CODE. (only the dead escape)

Two days have passed since my discovery, and I was finally ready to rescue Sophie.

I asked for leave from my job and I went to Uncle Mark and Aunt Samantha's house to discuss the plan on how to get Sophie back with them.

*Are you feeling nervous?*

*Yes Chris, it's just two days left till I finally free that innocent child. I'm more scared for her safety than mine*

*Don't worry Harper. I'm with you. It's not about the game anymore, it's just me and you now*.

*Thanks Chris* 

*********

I sat at the old kitchen table with Uncle Mark and Aunt Samantha. A faded map lay flat between us, weighed down with coffee mugs and scattered documents.

'I've finally decrypted the last page of the file'.

I tapped a red-marked spot on the map.

'This... is where they're keeping them.'

Uncle Mark leaned in, squinting. 'An abandoned factory... outside District 9?'

Aunt Samantha gasped softly, her hand trembling around her tea. 'That place was shut down years ago. Everyone said it was haunted.'

'Well, that's a thing the children wouldn't like to hear'.

'They're using it as a front. The children — Sophie included — are being held in the basement. I found the floor plans in my dad's files.'

'They must've moved them there recently," Uncle Mark muttered. 'I've checked that place before. It looked empty.'

'They have a system. They move the kids around to different holding spots until they can sell them off or... worse.'

A heavy silence settled over the room.

'I'm going to get them out'.

Aunt Samantha placed her hand on mine. 'Please... please bring her back.'

'I will aunt. All of them.'

Chris shimmered faintly beside my shoulder.

*Harper, this won't be easy. That place is crawling with level four players and real-world goons. You'll have to be careful.'

'I will. But I'm not backing out.'

Uncle Mark finally spoke again, voice low and fierce. "Take this." He pulled out a sleek black communicator and slid it toward me .

'Stay in contact. And if anything goes wrong, don't be a hero. Call me.'

I gave him a small smile. 'I already am being a hero.'

---

Two days later...

OUTSIDE THE ABANDONED FACTORY, NIGHT

I crouched behind a stack of rusted pipes as the factory loomed ahead, broken windows glowing faintly with sickly yellow light.

*There's one guard at the back. Two more near the front. And I'm guessing motion detectors inside.*

*Correct*, Chris confirmed. *But there's a duct system that can take you straight to the basement. It'll be tight, but you've squeezed into worse*

I tightened her gloves and adjusted the strap on my thigh holster. I could feel the weight of the tranquilizer gun Uncle Mark had given me.

*One more thing Harper*.

*What?*

*There is a high chance for you to level up so you have to finish this mission successfully*

*I will*

'I'm coming, Sophie, Just hang on.'

The wind howled gently behind me— a reminder of how alone I was in this moment.

*Ready Harper?*

*Ready.*

I darted toward the rear of the building, keeping to the shadows.

Tonight, the huntress would become the storm.

****

IN ANOTHER PART OF THE CITY

The Mayor destroyed everything in sight.

'You fools! How did she infiltrate the base?!'

His men shivered behind him. He yanked his mask off in anger and a familiar face appeared in front of everyone.

He was still going on a rampage when a light chuckle came from behind.

'Who is that? Who dared to laugh?!'

'Who else could it be father?'

His daughter walked into the room elegantly. She had a bracelet in her hand and her other hand was playing with it.

'I knew this would happen father. Don't worry though, it's not too late'

'What do you mean?'

'Have you forgotten our deal? Time is up, leave this matter to me now'

'Why though? Why are you so interested in this matter, dear daughter?'

'Why wouldn't I? No one messes with my father and gets away with it!'

She banged her hands on a table loudly.

The men were afraid of the father before but their souls were about to leave their bodies as soon as the daughter steps in.

'Alright. You can take over dear'

'Hmmn. Good. Don't worry father, this game is just getting started '

She chuckled evily while the mayor left the room.

****

The air reeked of metal, rust, and secrets.

I crouched by the rear wall of the abandoned factory, my breath forming pale clouds in the chill. The moonlight glinted faintly off the slick, cracked windows, and broken machinery lay like corpses across the overgrown lot.

I took a deep breath, then whispered, 'Let's go, Chris.'

'You sure? Still time to run back and eat some warm noodles at home.'

'Not helping.'

'I moved fast, dodging between the shadows. The guard out back was leaning against a barrel, half-asleep. I crept close, raised my tranquilizer gun — phssst! — and the dart hit the man's neck.

He slumped without a sound.

I raced toward a narrow vent grate along the wall, unscrewed it swiftly, and slid in. It was tight — I scraped my elbows and knees — but I pushed forward, ignoring the dirt and metal stinging my skin.

*Okay*, Chris whispered. *Next stop: basement level. Watch for infrared tripwires ahead.*

*Already on it.

I paused just before a crossing in the vent. Sure enough, two thin red lines flickered in the dark. I reached into my pouch, pulled out a small mirror shard, and angled it just right.

I found the control node — a palm-sized device stuck to the wall beside the vent opening.

Carefully, I disabled it.

The red lines vanished.

*Nice.*

*Yeah, yeah. You doubted me, didn't you?*

I crawled through, dropping quietly into a dark hallway below. Concrete walls. Fluorescent lights. I could hear faint voices echoing somewhere far away — male and female — but no kids.

I followed the sound, pressing close to the wall.

Then I saw it.

A security door, wide and iron-forged, with a glowing lockpad.

On the far end of the corridor, a flickering monitor showed a grainy camera feed — rows of children, bound and scared, guarded by two armed men.

*There they are,* I breathed.

*Get the lock open and we'll get them out of here.*

I approached the door, and knelt beside the keypad.

I'd seen this kind before — five-digit scramble, older model. It beeped softly with each press.

Almost there… just need—

A sudden hissing sound echoed behind me.

*Harper!* Chris barked.* Behind you!*

I turned around, but it was too late.

A sharp pain hit my neck — a tranquilizer dart. My vision blurred and my limbs sagged like jelly.

Before collapsing, I saw black boots walking toward me, and a shadowed figure with a mask crouching to meet my eyes.

'You should've stayed out of this,' the voice growled.

It was the masked lady from the other night.

*That means....she saw me...*

Darkness swallowed me whole.