The pursuers

Since the red glow of sunset faded and the darkness of night settled over New York's sky, the boys had not stopped following the employees of "Berry." They started five streets back, stealthily trailing behind them with patience, despite their lack of skill, hiding among the crowds and shadows. Apparently, the employees did not notice their pursuit, or so it seemed to them, as they maintained a calculated distance from the boys, as if adhering to an invisible barrier warning them not to get any closer.

Salim whispered, grumbling after a long wait with nothing new, while Alex was ahead of them with steady steps: "Where are they going? It's been more than twenty minutes and we're behind them without anything exciting happening."

Alex suddenly stopped them and looked at him sharply: "Maybe if you stay quiet for a bit, we'll find out where they're headed or what they're planning."

But before anyone could respond, Jeremia interrupted them with a serious voice: "Damn it! I think I know their destination."

Alex turned to him with a mix of curiosity and caution: "Where to?"

The damp night breezes swept over them, dancing between the alleys, where the walls were covered with artistic graffiti reflecting the spirit of rebellion in Brooklyn. Jeremiah raised his gaze forward and said confidently, "They are heading towards the Purple Dragons gang territory. Believe me, we don't want to mess with them; they are not just a bunch of troublemakers, they are the most dangerous gang in New York."

The worry was reflected on Saleem's face; he intertwined his fingers nervously before mumbling, "So... why are they going there?"

Alex replied thoughtfully, "They have a building belonging to their company there. They acquired it recently, maybe they're checking on some business."

Salim tried to console himself by saying, "So... just routine procedures, right?"

But Alex didn't seem convinced, and he firmly pointed out, "We need to get closer and find out the truth for ourselves."

The boys continued to sneak behind the employees until they reached the desired area. Cars lined both sides of the wet road, while the footsteps of passersby left marks on the damp asphalt. In front of them stood a medium-sized building, adorned with the "Berry" company logo on its front facade. The building was not as massive as expected, but it looked suspicious enough to heighten their tension.

The two employees sneaked inside, and the door was shut tightly behind them. The boys exchanged glances, then cautiously approached the entrance. They tried to push the door, but to no avail—it was tightly locked.

Salim stepped back in disappointment, sighing, "Great, we came all this way just to be turned away at the door."

However, Jeremiah, who had been watching the lock in silence, muttered in his usual calm tone, "Does anyone have a hairpin?"

Salim looked at him with confusion, but he took a pin out of his pocket and handed it to him without hesitation—he knew that Jeremiah only spoke when he was sure of what he was saying.

Jeremia bent down in front of the lock and began to work. The pin moved skillfully between the teeth of the lock, making soft clicking sounds, until the door finally opened with a gentle creak, surprising his companions.

Alex took a step back, looking at him with admiration: "How did you do that?"

Jeremiah smiled lightly and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly: "Let's just say that living among five rebellious brothers gives you some useful skills."

They entered the building, their eyes wandering in the empty space. Ancient dust floated in the air, even though the building was new and owned by a modern company. The workers' traces here seemed lifeless, and silence enveloped the place.

The sound of Salim's broken footsteps echoed behind Jeremiah, who was holding the lantern and speaking in fear, "Isn't it supposed that a huge company like this has strong security systems? Or at least employees and guards? But here... there's no one but us, and the two men we were chasing entered before us."

Dust had accumulated on the desktop, and the computer was cold and not working. A sense of gloom crept into Alex's voice as he said, "I told you before that the building was acquired recently, so don't pester me with questions as if I'm an expert. We need to look for what benefits us, keep working, Jeremiah."

Jeremiah was taking pictures of everything, from the stacked desks covered with a thin layer of golden dust, to the furniture that looked new but neglected.

They delved deeper into the search inside the nearly empty building, and disappointment accompanied them. They found nothing but abandoned employee offices from last summer, as if no one had approached them since the beginning of winter. There were rooms under construction and incomplete stairs, which Salim gazed at with despairing looks beside Jeremia.

