It was the old steel factory on the outskirts of town and thus it loomed ahead, with broken windows and hollowed walls cast by moonlight. This was where it all ended. Behind a stack of shipping crates, Derek, Noah, and Mia crouched, going over their plan one last time."This is where Marcus's allies are regrouping," Derek whispered into his surrounding. "We forced them out to the open with the files we exposed, but they're not going down easily."Noah tightened his grip on the bag containing the USB drive and laptop. "We are not leaving until this is done. For my mom. For all those whom they have hurt."Mia placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "We will do this together."Derek nodded. "Let's move."---Inside, the factory was muted but sounds of muffled voices echoed from the walls. Noah could see armed men huddled around the glorified command post beneath them going through some blueprints and maps. Centered among all this is Marcus's second-in-command, Victor Kane-an enforcer as ruthless as they came-who happened to be the most unyielding enforcer against Sara.
Victor made Noah's blood boil. This was the man who stood next to Marcus in destroying his mother's life, but now he stood as the last hurdle to Noah's path.
"Stick to the plan," whispered Derek. "We take out the guards quietly, then move on Victor."Noah nodded, heart pounding, as they split up to approach the guards.Derek moved swiftly as a shadow, gripping his silenced pistol in both hands and taking out two guards in quick succession. Noah followed suit, taking down a third guard using surprise as an aid. Mia trained her stun gun on a fourth guard, who was patrolling the far end of the factory.Within minutes, all the guards fell down to leave Victor alone at the command center.Victor raised his voice, hissing, "Aha, and who's this now near me? Did the boy really choose to face me?" "Came in a bit bolder than your mother was in the end," he finished venomously.Noah clenched his fists, struggling with the whirlwind anger within him. "You don't speak of her. You and Marcus destroyed her life, and now it's time for you to pay," he hissed.Victor snickered ominously, drawing a gun from his holster. "You think you can end this? Marcus is gone, but the system we built will outlast you, your mother, and any fool who stands against us."---Before Victor could lift his weapon, Derek fired through his shoulder, and the gun fell from his grasp. Growling through the pain, Victor lunged at Noah, taking him to the ground.The USB drive fell out of Noah's bag and skidded across the floor. "You idiot! Just a kid playing hero!" Victor snarls pinning Noah. "You will die just like she did!"Caught in a haze, Noah had trouble seeing as Victor's hands closed around his throat. But then Mia slammed a metal pipe into Victor's side, sending him sprawling.Noah gasped and scrambled to professional heights near Derek, arriving to take part in the brawl.But Victor was cornered, and as he drew a knife from his boot, he hissed, "You all are going to regret this".---The fight was brutal. Victor moved like a trained killer and struck with an endless onslaught of blows. Derek countered but could not keep up with Victor's ferocity.The flashdrive was recognizable on the ground, and after gathering his strength, Noah lunged for it, for he himself knew that with the flashdrive, it was up to him to end Victor's reign for good."You're not going anywhere!" Victor sharpens his attention towards Noah, noticing him.But before Victor charged, Mia stepped in-between with her stun gun crackling to life. She fires, hits him with an electric current, and twitches Victor to the floor.Derek seized the moment by kicking the knife away and holding Victor pinned."It's over, Victor," Derek growled, gun leveled at the man's chest.Victor sneered, blood dripping from the mouth. "You think killing me will stop this? You have no idea what's coming."Noah happened to step forward, never taking his gaze off Victor. "You're right-killing you won't fix everything. But it's a start."Derek pulled the trigger, the merciless shot ringing through the factory. Victor's body became motionless, the last threat eliminated from Sara's legacy.---The silence that followed was indeed deafening. Noah stood, in pain and relief, over Victor's silent body.Mia placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's done, Noah. You did it."He nodded, still with a heavy heart. "This was never about revenge. It's about preventing the same thing from ever happening to anyone else again, like what my mother underwent."Derek stepped forward then, a serious countenance on his face. "Then, the files have to go public. Every last one of them."He picked up the USB drive with an iron will. "Let's finish this."---Two days later, every single one of those files found their way to upload to the world's largest news outlet as well as every whistleblower site. These revelations sent shock waves around the globe, exposing the grievous nature of corruption at the highest levels. Arrest, downfall of corporations, and the residue of Marcus's sprawling network being torn.Noah watched the news from Mia's apartment, with a bittersweet smile on his face."She'd be proud of you," Mia told him, sitting next to him."I'm unable to do this without you," he said and took her hand into his.She fell against him as her head found its place on his shoulder, nothing could have tied them closer than it already was with everything they endured.---Derek grumbled while joining Noah on that balcony, which was staring listlessly at the twinkling lights of the city that night."You did good, kid," Derek said.Noah glanced at him. "It isn't over after all, is it?"To the negative, Derek said. "There's always another fight. But you've proven you're ready for it."Noah nodded as purpose settled over him. His mother's fight had become his own, and he was ready to carry her legacy forward.Standing there, the wind blowing the final specks of doubt from his mind, Noah sensed it was both an ending-and a beginning.The End.