[RECOVERY ROOM – NIGHT]
The room was still. Blitz and Specter, asleep beside the bed. Unaware. Vex stood quietly near them. Watching.
For a moment, she didn't move. "…I'm sorry…" A whisper. Soft. "I can't let you get hurt anymore." A pause. "…This is my responsibility." Her eyes dimmed slightly. "…I'll end what my father started." Silence.
She turned away. Her fingers moved, pressing lightly against her wrist. A hidden mechanism. Small. Almost invisible. She lowered her head slightly; her lips close to it. "…Pick me up at the back of the mansion." A pause. "…I'll be waiting."
Then, she slowly turned her head toward the hidden CCTV, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "Did he really think I wouldn't notice he planted a camera there?"
Without a hint of hesitation, Vex casually disabled it, her fingers moving with precise, practiced ease as she hacked into the system.
Within seconds, the feed went dark. The CCTV shut down completely. As if nothing had happened, she slipped back toward the balcony, her movements silent, controlled… and already one step ahead.
The night welcomed her. Cold. Quiet. Vex climbed over the balcony edge, her movements precise. Controlled. She dropped down lightly. Soundless. Her body moved through shadows, as she belonged there.
A small device flickered in her hand. Lines of code. Fast. Efficient. "…Done." CCTV feeds loop instantly. Blind.
Vex moved forward, unseen. "…If I can't find him…" A whisper. "…I'll skip to the next step." Her lips curved slightly. A faint smirk. "…Enjoy your game, Phantom." A pause. "…I'll join later."
She slipped through the hidden passage. The leaves parted silently. And there, under the shadow of a large tree, a motorcycle waited. Engine low. Ready. A woman in a blue suit raised her hand. "…You're late."
Vex approached calmly. "…I had something to settle." The woman smirked. "…Get on." Vex didn't hesitate. "…Harbor."
The engine roared softly, then cut through the silence. The motorcycle disappeared into the night. Leaving nothing behind but shadows.
Because this time, Vex wasn't waiting. She was moving first. And whatever came next, maybe would change everything.
[HARBOR – NIGHT]
The sea was restless. Waves crashing softly, echoing through the empty docks. Dim lights flickered along the harbor. Cold. Quiet.
The motorcycle came to a stop. Vex stepped off. Her eyes scanned instantly. Ships. Containers. Shadows. Everything felt… too still.
"…We're here." The woman in the blue suit spoke calmly. Vex didn't respond. Just walked forward. A cargo ship waited. Engine low. Ready to depart. She stepped onto it without hesitation.
[ON BOARD – MAIN DECK]
Footsteps echoed lightly. Then a figure appeared. Standing under the dim light. "…You made it."
Vex stopped. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "…Helen." Helen stepped forward. But this time, no assistant smile. "…You're late." A faint smirk.
Vex crossed her arms slightly. "…You're the one who told me to hurry." Helen chuckled softly. "…Fair enough."
Silence fell briefly. The wind grew stronger. "…So." Helen tilted her head. "…You finally decided to move."
Vex's gaze turned cold. "…I don't have time to wait anymore." A pause. "…He's starting again."
Helen's expression shifted. More serious now. "…Canada." Vex nodded. "…This time, I'll stop it before it spreads." Helen studied her. Quietly. "…You're going alone?"
"…No." A beat. "…I just didn't bring them," Helen smirked slightly. "…Smart."
Suddenly, a sound. CLICK. Vex's eyes sharpened instantly. Footsteps. Multiple. From behind. Figures emerged from the shadows. Armed. Silent.
Helen sighed. "…Guess we're not the only ones moving tonight." Vex didn't turn. Her stance shifted, ready. "…Phantom's people?" Helen shook her head slowly.
"…No." A pause. "…Worse." One of the figures stepped forward. Weapon raised. "…Miss Hansel." A cold voice echoed. "…Your father sends his regards." Silence dropped.
Vex's lips curved slightly. Not fear. No surprise. "…Of course, he does." Her eyes darkened. "...Then let's begin."
The sea roared. The night tightened. And for the first time, Vex wasn't running from the fight. She walked straight into it.
----------------
[HARBOR – CARGO SHIP DECK | NIGHT]
The wind howled. Weapons raised. Men surrounded them in a tight formation. Trained. Brandon's men.
Vex rolled her shoulders slightly. Ignoring the pain, burning in her chest. Her lips curved. "...Signal combat training…" A faint, dangerous smile. "…still the same."
Her eyes sharpened. "…Sorry, Daddy." A pause. "This time…"
"…I'll win your game." They moved first. Three attackers are closing in fast. Vex stepped forward. Not back.
CRACK. One down. A clean elbow strike to the neck. She twisted, grabbing the second's wrist, flipping him over her shoulder. Pain shot through her chest. Sharp. "…Tch."
She didn't stop. The third lunged, knife aimed straight at her. Vex sidestepped barely and drove her knee into his abdomen. He collapsed. More came. Five. Then more.
Helen watched from behind. Calm. Calculating. "…She's still unstable…" A murmur. "…but still fighting like this."
Blows exchanged. Fast. Precise. Vex moved like instinct. Even injured, still lethal. One by one, they fell. But her breathing grew heavier. Uneven. "…Not yet…"
Another attacker rushed, and she caught his arm, twisted, and slammed him down. THUD. Silence finally. Bodies scattered. Ten men down.
Vex stood still. Breathing hard. Her hand pressed against her chest, blood seeping slightly. Helen stepped forward quickly. "…That's enough." A pause. "…We don't have time to admire your skills."
Vex exhaled. "…Talk." Helen's expression turned serious. "…Your father isn't just expanding operations in Canada." A beat. "…He's relocating part of the project."
