. He is just a pawn in a bigger chess game.
After a brief conversation, Nora took out a small folded note from her pocket and handed it to Buckley. "This is where we are going next. I found a scientist your father once worked with, and now she lives in seclusion on the edge of the city. She may be the only one who knows how to unlock the genetic secrets in your body."
Buckley took the note and unfolded it. There was an unfamiliar address and a name on it: "Dr. Irene White."
"Can she help us?" Buckley asked.
"If she is still alive, she is the only one who can help you." Nora's voice was low, but full of determination.
Buckley looked at the note again and made up his mind. He had no way out. No matter what was waiting for him ahead, he had to find the answer.
"We have to leave here now." Nora suddenly interrupted Buckley's thoughts, stood up, and heard a slight sound of footsteps. Obviously, the pursuer has tracked here.
"Follow me, we have another way." Nora quickly led Buckley through the depths of the underground passage until a secret exit hidden behind a brick wall.
When they returned to the ground again, the wind outside had become biting and the night was getting darker. Buckley followed Nora and quickly crossed an abandoned industrial area, gradually moving away from the dock. The surrounding buildings were becoming more and more dilapidated, and there were almost no people on the streets.
Nora took Buckley to a black car that had been prepared long ago. She quickly got in the car and motioned Buckley to sit in the passenger seat.
"Where are we going?" Buckley asked.
"To find Dr. Irene White, she may be our only hope now." Nora answered as she started the car.
The roar of the car engine broke the silence of the night, and the headlights penetrated the dark streets. Buckley sat in the car, staring at the night outside the window, his mind filled with countless unsolved mysteries.
This escape has just begun.