And suddenly, in a moment of silence, Alex heard a strange sound coming from the direction of a room that was clearly the office of the general manager or something similar for this branch of the company.

They climbed the wooden stairs that creaked annoyingly with each step, slowly making their way toward the desired room. Behind the glass window covered with a caramel brown fabric curtain, the lights inside appeared to be off, adding an air of mystery to the place.

Alex slowly and cautiously opened the door, examining the dark room around him, careful not to be surprised by the sudden appearance of any company employees. There was nothing suspicious in the manager's office: a brown leather chair in the center of the room matched the color of the desk and the details of the decor, while a wooden cabinet adorned one corner next to the upholstered chairs.

Although the decor seemed ordinary, the three noticed something suspicious; the computer in front of them was open. They wondered: Is it usual for such a simple device to be connected to all those glowing neon wires, which extend to a small cabinet on the third side of the room near the chairs?

Alex approached the computer hesitantly, skeptical about how this device ended up here and to whom it might belong. He whispered as he examined the data displayed on the screen: "I can't believe it... look at this!" These are complete records for the (Berry) company. His eyes scanned the data reflected on his glasses, as he followed the records from top to bottom, muttering, "Goods are bought, no, imported, from a person named Hank, with the glass eye."

Jeremiah interrupted, his tone indicating surprise: "Hank? He's part of the Crimson Dragons gang... I know him well." Salim interjected, trying to hide his tension, and said in a low voice: "But what are these goods they are buying? And why all this secrecy?" Salim continued speaking while tapping his fingers on the desk, showing signs of worry as he joined Alex and Jeremiah.

With all the available evidence, Alex reached a decisive conclusion: it seems that someone had gotten here before them and reviewed the company's records regarding recent sales and financial transactions, and even looked at some future plans that were placed in the suggestion box.

At that moment, a fleeting shadow emerged from the corner behind the door, swiftly retreating through the door, leaving Alex and his companions in shock and confusion. Jeremiah, beads of sweat beginning to trickle down his face, said, "So, the person you were talking about, the one who was checking the log, was just here and has now left." Alex replied calmly, "Yes, it seems he was checking the main computer here. At least, I can thank him for leaving the computer running for us." He then took a USB drive from his pocket and began copying all the files that appeared on the screen quickly and accurately.

Meanwhile, Jeremia took a look inside the room on the second-floor rooftop and remembered the photos he had taken during his previous visit. He continued his work, taking pictures of the sofa, until he disturbed Alex and Salim with the flash's glare. As he was taking more pictures, he noticed two shadows reflected through the window glass, which caught his attention; it was a sign that someone was approaching them.

Jeremiah warned the others and said, turning to Alex: "Are you done copying the data, my friend?" Alex replied with focus: "Just a little more." A 97% data upload appeared on the screen, indicating that the task was nearing completion.

The man entered the room and closed the door behind him tightly, speaking in a familiar deep tone to his colleague who had accompanied him since the moment they entered, saying in a steady voice: "The deal with the stores and residential complexes we visited has been finalized. Everything is proceeding as agreed."

The other employee, tall, turned towards the window, where the damp evening lights reflected through the curtains, illuminating his dark eyes as he respectfully replied, "An agreement has been reached between them and the Crimson Dragon Gang. Tonight, the shipment will be delivered to them."

The room was quiet, with only the ticking of the clock breaking the silence, but a feeling of anxiety hung over the employee, as if he thought things wouldn't remain the same. Next to him, the employee near the computer was sitting and quickly writing his report, ready to send it later to the company's vice president.

The last employee finished writing the report, then closed the computer and locked the window, drawing the curtains so that the room became almost dark. Their faces changed to a cold, stiff, emotionless expression, as if they were preparing for something harsher.

One of them said in a low voice: "Now, get out. We're no longer on the street, and there's no one here to hear your voices."

Inside a closet in the corner of the room, the boys held their breath, their hearts racing as they realized they had been discovered. Then the man returned to say with a mocking tone, "Did you think we didn't notice you? We were just waiting for the right moment to catch you."

