A Man Beneath The Mask

Chapter 9: Who's the Boss?

Highway

6:30 P.M

Detective Reymond Voss sped down the dimly lit highway, the lights of his squad car reflecting off the wet asphalt. His mind raced as fast as the car, trying to piece together the events unfolding. First, MaskMan's grand display at Luneta and now chaos at New Bilibid Prison.

It was all too perfectly timed. As he neared the prison, the ominous silhouette of the massive concrete walls loomed over the horizon. Red and blue lights flickered wildly ahead—dozens of police cars, SWAT vehicles, and ambulances had already gathered at the scene. The usual oppressive atmosphere of Bilibid was now charged with tension, and Voss could feel it in his bones. Something was very wrong.

He slammed the brakes as he reached the perimeter, jumping out of the car before it even came to a full stop. Armed officers were already stationed at the entrance, and Voss could hear shouting coming from within the walls of the prison.

He approached one of the officers, who was barking orders into a radio.

Raymond: "What's the situation?" his tone sharp.

The officer turned to him, his face pale under the flashing lights. "It's bad, Detective. Real bad. There's a full-scale riot inside. It started in one of the maximum-security wings, but now it's spreading across the whole facility. Guards are outnumbered. Some of the inmates... they're armed."

Voss cursed under his breath.

Raymond: "How did this happen?"

Officer: "According to the accounts of the officers on duty at the time, they reported that while they were watching a press conference, Correctional Officer 2 Austine Rodriquez, suddenly transferred the CCTV footage from the third floor, focusing on the cell of inmate number 032924. It was there that they observed two individuals assisting P-032924 in his escape. When the guards attempted to pursue them, all the cell gates in the entire prison unexpectedly swung open, releasing every inmate within New Bilibid."

Reymond: "Have you already identified the two men?"

The officer shook his head, frustration evident on his face.

Officer: "Not yet, sir. The footage was blurry. But based on their movements and timing, it looks like they knew exactly what they were doing."

Reymond: "And the inmate? Number 032924—who is he?"

The officer's expression darkened. "Nathaniel Caballero, sir. Convicted of murdering a government official and six men who were with him. And that's not all. He's guilty of at least ten more murders over the past three years before he got captured."

Reymond's face hardened as he processed the information. "Nathaniel Caballero... of course. A bloodthirsty killer, now on the loose. And yet, here we are. Do we have any leads on their escape route?"

Officer: "None. Once the gates opened, it was chaos. They slipped through before we could lock things down."

Reymond swore under his breath. "Damn it." He paused, his mind racing. "Alright, keep me updated. If any new footage comes through, I want it immediately."

Officer: "Understood, Detective."

Makati City

October 20, 2034

3 PM

In an upscale office in Makati, seven individuals sat watching the press conference unfold on a large screen, sipping whiskey from crystal glasses. Their expensive suits and the lavish decor of the room spoke of wealth and influence. These were not ordinary people; their every gesture exuded power.