A Dangerous Encounter

Yasan's mind was spinning, but she had no time to lose. The discovery about her father had changed everything. Now she knew the truth about why **The Network** was after her—it wasn't just because of the device. It was because of her bloodline, her father's connection to them, and the legacy she had inherited. Whatever power she had in her possession, they wanted it back, and they would stop at nothing to take it.

She needed answers, and she needed them fast. She had to get to the next location on the map—the place marked with the symbol she had seen so many times before. 

The night was falling as Yasan and Rei made their way through the city, their footsteps echoing against the quiet streets. The map led them to an old, dilapidated building that seemed like it hadn't seen life in decades. 

"We've reached it," Yasan whispered, glancing at the building with a mix of dread and anticipation. The device pulsed softly in her pocket as though urging her to go inside. 

The door creaked as Yasan pushed it open, revealing a dusty interior. The air was thick, heavy with the smell of rot. But there was something else—something far more sinister. The walls seemed to pulse with an energy she couldn't quite place. 

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, and Yasan's heart skipped a beat. It was the man she had seen in the warehouse before—the one who had tried to take the device from her.

"You're persistent," Yasan said, her voice cold.

The man stepped forward, his face obscured by a dark hood. His eyes glinted with a dangerous intensity. "I've been sent to retrieve it, Yasan. And you're not going to stop me."

Yasan didn't flinch. "You're not getting it. Not without a fight."

The man's lips curled into a smirk. "You think you can stop me? You have no idea what you're dealing with." 

With a sudden movement, he lunged toward her, his hand reaching for the device. Yasan instinctively stepped back, her mind racing for a way out of this. She didn't have time to hesitate. Without thinking, she reached into her bag and pulled out a small knife—something she had grabbed from her apartment earlier, just in case. 

The man hesitated for a split second, and that was enough time for Yasan to strike. She slashed at his arm, forcing him back. But the man was faster than she expected. With a swift motion, he knocked the knife out of her hand, and she was left defenseless.

Just as he reached for her again, Rei sprang into action, pulling Yasan out of the way and knocking the man off balance. For a brief moment, Yasan thought they had a chance to escape—but the man wasn't alone.

From the darkness, several more figures emerged, surrounding them. Yasan's heart pounded in her chest. They were trapped.

The man who had first attacked her stood tall, his eyes fixed on her with cold, calculating intensity. "You can't run from **The Network**, Yasan. You'll never be free of it. Give us the device, and we'll let you live."

Yasan's eyes flickered to Rei, who was already preparing for another fight. But Yasan knew one thing for sure: she couldn't give in. Not now, not when she was so close to the truth.

"Take it," Yasan said, holding out the device. The man smirked, stepping forward to take it from her—but before he could, she activated the device. 

The map flickered to life, the symbols glowing brightly, and the ground beneath them rumbled. The figures around her froze as the room seemed to shift, revealing a hidden passage in the floor.

"What the—" the man started, but he was interrupted as the floor beneath them collapsed, sending them plunging into the dark below.