One of the taller employees approached his friend near the locker, his face bearing a cold look that signaled nothing but danger. He opened the door, and the boys quickly stepped away from him, a mix of fear and defiance in their eyes. One of them said, "So, you finally dared to show up."

He noticed that he wasn't responded to, so out of respect and to reduce the tension on them.

He pointed to himself and added, "My name is Luther, and this is my friend Hudson."

Luther had a tall and well-proportioned build, while his friend Hudson differed in that he was slightly shorter by a few centimeters. Hudson had black hair that flowed from his head like a pool of darkness, while next to Luther, he had black eyes and light brown hair that shone like a candle.

Luther continued sarcastically: "Do you think that by breaking into this company you will get something other than your luck? What is your goal, to steal something? Come on, tell me please, or did you come to mess around like the rest of the rebellious youth?"

Alex replied with obvious tension on his face as he stood up from the ground near Salim: "Um... I think sometimes one might reach a dead end. We entered here by mistake, sir."

Luther began to look at them intently, then said slowly: "If you entered by mistake, why was my computer working, something that cannot be ignored in a dark room?"

Luther sat back in the chair near the computer, facing them, and continued, "Anyway, you can leave. You are just children and won't benefit yourselves with what you were doing."

The boys felt relieved upon hearing Luther's statement while Hudson stood silently beside him, Jeremia approached them, and the sweat was causing him to...

Before they moved, Luther continued: "But before you go, I would like a favor from you... Hand over the flash memory you have."

How did they know they had that flash drive? That was the question on their minds.

Alex, holding the flash drive, froze for a moment. He looked at his companions with an expression full of frustration and whispered to them in a deep voice, "If we don't give him the flash drive, he won't let us leave. I'm sure of it, I know it."

Alex approached Luther with the flash drive in his hand after exchanging a final glance with Salim and Jeremia. But suddenly, in a moment that barely allowed for a second, Salim threw his bag towards Luther, shouting in fear, "Let's get out of here now!" The three of them dashed towards the door, and Jeremia closed the door behind them to hinder their pursuers and caught up with them after falling behind.

Inside, the employees didn't move from their places. Luther looked at Hudson and said clearly and smoothly, "You need to get the flash drive back from them..."

Luther stepped behind Hudson, staring at the ceiling, and murmured almost in a whisper, "It seems there's a fourth rat with them tonight; it will be a bit longer."

Hudson charged towards the closed door and delivered a powerful punch that shattered it easily, then he dashed after the boys.

In the corridor, the boys heard the sound of the wooden door crashing behind them, and Salim shouted in panic, "Jeremia, haven't you finished opening it yet?" Jeremia quickly replied, "I can't focus under pressure!"

Alex's shout, holding onto Jeremiah's shirt, urged him, "Leave the door, let's find another way out!"

And it was only moments before they were running through the dark corridors, while behind them, Hudson was chasing them with a terrifying look and eyes filled with rage.

On the second floor of the building, Luther heads to one of the offices and enters quietly, saying, "Activate search lens." His eyes light up with a fierce yellow hue as he begins to scan the room with sharp glances.

The room was cold, its darkness looming over the place, resembling a large hall. Luther gazed from the first row of desks to the end, where a light breeze slipped through the window, illuminating some distant building lights. Luther smiled sarcastically and said confidently, "I've found you. Come out now, before I force you out myself."

A moment of silence prevailed, with only the sound of the gentle wind. After a few seconds, the one hiding in the shadows emerged, wearing a black vinyl mask that covered his entire face. He quietly stepped forward to stand in front of Luther, without uttering a word.

Luther smiled and said mockingly, "So, you're the one who hacked our computer, aren't you?" The masked man didn't respond, standing still, his features obscured behind the mask, and he didn't move. Luther raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "If you don't talk, I'll have to arrest you myself. Believe me, I'll be very nice."

