The interior of the van was pitch dark, cramped, and catty. The poor boy sat there with tied hands, his heart hammering in his chest as he cast a guilty glance at Mia, who was trying her best to wriggle out of her bindings beside him.Across from them sat Marcus, with his cold, calculating gaze settled on them both. The USB dangled from his fingers, and a taunting smile curled his lips."You really thought you could outplay me?" Marcus sneered. "You're just a boy trying to finish a game you don't even understand."Noah's fire burned bright as he returned Marcus's gaze. "You're scared," he said, his voice a calm ripple in the raging river of chaos inside him. "That's why you've been chasing this. You know what's on that drive will take you down."Marcus leaned in. His smile was gone. "Watch it, Noah. Brave words won't mean much when you're dead."---As it stopped, Marcus's men dragged Noah and Mia out of the van and tossed them into a shabby warehouse in the outskirts of the city. It was damp and cold inside, with a rust metallic scent filling their noses.Noah surveyed his surroundings for anything that could help him escape."Bring them here," Marcus commanded, indicating a chair fixed to the floor.Noah was thrust into the chair, his wrists attached to the armrests, while Mia was forced to kneel nearby, the hold of her captor tightening around her shoulder."Now," Marcus went on, pacing slowly, "you're going to tell me everything Sara taught you. Every backup plan she ever devised. Every secret you uncovered. Because you know my mother. She's always had contingencies."Noah kept his face wooden, refusing Marcus any satisfaction in the form of answer.But Marcus eventually lost his cool. "Maybe you need motivation." He turned towards the girl, withdrew a knife from his pocket and said, "Prepare yourself.""No!" Noah shouted, putting all his strength into ripping arms from the restraints.Marcus grinned, the knife now hovering dangerously close to Mia's cheek. "Now we're getting somewhere."The sound of footsteps shattered the silence, and Derek came through the doorway-damaged and looking sore from the fight but alive."Well, well, well! Would you look at that, who got through," Marcus said in a teasing tone. "You didn't come now to save the day, Derek?"Derek's gaze flicked back to Noah and Mia, an unreadable expression on his face. "Let them go, Marcus. You've already won."He laughed darkly. "Won? Oh, Derek. Winning means not leaving loose ends-and they are the greatest loose ends of all."It made Noah's heart sink. Was he fooled by Derek after all?But then, he realized something-like a subtle passing wave of hands directioned toward the far corner of the room. Noah turned his eyes toward the direction Derek was looking in just as a small team of armed figures began slipping quietly into place.-Marcus turned back to Noah, not noticing all this happening around him. "Last chance, Noah. Tell me what you know."Noah stared at him, resolve hardening. ''You won't get it from me, any more than from her, and definitely never from my mother's legacy.''Before he could react, a flashbang erupted in the room, leaving bright and loud noise in its wake."Go, go, go!" shouted Derek, diving for cover as the armed team opened fire.Chaotic as it was, one of Marcus' men unlocked Noah's bonds. Clearly, he planned on using Noah as a shield, but Noah took the opportunity to elbow the guy in the gut and steal his knife in one fluid movement.Mia was torn away from her captor as Noah pulled her behind a stack of crates."Are you all right?" he spat, his voice sounding urgent.She nodded, eyes wide. "We need to go."It was then, while scanning the room, that Noah spotted Marcus making his way toward the back exit, clutching the prized USB drive."Noah, don't!" Mia shouted as she grabbed his arm.But he shook his head. "I have to stop him. Stay here and wait for Derek."He did not say anything more but took off after Marcus.---And they chased each other down the corridor maze. Marcus was growing desperate, losing his composure."You can't run forever, Marcus!" shouted Noah from behind him with the echo resonating against the walls.He whirled around and found himself cornered in a dead end. He turned to face Noah, gun drawn."Stay back!" barked Marcus with a trembling hand.Noah stilled with his hands raised. "This ends here, Marcus. You lost. You don't have to drag this out anymore."Marcus scoffed. "Losing, you say? What your whole lot knows is that this is about power, Noah, your mother understood it. She sacrificed everything for that."Noah's jaw tightened. "You have no right to misrepresent her legacy. Her intention was to protect people from monsters like you."His finger on the trigger, Marcus hoisted the gun. "You are just like her--idealistic and blind. And now, you will die like her, too."---Before Marcus could fire, a shot rang out. Marcus froze with his eyes wide in shock at the blood blossoming across his chest and then he fell to the ground, the USB drive slipping from his hand.Behind him stood Derek, still holding his gun aloft."Are you okay, kid?" he asked while lowering his weapon.Noah nodded; his breath caught in his throat. "Yeah. Thanks."He picked up the USB pen drive and stared at it for a moment. It felt heavy right now, burdened with everything it carried.----The sun did break as they came out of the warehouse, marking the morning. Mia ran towards Noah, flinging herself around him."It's over," he whispered with eyes closed as he held her.She pulled away, looking at him. "You did it. Your mother would be proud."Noah glanced sideways at Derek, who nodded. For the first time after many days, the stillness settled over him.But Noah knew they walked away from here, only to find it was not the end. The USB pen drive held truths that would rattle the very foundations of power itself. His journey was far from over-but, for now, he was ready to take the first step.---To Be Continued...