In this silence that crawled after the explosion. Noah and Mia crouched in the forest clearing, the acrid odour of smoke palpable in the air. His heart pumped in his chest as all he could think was what had just happened."Think Derek made it?" a tremulous voice asked.The weight of everything on him put Noah in a stall. "I don't know," said Noah. "But we can't wait to find out. We have to move."His pocket held that key, feeling heavy like lifelike and curse all at once. This was the one obstacle to Marcus's reign of terror, but it was also the very cause that put a big target on their backs.---Noah and Mia had to maneuver tyheir way to prevent making any sounds that would announce their approach to the sirens. In his mind was the memory of that note left by Sara: Trust no one but yourself."She always thought ahead," Noah muttered, half to himself, half to Mia."Meaning?" she asked, casting him a wary glance."She owes this to me. And a warning. This day was bound to come," he said, pulling out the key whose antique designs twinkled in the little light coming in from the trees.Mia frowned. "Do you know the location of the safe deposit box?" "I think so," Noah said. "Privately, she spoke of this banker downtown. He said that was the place no one could ever touch her.""Do you believe Marcus knows about it?"Noah shook his head. "If he did, he wouldn't have been chasing us so hard. But we don't have much time. If he's still alive, he won't stop until he finds us."---Morning came at last, and they finally reached Noah's car, concealed from the sight of the forest. He and Mia climbed into the car, exhaustion set in their faces.The trip back to the city was with silence, each lost in their thoughts. It was Mia who finally broke through the silence that had set into both of them."Noah," she started cautiously, "do you think we can ever go back to normal after this?"He looked at her, tightening the grip on the steering wheel as he replied, "I don't know what normal even is anymore."Mia gazed out the window, voice low, "I just want to feel safe again."Noah reached across the distance, took her hand in his. "I'll make sure of it. I promise."For a moment, the world outside seemed to fade away. Danger, uncertainty, and fear belonged to this world, but inside it was a world between those two—a promise never uttered but profoundly felt.---They reached the private bank and still the city was coming alive. Noah parked a block away and scanned the area for any indication of Marcus's men."It looks clear," he said, then allowed for a note of caution in his voice.Normal-looking bank, normal among other buildings, cold and sterile in the inside."And how may I help you?" the receptionist asked in a manner devoid of even the slightest hint of quivering in her professional smile.Noah gave the key to her. "I want access to my mother's safety deposit box."Studying the key, the receptionist's expression suddenly flickered with recognition. "Right this way, sir."She brought them into a secluded room where an impressive vault door stood. Noah's heart raced as the receptionist inserted the key into a panel and stepped aside."Feel free to enter it. Take your time."Mia and Noah exchanged a look before continuing into the vault. It had rows and rows of safe deposit boxes hugging the walls. One of them, a bigger box than the others, held the number engraved on Saras' key.Here Noah places the key, hands trembling slightly. The lock clicked and the door opened to reveal a black leather notebook, and a small flash drive."This is it," whispered Noah, grabbing the items.Mia leaned over to look through his shoulder. "What's on it?""I don't know," admitted Noah, flipping through the pages of the notebook. Each leaf contained an extremely meticulous handwriting of Sara- names, dates, accounts. The ledger.The USB drive, however, had no marking at all. "Whatever's on here, it's what Marcus has been after all along," Noah said while he slipped it into his pocket.When they moved out from the bank, the atmosphere turned to sombre within their hearts as the streets were silent and the air still."We need a safe place where we can look at this," Noah stated straightforwardly.Mia nodded but shifted her gaze nervously. "Noah... We're being watched."Noah followed her line of sight to a car distance on the street. Inside, two men sat with their eyes staring at him and Mia."Get into the car. Now," Noah said, low-voiced but firm.They climbed into his vehicle, and Noah started the engine, entering the traffic. The car behind them followed at once."They're tailing us," Mia said, panic-stricken."Hold on," echoed Noah's mind.He took a sharp turn, weaving through the streets in a desperate try to lose them. It was tensed; the pursuing vehicle matched every move.----At last, Noah saw an underpass with an exit going to a maze of alleys. He swerved into it, tires screeching as he blew through the narrow lanes."Did we lose them?" asked Mia, clutching the door handle.Noah did not answer up immediately, watching out for the rearview mirror. After a few tense moments, he breathed out. "I think so."Then he pulled into some secluded back alley, turned off the engine. They were silent, all breaths heavy."We can't run anymore," said Mia finally. "This has to end."Noah nodded, the resolve in him hardening. "We will. Whatever's on this drive, Marcus is going to be taken out for good."Noah pulled his laptop from his bag, attached the USB drive, and waited for it to boot. With the flicker of the screen booting up, it displayed a folder named Truth. Inside were to be found dozens of files, from documents and photos to videos.They just had to click through a few more files to appreciate the extent of what they were looking at. Sara had not been running from Marcus; she had uncovered a network of corruption that had reached into the highest echelons."This... this could ruin them," Mia said, almost a whisper now.Tightening his jaw, Noah replied, "It's not just about ruining them. It's about making sure that no one else is hurt."Before anything else could be pondered, the shattering sound of a loud crash filled the air. With one explosion from the car window, a hand came in and took Mia."Noah!" she screamed as she was yanked outside.Noah tried to lunge forward, but the door had been managed, and a gun was shoved against his temple."Time's up," growled some voice.Noah's blood turned to ice as he looked up to find Marcus, face twisted in triumph."Did you really think you could outsmart me?" sneered Marcus.Then, as Noah and Mia were brought up on their feet, the drive was yanked from the laptop."Take them," ordered Marcus.Noah stared into the eyes of Mia as they were forced into a van. The fear was apparent, but he also saw something behind her eyes-a flame of determination.This isn't over. Not yet.To Be Continued...