Suddenly, the masked man dashed across the office rooftops with light and swift steps. Luther whispered to himself, "Fast, but not fast enough." He began to chase him, and the confrontation ignited between them, their fists clashing in a fierce brawl.

The masked man stepped back, standing on one of the drawers, the scattered papers swirling around him, spreading the scent of old paper. Luther tried to land quick blows, but the masked man skillfully dodged them, moving like an ungraspable shadow.

The confrontation continued violently, with Luther smashing desks with his punches every time he missed. Finally, he threw a punch faster than the previous one, but the masked man dodged it at the last moment, with Luther's hand breaking through the wall.

Luther smiled and said sarcastically, "Your flexibility is amazing, but will it really save you from me? Think about it."

While "Hudson" was still chasing the three boys, their screams echoed in the narrow corridors like echoes of terror fading into the void. They rushed to the second floor, the sound of their footsteps striking the old wooden stairs that seemed on the verge of collapsing. Upon reaching, they quickly headed to the second room on the right, where "Jeremiah" forcefully closed the door behind them.

But the shock was waiting for them.

They froze in their places as if they had seen a nightmare come to life. There, in the middle of the dimly lit room, stood "Luther," his face adorned with a gentle smile that concealed a mystery behind it. Next to him, a masked figure with a mask decorated with interlocking circles, the larger one enclosing the smaller one in a pale gray color.

Luther raised his arms in a calm welcome and said with a tone that resembled sarcasm:

"You have arrived yourselves... the audience makes the show more exciting."

The masked man didn't let him finish his words. He pulled out a sharp dagger from his compact bag and lunged directly at him, slicing half of his face with deadly precision. Luther stood still, placing his hand on the wound, as a transparent liquid seeped slowly, like glassy blood. Wires and electronic circuits were exposed beneath his skin, glowing with a faint light.

He said in an angry voice, but controlled as if trying to tame an inner beast:

"Grave mistake... I won't spare you anymore."

At that moment, the three boys were in their corner, stunned, unable even to scream. As for the masked man, his breath was audibly quickening, his body appeared exhausted, as if the continuous movement had drained his strength. The taut muscles under the black fabric suit revealed the suffering of a body nearing its limits.

Luther clenched his fist, the sound echoing like the whistle of a storm, and said sharply:

"It's time to end this."

He rushed towards the masked man with terrifying speed, like a ghost conjuring a wind to carry him. His destructive fist was on its way to the masked man's head, but "Alex" intervened at the last moment, pushing the masked man out of the path of the blow. Luther's fist struck the wall, shattering it like a bulldozer crushing rock.

As Alex turned to catch his breath, he saw the mask of the hooded figure fall away, revealing a familiar face. It was Amy! He felt a shock that nearly made him lose his balance, but he had no time for astonishment. Chris tried to utter a word, but the shock of the situation rendered him speechless.

At that moment, "Hudson" pierced the wall with his fiery red eyes, surrounded by smoke like an unquenchable flame.

Suleiman said with bitterness and exaggerated sarcasm:

"Great... it looks like we're going to die tonight."

Luther walked slowly, a cold smile on his face that concealed no malice, and said:

Since you

You witnessed what happened... there is no escape from death now.

Jeremia took hesitant steps forward, his voice trembling:

"If there's no escape, at least let me have the laser gun."

Hudson looked at him with a blank stare, then said indifferently:

"Unfortunately, we don't have such weapons. Only the Purifiers have them. And if I had one, I wouldn't have hesitated to use it when we were down there."

Luther advanced steadily, his footsteps echoing bleakly in the narrow corridor, while Hudson stood behind them like an imposing shadow, tightening his grip on the situation.

Alex, Salim, and Jeremiah looked helpless, while Amy scanned her surroundings intently as if searching for a way out. Suddenly, she spoke in a calm yet firm voice:

"I didn't want to resort to this... but there's no way out now."

