Wood sought solitude, his mind racing with thoughts of rescuing his mother. Suddenly, a glimmer of hope emerged. He remembered his old friends from the organization who had left.
Determined, Wood sought out his former comrades, hoping they would lend a hand. He found them, but one, Alex, hesitated. Alex's pregnant wife, Rachel, intervened.
"Go help Wood," Rachel urged, placing a gentle hand on Alex's arm. "He needs you, and we can't turn our backs on him."
Alex's resolve crumbled. "Alright, I'm in."
With Alex on board, Wood and his four friends—Alex, Jake, Lucas, and Ryan—convened to devise a plan.
"We need to get Eva out before Jack's deadline," Wood emphasized.
"Agreed," Jake said. "But we require more intel on Jack's operations."
Lucas nodded. "I've got contacts who might be willing to share information."
Ryan spoke up, "I can handle the tech side, hack into Jack's systems."
Alex added, "I'll provide tactical support."
The group fell silent, lost in thought.
"Let's do this," Wood said finally, determination etched on his face.
Together, they began outlining their strategy.
Wood stood alone, shouting into the darkness, "Jack, come out! Let my mother go!"
His friends hid, waiting for the signal to strike.
But Jack emerged, a sly smile spreading across his face.
"So, you think I'm a fool?" Jack sneered. "You think you can fool me, Wood?"
He chuckled, and his voice sent shivers down Wood's spine.
"Bring her out."
Wood's heart sank as a figure was dragged into the open.
But it wasn't Eva.
It was Rachel, Alex's pregnant wife, her screams piercing the air.
Alex burst from hiding, desperation etched on his face.
"What are you doing? Let her go!" he shouted.
The others followed, rushing to Rachel's aid.
But they were met with Jack's henchmen.
Wood and his friends were surrounded, captured.
Jack's plan had worked.
"You should have taken my offer, Wood," Jack taunted.
Now, Wood's friends and Rachel were hostages, leverage against him.
The stakes had escalated.