Chapter 33: Desperate Call for Help

A/N

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The cool embrace of natural air once again enveloped James, though now the sensation felt much weaker than when he first began. It wouldn't be long before this feeling vanished altogether, a sign of his growing strength.

Meanwhile, at the Osborne Group Building, the experiment entered a crucial phase.

Since Norman couldn't procure a decay rate algorithm, Dr. Connors made a breakthrough in his experiment.

Today marked the beginning of live trials. As Dr. Connors's chief intern, Gwen had made significant contributions to the decay rate algorithm. Naturally, she wanted to witness this pivotal moment.

In Dr. Connors's lab, Gwen, donned in a white coat, meticulously recorded data while Dr. Connors operated the computer program.

After numerous failed attempts, the computer program finally succeeded in its calculations for the in vivo test. This signaled the commencement of the real live trial.

With excitement coursing through them, Dr. Connors and Gwen administered the injection to the lab rat.

Now, they could only wait for the outcome of the creature's reaction—an anxious process, whether it led to success or failure.

As evening approached, Gwen bid farewell to Dr. Connors and left the Osborne Group building.

Downstairs, Gwen tried calling Sergeant George, but he didn't answer. He had promised to pick her up from work, but a last-minute assignment had dashed that plan.

Left with no choice, Gwen hailed a taxi to take her home.

During the ride, Gwen absentmindedly scrolled through the news on her phone. Ten minutes later, she glanced out the window and realized they were on an unfamiliar road.

"Driver, this doesn't seem like the way to my address, does it?" Gwen inquired.

The driver, glancing at her through the rearview mirror, smiled. "Don't worry, just taking a shortcut. We'll be there soon."

"Oh," Gwen relaxed back in her seat, but surreptitiously kept her finger poised on her phone.

'I might have been kidnapped. The taxi driver's taking me down an unfamiliar route. Send help.'

After sending the message to Sheriff George and James, Gwen's phone rang. Before she could check the caller ID, the driver abruptly stopped and brandished a dark object.

"Girl, hand over the phone."

Facing the menacing object, Gwen complied, her heart racing. With the phone confiscated, the driver warned her not to move, threatening her with the gun.

As the car resumed its journey, Gwen realized she was being kidnapped. With a gun-wielding criminal at the wheel, she feared for her life.

What could she do? Would her father be able to track her down in time? And—

Back in the building, James breathed a sigh of relief. After an extensive session of practice, he had fully recovered.

Checking his phone, he noticed a message titled 'Go away.'

The number seemed familiar—Gwen's, he realized. To avoid detection, he had stored it under the name 'gun' in Chinese Pinyin, phonetically similar to Gwen's name.

'Why would Gwen text me?'

Upon opening the message, James was met with a plea for help. Initially skeptical, he noted the timestamp—9:30 in the evening. Their relationship wasn't at the prank-pulling stage, and it wasn't April Fool's Day.

Dialing Peter's number, James wasted no time.

"Hey, James, what's up at this hour?" Peter's voice sounded cheery, indicating his date with Jessica went well.

"Are you still with Jessica?" James got straight to the point.

"Hold on, Lexia, it's for you. Hey, James, what's going on?" Jessica's voice replaced Peter's.

"Do you have Gwen's home phone number? Call and see if she's there. Don't ask why, I'll explain later. Call Parker now."

After relaying the message, James instructed Peter further, "Do you know any computer hackers? I need to track a phone's location and access city surveillance footage to trace a taxi."

'I know someone online, I'll reach out.'

After Peter hung up, Jessica's anxious voice came through, 'Gwen's not home. What's wrong?'

"Got it. Where are you? I'll come find you."

'No need, we're heading to Jessica's. I'll find you later.' Peter's response came before he ended the call.

Attempting to reach Gwen on her phone yielded no response. James sat down to meditate.

Gwen had answered Dr. Connors's call earlier in the day and likely hailed a taxi after leaving the Osborne Building. If Peter's hacker friend could tap into surveillance and trace the taxi, they might find Gwen.

Kidnappings weren't part of the movies, so why was Gwen's life imitating one?

Just as Peter swung into action, his hacker friend Hyde began his work.

Given Gwen's identity, Hyde deduced that the police should have been alerted by now. Hacking into the police system, he sought to locate Gwen's phone and any available surveillance footage.

As James awaited Peter's update, the fiery glow of Sentinel's armor enveloped him.

"Sentinel's Flame Suit?" Peter's eyes gleamed with admiration at James's transformation.

Nodding, James replied, "Time's of the essence. Let's go."

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DROP SOME STONE