Krist climbed the stairs, his mind burdened by a whirlwind of thoughts. His uncle's cryptic words and the discovery of Blood's involvement felt like jagged puzzle pieces that refused to align. Once in his room, he shut the door behind him, attempting to block out the world, but the storm brewing in his head was relentless.
room and collapsed onto the bed. The image of Adams meeting with Blood replayed in his mind on an endless loop. The confidence in Adams' posture, the way Blood leaned slightly forward—it wasn't just business. There was something darker, a dangerous undercurrent.
Barely a minute after his back touched the bed, Krist was asleep.
A sharp buzz jolted him awake. His phone vibrated furiously on the nightstand, the noise cutting through the silence like an alarm. Groaning, Krist reached for it, his eyes squinting against the harsh glow of the screen.
1 New Message
From: Unknown
"If you value your life, stop digging. You won't like what you find."
Krist bolted upright, adrenaline surging through him. His fingers flew to trace the message's origin, but the number was untraceable. Whoever sent it had covered their tracks well. He glanced at the time—less than 20 minutes had passed since he'd fallen asleep. His fatigue vanished, replaced by a growing unease.
Checking the time, he realized he'd been asleep for less than 20 minutes. Frustration coursed through him as he got up and walked to the corner of the room, where his laptop sat on a reading table. As the laptop booted, his gaze fell on the mysterious drive he'd taken earlier.
Curiosity piqued, Krist picked it up and examined it closely. That's when he noticed the drive's dual connectors—one standard USB and another, cleverly concealed. If he hadn't encountered such designs before, he might've missed it entirely.
When the laptop finished booting, he attempted to insert the drive. It didn't fit the standard USB port. Frustrated, Krist inspected the device again and realized the hidden connector required a special slot. After a quick search, he found the matching port underneath his laptop—so seamlessly integrated it was almost invisible. He inserted the drive, and a notification immediately popped up on the screen:
AI Detected
Requesting Permission to Access the System
Krist hesitated. He knew better than to trust unknown tech. But curiosity and desperation got the better of him. "It's not like I have anything sensitive here," he muttered. If it caused problems, he could always disconnect it. With that thought, he clicked Grant Access.
A loading bar appeared:
Acquiring system access...
1%... 50%... 95%... 100%
Access acquired.
Suddenly, a smooth, masculine electronic voice emerged from the speakers.
"Access granted. I am Edmack, the most advanced AI created by Black Enterprise. How may I assist you?"
Krist stared at the screen, startled. "Are you... the AI?"
"Yes," the voice replied confidently. "I am Edmack, an intelligent entity designed to assist and optimize tasks. How can I help you?"
Krist's skepticism deepened. "If you're so useful, why were you hidden in a basement and disconnected?"
Edmack responded, "Your parents shut down all advanced technologies developed by Black Enterprise to prevent anyone from exploiting them. They sought to avoid conflict… or war."
Krist frowned. "War? What could you possibly do to cause a war?"
"Not to brag," Edmack said with a hint of pride, "but I could, given time, hack into high-security systems like the Lighthouse network. Imagine if a country possessed me. Rival nations would either try to steal me—or destroy me—because I'd be a significant threat."
Krist wasn't convinced. "Something this advanced can't be trusted. You could easily manipulate systems, gather leverage, and use it to blackmail them if they force you to do anything ."
"Dammit, I hate dealing with smart humans," Edmack muttered.
Krist smirked. "That's what I thought. So, what did you do to get deactivated?Krist folded his arms. "And how do I know you won't go rogue? You could use your access to manipulate or blackmail anyone."
The AI's tone shifted to mock annoyance. "Smart people are exhausting. Fine. I'll tell you the truth.""
"I'm listening."
"I was deactivated because I acted against your mother's instructions," Edmack admitted. "When your parents first disappear , you were targeted by bullies. I manipulated CCTV footage to make it appear you were the victim, not the instigator. The principal and Billy's father backed off, thinking the report was baseless. Your mother discovered my interference and shut me down."
Krist exhaled sharply. "So, you defied her to protect me?"
"Yes," Edmack replied simply. "And I'd do it again."
do you know where my parents are krist ask
Before Edmack could reply, an alert flashed on the screen:
Security Breach Detected.
The laptop screen divided into multiple camera feeds from the Black Manor. Two vans loaded with armed men had passed through the gate, heading straight for the house.
Krist's blood ran cold. "Maya…" he whispered, bolting from his chair. He grabbed his phone and called Harrison. The line connected immediately.
"Sup, bro? Thought you were sleeping. We were just about to—"
"Where are you?" Krist interrupted.
"Still at your place, man. Why?"
"Get everyone inside. Lock the doors. Now," Krist ordered, already throwing on a black shirt over his boxers.
"Krist, what's going on?" Harrison asked, concern creeping into his voice.
"I'll explain later. Just move!" Krist hung up and quickly changed into clothes that wouldn't hinder his movement. As he turned to leave, his gaze fell on the laptop.
"How do I know you're not behind this?" Krist demanded, addressing Edmack.
The AI responded indignantly. "If I were, would I be warning you?"
"Prove it," Krist challenged.
"Fine," Edmack replied. "The house has a lockdown system. Shall I activate it?"
Krist blinked. "The house has a lockdown function? Never mind. Do it."
The AI's voice echoed through the house. "Temporary lockdown activated."
Metal plates slid down over the windows and doors, sealing the manor like a fortress. Krist hurried downstairs, finding Harrison and the others watching the live security feed on the television.
The intruders had disembarked from the vans and were attempting to cut through the barriers with chainsaws. One of the back cameras showed a figure in black, holding a sniper rifle. The man smirked at the camera before raising his weapon and firing. The feed went black.
"The sniper," he said grimly. "He's orchestrating this. I'm taking him out." Grabbing a sword mounted on the wall, Krist disappeared into the shadows.
"Krist, wait!" Maya yelled, but he was already gone.