Kelvin and his friend didn't stop running until their lungs burned and their legs felt weak. They finally ducked into a narrow alley behind an old electronics shop, bending over as they tried to catch their breath. Sweat soaked Kelvin's shirt, and his hands shook as he looked back down the dark street.
"Did… did they follow us?" Kelvin asked between breaths.
His friend slowly peeked around the corner. After a few seconds, he shook his head."Not yet. But trust me, they're not far."
Kelvin's heart refused to calm down. His entire life had changed in less than twenty-four hours. Just yesterday, he had been worrying about normal things—classes, bills, and his future. Now, unknown people were hunting him.
"We can't go back to my place," Kelvin said. "They already know where I live."
His friend nodded."Mine isn't safe either. They came asking questions. Whoever they are, they have resources."
Kelvin thought quickly."There's an old warehouse near the river. It's been abandoned for years. Nobody goes there anymore."
"That might work," his friend replied. "Let's move."
The walk to the warehouse felt longer than it really was. Every passing car made Kelvin flinch. Every shadow looked like someone following them. By the time they reached the tall, broken building, Kelvin was sure he would collapse from exhaustion and fear.
The warehouse doors were half-open. They slipped inside, and his friend quietly pulled one of the metal doors closed behind them. The inside was dark and cold. Broken windows allowed thin lines of moonlight to cut through the dusty air.
Kelvin leaned against a pillar, trying to steady himself.
"We're safe for now," his friend whispered. "But this place won't protect us forever."
Kelvin nodded and reached into his pocket. His fingers wrapped tightly around the flash drive.
"This little thing," he said quietly, "is the reason all this is happening."
His friend looked at it."Then we need to know what's inside."
Kelvin pulled out his laptop and connected a small power bank. The screen glowed softly in the darkness as he plugged in the flash drive.
Folders appeared.
PROJECT DAWN.TRANSACTIONS.SURVEILLANCE.SECURE LOGS.
Kelvin clicked on one file after another. His eyes widened as he read. Emails. Names. Money transfers. Secret meetings. His father had uncovered a massive hidden organization that controlled events from behind the scenes.
"This is crazy," Kelvin whispered. "They influence governments, businesses… everything."
His friend leaned closer."Your father wasn't just investigating corruption. He was uncovering a shadow empire."
Kelvin swallowed hard."And they killed him for it."
His chest felt tight.
"Or made him disappear," his friend said quietly.
Suddenly, Kelvin's phone vibrated in his pocket.
Both of them froze.
Slowly, Kelvin pulled it out.
Unknown Number:"You are getting harder to find."
Kelvin's heart nearly stopped.
"They know," he whispered.
Another message appeared.
"But not impossible."
His friend grabbed Kelvin's arm."We have to leave. Now."
Before they could move, the sound of a car engine echoed outside the warehouse.
Then another.
And another.
"They're here," Kelvin said, fear flooding his body.
Footsteps crunched outside. Voices.
"They're surrounding the building," his friend whispered. "We're trapped."
Kelvin's mind raced. There had to be a way out.
He looked around and spotted a broken staircase at the back of the warehouse leading to an upper floor.
"Up there," Kelvin said. "We might be able to escape through the roof."
They ran up the stairs as quietly as they could. The voices below grew louder.
"Search every corner!" someone shouted.
Kelvin felt panic rising.
At the top floor, they found a cracked window leading to the roof. Cold air rushed in as Kelvin pushed it open.
"Go!" his friend said.
They climbed out just as the door below burst open.
Kelvin looked down and saw flashlights moving inside the warehouse.
"They're right behind us," he whispered.
They ran across the roof and jumped onto the next building, barely making it. Kelvin almost slipped, but his friend grabbed his hand and pulled him up.
For a moment, they lay there, breathing heavily.
"We're not safe," Kelvin said. "But we're not caught either."
His friend looked at him seriously."This is bigger than both of us. But if your father trusted you with this… then you're the only one who can finish what he started."
Kelvin stared at the flash drive in his hand.
This wasn't just his father's secret anymore.
It was now his war.