CHAPTER 25 - The Reckoning

1 0 0
                                    

The air crackled with tension as Zade stood protectively in front of Serena, heart pounding in his chest. The armed men closed in, their faces masked, eyes cold and determined. This was it—the moment that would decide their fates.

“Everyone on the ground!” one of the intruders barked, brandishing his weapon.

Zade's instincts kicked in. “Serena, get behind the desk!” he shouted, pushing her toward cover.

As she ducked, Zade took a deep breath, scanning the room for anything he could use as a weapon. The journalist, Sarah, had retreated into her office, but he had no time to worry about her safety. All that mattered was Serena and stopping Project Nexus once and for all.

With a sudden rush of courage, Zade lunged at the nearest intruder, tackling him to the ground. They wrestled for control of the weapon, the sound of scuffling echoing through the agency. Zade felt the cold metal against his skin, adrenaline surging as he fought to overpower his opponent.

In the chaos, he caught a glimpse of Serena, her eyes wide with fear but resolute. She wasn’t going to hide. She picked up a chair, brandishing it like a weapon, and swung it at one of the attackers, knocking him off balance.

“Nice shot!” Zade yelled, using the momentary distraction to gain the upper hand, wrestling the gun away from the first intruder. He rolled away and stood, weapon in hand, adrenaline coursing through him.

“Get out!” Zade shouted at Serena. “We need to find a way out of here!”

Just then, Malik burst through the door, his expression fierce. “I’ve got backup!” he shouted, a group of local police officers behind him, guns drawn.

“Zade! Serena! Get to safety!” Malik urged.

Zade wasted no time, grabbing Serena’s hand. “This way!”

As they dashed toward the back exit, bullets whizzed past them. The officers returned fire, and the chaos escalated. Zade could hear the clash of metal and the shouts of the intruders. The stakes were higher than ever.

Once outside, they sprinted toward the alley behind the building, Zade pulling Serena close. “We have to get to the car!” he urged, pointing to Malik’s vehicle parked a short distance away.

They made it to the car just as more armed men poured out of the news agency, shouting orders into their radios. Zade fumbled with the keys, his hands shaking from adrenaline.

“Come on, come on!” Serena urged, her eyes darting around anxiously.

Zade finally unlocked the car and they jumped inside, Malik sliding into the driver’s seat. “Hold on!” he yelled, revving the engine.

As they sped away, Zade felt a wave of relief wash over him. They had escaped, but the danger was far from over. Project Nexus would not give up easily.

“We need to get somewhere safe and figure out our next move,” Malik said, glancing in the rearview mirror. “I have a safe location where we can lay low.”

Once they reached the safe house, they hurried inside, locking the door behind them. The room was dimly lit, and Zade’s heart still raced as he leaned against the wall, catching his breath.

“Are you guys okay?” Malik asked, looking between them.

“Yeah,” Zade replied, but his mind raced with thoughts of what was next. “We need to expose them. We have to take this to the media, but we need more proof.”

Serena stepped forward, determination in her eyes. “I have an idea. I know a reporter who’s been following Project Nexus for years. If we can get the evidence to her, she can help us blow this wide open.”

Nexus and ShadowsWhere stories live. Discover now