Vex's eyes narrowed. "…Which part?" Helen hesitated just slightly. "…Human trials." Silence. "…Subjects are being transferred." A pause. "…And some of them…" Her voice lowered. "...don't survive the process."
Vex's grip tightened. "…Where?" Helen stepped closer. "…A hidden facility near the harbor routes." A pause. "…That's where we're heading."
Vex's gaze darkened. "…Then we end it there." Helen nodded. Then, looked toward the ship. "…We're out of time."
HORN BLAST. The ship began to move. "…Hurry." Helen's voice sharpened. "The ship boards in five minutes."
Vex straightened. Ignoring the pain again. "…Let's move."
Behind her, Brandon's men. Defeated. Ahead, a mission that could destroy everything. And for the first time, Vex wasn't following orders. She was rewriting them.
[CARGO SHIP – MIDNIGHT]
The ship had already left the harbor. Waves are crashing harder now. The night is no longer quiet.
BANG! Gunshots echoed across the deck. Shouts. Footsteps. Chaos. "…Ambush." Vex's voice low. Cold.
More figures emerged, not Brandon's men. Different formation. Different rhythm. "…Not his people…" Her eyes narrowed. "…Then who?" No time. They attacked. Fast. Aggressive.
Vex fought back, but this time, her body didn't respond the same. CRACK. One down. THUD. Another. But her movements are slower. Heavier. Her breath was uneven.
"…Tch." A blade grazed her arm. She stepped back. For the first time, retreating.
"…Too many…" More surrounded her. Helen's voice echoed somewhere behind. "…MOVE, VEX!" But Vex didn't wait. She turned and ran.
[INSIDE – LOWER DECK CORRIDOR]
Her footsteps echoed, quick. Unsteady. Her hand pressed against her chest. Pain spreading. "…Not again…"
She pushed forward. Door after door, closed. Locked. Occupied. Then, a room. Half open. She slipped inside instantly.
[ROOM 1 – STORAGE]
Dark. Silent. Vex dropped low, her body sliding under the bed. Breathing. Controlled. Forced.
Footsteps approached. Outside. Closer. The door creaked open. A shadow entered. Vex froze. Her hand tightened, ready. But she didn't move.
The man stepped inside. Scanning. Silence. A second. Two. Then, "…Clear." The footsteps faded. The door closed. Silence returned.
Vex stayed still. Counting. Waiting. "…Now…" Slowly, she slid out from under the bed. Her movements careful. Precise. She stood barely steady. "…I need another route…" She moved again, quieter now.
[ROOM 2 – LOWER DECK]
Vex stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her. Silence. No footsteps. No shadows. "…Good." Her body leaned against the wall, finally giving in.
Her breathing uneven. Scattered. "…This isn't normal…" A whisper. "..Too organized…" Her eyes sharpened, despite the exhaustion. "...Someone planned this."
A faint static sound suddenly appears, barely audible. Then, a voice. Soft. Clear. "Vex, are you okay?"
Vex's hand moved slowly, touching the earpiece. Her breath still unstable, but her voice controlled. "…I'm safe." A pause. "…For now."
She closed her eyes briefly, steadying herself. "…Detect my position." Silence for a split second, then, "Copy, Vex." The connection is cut.
Vex opened her eyes again. Cold. Focused. "…Good."
She pushed herself off the wall, forcing her body to move again. Because hiding was only temporary. Soon, the hunt would start again. Somewhere in the dark, someone was tracking her.
[CONTROL ROOM – SHIP]
Screens flickered. Signals overlapped. Noise everywhere. Helen stood in front of the console, focused. Fast.
"…Come on…" Her fingers moved rapidly, tracking signals. Gunshots echoed outside. Distant. But getting closer. "…Too many interferences…"
A static line flashed, weak. Familiar. Helen froze. "…Wait…" She leaned closer. Eyes narrowing. "…This frequency…"
Helen's eyes widened slightly. "…I marked it…" Her fingers moved faster, pulling up an old log. "…Yes…"
A faint smirk. "…You didn't change your signal pattern." The system is locked. Coordinates forming.
LOCATION FOUND
"…Got you." She tapped her earpiece. "…Vex." A pause. "…I have your exact location now."
Vex turned slightly, hearing it. "…Took you long enough."
Helen scoffed lightly. "…You were half-dead and still moving."
"…I'm still moving now." A pause. "…Good." Helen's tone shifted. Serious. "…Because they're closing in." Vex's eyes sharpened. "...Who?"
"…Multiple groups." A beat. "…Including someone new." Silence.
Silence. Vex's eyes narrowed. "…Explain." Helen pulled up another feed. Multiple moving signals. "…There's another group onboard."
"…Not your father's."
"…Not Phantom's either." A beat. "…They're precise. Too clean."
Vex straightened slightly. Ignoring the pain. "…New player." Helen nodded. "…And not a small one."
"…Can you identify?"
"…No record." A pause. "…Clean profile." That was worse.
Helen zoomed in, but the signal distorted. "…He's masking himself." Her brows furrowed. "...Whoever this is… he came prepared."
Vex didn't react immediately. But her grip tightened slightly. "…Of course."
Helen pulled up multiple routes. Tracking movement. "…I'm sending you a path."
"…Shortest route out."
"…Or…" A pause. "…toward the center."
Vex smirked faintly. "…You already know my answer." Helen shook her head. "…Yeah."
"…You never run." A signal. Once weak. Now locked. Because one small moment, one quiet call, became the key to finding her again.
And the battlefield changed. Not just enemies but unknown players. Because sometimes, the most dangerous threat is the one you can't identify.
TBC