The icy wind bit at Ethan's face as he and Lila rushed through the narrow alley behind the safe house. The sound of boots pounding against the old wooden floors inside echoed in his ears, growing louder as Gray's men scrambled to pursue them.
"They're coming," Lila panted, glancing over her shoulder. The faint light spilling from the broken windows above illuminated their silhouettes.
"We need to move," Ethan muttered, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the far end of the alley. His mind raced, his system humming faintly beneath the surface as if ready to activate at a moment's notice. The reward from earlier—Strategic Insight—buzzed in his brain, helping him map the area instinctively.
They rounded the corner, entering a broader street littered with garbage and potholes. A black SUV sat parked a block away, its engine running.
"Crap," Ethan hissed, skidding to a halt. He grabbed Lila's arm and pulled her into the shadow of an old dumpster. "Stay quiet."
The SUV's doors opened, and two armed men stepped out, scanning the area. Their voices carried through the quiet street.
"They had to come this way. You two check the alley. I'll sweep the street."
The guards split up, one heading toward Ethan and Lila's hiding spot. The man's boots crunched on broken glass as he came closer. Ethan clenched his fists, every muscle in his body tense. Think. Think.
The system chimed softly in his head:
[System Task: Protect Lila during the escape. Reward: +1 Improved Reflexes.]
I can't fail this.
He turned to Lila, whispering so low it was barely audible. "Follow me when I move. Stay low."
She nodded, her breaths quick and shallow, but her determination unshaken.
The guard was nearly on top of them now, his flashlight beam flickering toward the dumpster. Ethan's heartbeat thundered in his ears. He spotted a loose piece of metal piping lying nearby. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and hurled it toward a pile of trash cans further down the alley.
The clang of metal echoed loudly through the street.
"Who's there?" the guard barked, spinning toward the noise, his flashlight beam darting away.
"Now!" Ethan whispered sharply, tugging Lila's hand as they slipped out of the shadows.
They sprinted silently across the street, keeping low. The second guard had moved farther into the alley, and for the moment, their path was clear.
"There!" a voice shouted behind them.
Ethan didn't look back. He tightened his grip on Lila's hand and pushed his legs harder, propelling himself forward. Bullets cracked through the air, ricocheting off the pavement, the sharp sounds ringing in his ears.
"Get to cover!" Ethan yelled.
They dove behind an abandoned car, its rusted frame providing just enough of a shield. Lila crouched beside him, her chest heaving.
"We can't outrun them," she gasped. "They'll pin us down."
Ethan peered through the shattered car windows. The men were advancing, guns raised, spreading out to surround them. I need a plan. Fast.
The system's voice chimed softly again:
[Strategic Insight Activated: Weakness Detected—Distraction Route Identified.]
Ethan's eyes landed on a cluster of old, dented barrels near a broken streetlight. The barrels were tipped slightly, leaking what looked like oil or fuel. He followed the trail with his eyes and spotted a flickering, exposed electrical wire hanging from the lamppost.
"Perfect," he murmured.
"What?" Lila asked.
"Stay here. When I say 'run,' you go for that alley across the street." He pointed to a narrow gap between two buildings.
"Ethan, you can't—"
"I'll be fine. Trust me."
Before she could argue, Ethan slipped around the back of the car. The guards shouted when they spotted him, bullets tearing through the air as he sprinted toward the barrels. He skidded to a stop, grabbing a brick from the ground, and hurled it at the exposed electrical wire.
The brick hit its mark. Sparks flew as the wire snapped free, whipping against the ground. A bright flash erupted as the sparks ignited the fuel trail from the barrels. Flames roared to life, spreading quickly and forcing the guards to stagger back.
"Now, Lila!" Ethan shouted.
Lila darted from behind the car, running full-speed toward the alley. Ethan followed a heartbeat later, the fire roaring behind him and cutting off the guards' pursuit.
"Get back! Put it out!" one of the men shouted, their voices muffled by the roar of the flames.
Ethan and Lila didn't stop running until they were deep inside the narrow alley. They turned corner after corner, finally emerging onto a quieter street lined with abandoned shops. Only then did they stop to catch their breath.
Ethan leaned against a wall, gasping. "You… okay?"
Lila nodded, hands on her knees as she tried to slow her breathing. "That was insane. You could've been killed."
"But I wasn't," Ethan said with a faint grin. "And we made it out."
A familiar chime rang softly in his head.
[Task Completed: Protect Lila during the escape. Reward: +1 Improved Reflexes.]
The moment the system confirmed the reward, Ethan felt something shift. His body seemed lighter, faster—like every movement came a split second quicker. He flexed his fingers, marveling at the subtle change.
"What is it?" Lila asked, noticing his expression.
"Nothing," Ethan said quickly. "Just glad we're in one piece."
She studied him for a moment before shaking her head with a tired smile. "You're full of surprises, Ethan."
"We're not done yet," he said, glancing back the way they'd come. "Gray's men aren't going to stop looking for us."
Lila straightened, her expression hardening. "Then we keep moving. We've got the ledger. That's the key to tearing Gray's operation apart."
Ethan nodded. "Agreed. But first, we need a safe place to regroup."
"Any ideas?"
Ethan's mind worked quickly, the faint hum of the system guiding his thoughts. "Yeah. I know a place. Come on."
They set off down the street, disappearing into the night, while behind them the flames still flickered in the dark. The encounter at the safe house had been a narrow escape, but Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that the real danger was only beginning.
And whatever lay ahead, he would face it—with Lila at his side and the strange, unseen system pushing him toward something greater.