She took out of her bag a spherical object with a shiny black surface, dotted with pentagonal protrusions. Its lights flickered between red and green like intermittent pulses. She held it for a moment, as if confirming her decision, then threw it towards the nearby wall.

The explosion echoed in the place like an angry scream. The air surged violently, and the blazing orange engulfed the cracked wall, leaving a large gap from which gray smoke billowed.

Amy shouted without hesitation:

"Let's get out of here, now!"

I jumped first through the gap, followed by Alex and then the others, and Salim was the last to jump. But Hudson, who had not taken his eyes off them, rushed towards them trying to catch him.

They all fell into a rusty garbage bin in a dark alley between two buildings. Torn bags flew around, and a pungent smell rose. Jeremia sat on his knees in pain and said:

"What a great place to land... a dumpster! As if things weren't bad enough."

They all got up, trying to get rid of the dirt, and started moving away from the place quickly. They didn't have time to think, as they knew time was not on their side.

From above, Luther stood at the edge of the gap, looking at them with a blank stare as if contemplating his next move. He said to Hudson in a tone laced with warning:

"Hold them. You know I can't go out with my face uncovered. And if I fail, none of us will escape punishment."

Without a word, Hudson jumped from the second floor directly into the dumpster. Under the weight of his fall, the dumpster shattered into scattered pieces, and the torn garbage bags burst into the air like shredded limbs.

He quickly got up and turned towards them with eyes blazing with anger. He started the chase, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground beneath them, while the sounds of their panting breaths scattered in the alleys as they remained close.

The alley wasn't too narrow, but it seemed so due to the fear that had taken hold of them. They were trying to escape the territory of the "Crimson Dragons" gang, so they chose this side path, hoping to reach the main road.

While running, Alex couldn't suppress his curiosity even though the timing seemed completely inappropriate. Breathless from the exertion, he asked Amy in a halting voice:

"What were you doing there?"

She didn't answer him immediately, as if she were thinking or deliberately ignoring him. After a few moments, she said in an angry tone without looking at him:

"The real question is: What were you doing there?"

Alex was taken aback by the sharpness of her response, but he quickly replied:

"We had been investigating them for a long time, and we did not expect things to escalate like this."

Amy replied in a sharper tone:

"Yes, I know that, but to raid one of their companies? That's madness!"

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Hudson's heavy footsteps approaching quickly, increasing the tension. That was enough to push them to hurry towards the end of the alley. Salim spotted the busy main road from a distance and shouted:

"The end of the alley is there! Hurry up!"

Hudson almost caught Slim before they all crossed the street, but they managed to reach the main road with difficulty.

Amy darted lightly between the moving cars, as if she mastered navigating through the chaos, while the others struggled immensely to keep up, especially Jeremiah. The bright headlights and the noise of the engines made it hard for him to concentrate. Suddenly, he was startled by a car approaching him at breakneck speed. The car stopped with difficulty, its tires screeching against the ground, but he miraculously escaped.

The driver got out of the car, shouting in anger, affected by what had happened. Before he could start scolding Jeremiah, Alex gasped in astonishment when he saw his face:

"David? Are you here?"

David, an old friend of Alex and Chris, and a recent acquaintance of Joey, stood in shock, trying to comprehend the situation. The night was cold, and his bare shoulders were barely covered by his short black shirt.

At that moment, Hudson appeared again, running at a terrifying speed. He ignored the passing cars and jumped over one of them with extraordinary skill, causing David to stare at him in horror.

Alex shouted while pointing at the car:

"Open the door now!"

David hesitated a bit but quickly complied and opened the doors. Everyone jumped into the car in succession, while David was still trying to understand what was happening. They shouted at him:

"Go!"

David wasn't ready to move, but he realized the seriousness of the situation when his eyes met Hudson's gaze through the rearview mirror. It was cold and frightening enough to make him start the engine and take off at full speed.

Hudson was chasing the car without hesitation, jumping between passing vehicles and weaving through the traffic with indescribable skill, under the damp night sky that grew more somber with the noise of the chase.

To be continued in the next chapter.