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### Scene 19
**Location: Sarah Coleman’s Home**
The soft morning light filters through the kitchen windows as Sarah Coleman, dressed casually in a sweater and jeans, hums to herself while making breakfast. The smell of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee fills the air. She’s at ease, enjoying a rare moment of domestic peace. Her husband, Mark, is just waking up, and the sound of their daughters playing in the living room adds a comforting background noise.
**Sarah’s Phone Rings**
She frowns slightly, wiping her hands on a dish towel, and walks over to the living room where her phone vibrates on the coffee table next to a family portrait—a picture of Sarah, Mark, and their two young daughters, smiling together at a park.
**Sarah:** (answering the call) “Coleman here.”
**Daniel:** (voice urgent on the other end) “Sarah, you need to come and see this. It’s important.”
**Sarah:** (glancing back toward the kitchen) “Alright, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Mark walks into the room, stretching and yawning. He notices the worried expression on her face.
**Sarah:** “Honey, I’ve got to head into the office. Can you check on the food in the kitchen for me?”
**Mark:** (nodding, his voice warm) “Sure thing, darling. Love you.”
**Sarah:** (giving him a quick peck on the cheek) “Love you too. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
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**Location: FBI Headquarters**
The mood at the FBI headquarters is tense. Agents move with purpose, their faces set in grim determination. Sarah hurries through the hallways, her mind racing with possibilities. As she enters the command center, an agent directs her straight to Mercer’s office.
**Mercer’s Office**
Mercer sits behind his desk, his expression more serious than usual. A group of senior agents, including Daniel, are already gathered around the large screen in the room.
**Mercer:** (looking up as Sarah enters) “It’s been a year since we last heard from the terrorist known as Mr. Black. The last time he went silent like this, he returned with a vengeance, unleashing a series of bombings that shook the world to its core.”
Sarah’s heart skips a beat as she recalls the devastation of those attacks. The room is silent, every agent hanging on Mercer’s words.
**Mercer:** “Our tech specialists have been working tirelessly to track him down, using every method at our disposal. So far, he’s managed to evade all of them. But today… today, we received a new video from Mr. Black.”
A collective gasp echoes in the room. Sarah’s pulse quickens, her mind already racing ahead to what this could mean.
**Mercer:** (nodding to Daniel) “Agent Briggs, go ahead.”
Daniel steps forward and taps a few keys on the laptop connected to the screen. The familiar figure of Mr. Black appears on the screen, still wearing his ominous mask.
**Mr. Black:** (on the video, his tone mockingly cheerful) “Hello, everyone. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? (he chuckles) Wow, I’m impressed, honestly. I never expected this level of persistence from you.”
The agents exchange glances, their tension palpable. Mr. Black’s voice carries a chilling undertone, a mix of amusement and malice.
**Mr. Black:** “So, I’m here to fulfill my end of the deal and give you your reward. I’ve had an amazing time, really. But I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t turn this into a game, right? So, here’s what’s going to happen: For the next six hours, I’m going to bring down all my anti-trackers. I’m sure they’ve given you quite a challenge so far.”
The room is dead silent as the agents listen, fully aware that Mr. Black is always several steps ahead.
**Mr. Black:** “Under this video is an attached file—encrypted, of course. If you can decrypt it within the time limit, you’ll find a surprise there. But remember, you must find me within six hours. If not, the deal’s off, and you can bet on more exciting challenges from me. After all, the Burj Khalifa still remains untouched. See you soon… or maybe not.”
The video ends abruptly, leaving the room in a heavy silence.
**Mercer:** (his voice grave) “This video was sent three hours ago. Agent Briggs and his team have managed to track down the location of his IP address and decrypt the file.”
**Daniel:** (stepping forward again) “Sir, the address was traced to a location we didn’t expect—Nigeria. Specifically, the northern part of Nigeria, in the state of Jos. The decrypted file contains a list of politicians and business moguls who have been funding the Black Clover organization. It also holds enough information to bring down the entire network.”
Sarah’s eyes widen in surprise. Nigeria? She hadn’t expected that. The room buzzes with the implications of this revelation.
**Sarah:** (voice laced with concern) “What new game is he playing this time?”
**Mercer:** (his tone resolute) “Whatever game he’s playing, we’re ready for him. Agent Coleman, you’ll take a team of agents and work with the Nigerian security forces to locate and capture Mr. Black. Agent Briggs, get me in touch with the Nigerian authorities and the White House immediately.”
**Sarah and Daniel:** (in unison) “Yes, sir.”
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**Location: FBI Headquarters, Command Center**
As Sarah and Daniel head to their respective tasks, the tension in the FBI headquarters is palpable. The stakes have never been higher. Sarah’s mind races as she begins to assemble her team, knowing that this could be the final confrontation with the man who has terrorized the world for so long.
She glances at a photo of her family on her desk—a reminder of what’s at stake. She takes a deep breath, steeling herself for the mission ahead.
**Sarah:** (quietly to herself) “This ends now.”
The scene closes with Sarah walking purposefully toward the exit, her resolve unshakable as she prepares to face the monster who has haunted them all for far too long.
YOU ARE READING
Shadows of Mr Black
Mystery / ThrillerIn *Shadows of Mr. Black*, the world is held hostage by a mysterious and malevolent criminal mastermind known as Mr. Black. His carefully orchestrated attacks plunge cities into chaos, forcing an elite team of FBI agents to race against time to deci...
