After the door was violently flung open, Zeif's voice echoed through the room:
"Wake up! They found us… We have to leave now!"
Adam shot up, drenched in sweat, jolted from an unfinished sleep. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he stumbled toward Zeif, panic in his voice:
"What's happening? Who found us?!"
Zeif froze for a second, then met his eyes—serious and terrified. He gripped Adam's shoulders tightly and said:
"It looks like the Organizers tracked us. We spotted dozens of them heading straight for the base… We have less than ten minutes."
Adam's eyes widened with fear. He had barely survived a fight with one of them. Dozens? Impossible.
He shouted, "What are we supposed to do?! Where are Everett and Lina?!"
Zeif was already running down the corridor, yelling back, "Follow me! We're all leaving now!"
Adam followed, his mind still racing to catch up with reality. They moved quickly through the base's halls until they reached a side room where Lina and Everett were already waiting—seated on two motorcycles, wearing black helmets, combat rifles strapped across their backs.
Zeif, panting, rushed to a wall lined with weapons. He grabbed two assault rifles and tossed one to Adam, barking:
"If you want to live, take this!"
Everett spoke calmly, like a soldier used to chaos.
"Helmets on. Mount up. We're leaving."
Three bikes were waiting for them—as if they'd always been meant for this escape. Adam and Zeif jumped on, checking their gear. As Adam fumbled with his weapon harness, Zeif leaned over and helped him fasten it without a word.
Everett pulled a small device from his pocket. One press of a button and the roof opened, revealing the black, starless sky. A metallic ramp descended from above.
"Let's go," Everett said.
They sped out of the base and into the eerie forest once again. The silence was more terrifying than screams—but the roar of engines drowned everything else out.
Adam shouted over the noise to Zeif, half-laughing:
"You do know this is my first time riding one of these, right?!"
Zeif didn't answer. His eyes were locked on the road. Adam didn't mind—his thoughts were elsewhere.
They reached a slightly elevated area in the hills. Everett stopped and the others followed. Dismounting, he pulled out a night-vision scope and scanned the old base from afar.
Adam approached, still catching his breath.
"What are you doing? Why stop here?"
Everett didn't answer right away. A few seconds passed.
"Wait… you'll see."
Small white dots began to appear near the base—people. Dozens of them. At least fifty, circling the location, combing the area.
Everett pulled out his remote again and pressed a button. A single shot rang out near the entrance of the base.
"That should draw them in," he said calmly.
The Organizers rushed toward the sound, breaching the entrance. Everett's lips curved into a faint smile. Another press of the button.
And the base exploded.
The blast tore through the silence of the forest. Ash and flame rose from underground. The very earth trembled.
Adam screamed, stunned:
"You blew it up?! Why, Everett?!"
Everett replied with unnerving composure:
"Once I knew they were coming, I planted explosives inside. The plan was always to get as many of them in there as possible… then bury them. This is the first time we've truly won against them."
Zeif and Lina's faces showed the quiet satisfaction of a rare victory. Adam, however, asked with concern:
"But… what now? Are we homeless?"
Everett smirked.
"Don't worry. I never operate without a backup plan. We have another base."
Adam felt himself exhale. For the first time, he felt pride. They'd struck a blow—truly defeated the enemy. Yet one thought lingered:
"Someone sent them. They didn't come randomly… That means we're fighting people. Real ones."
Somewhere far away, in a dark room lined with screens, a mysterious man in a jewel-encrusted mask and a long black coat watched in silence.
Then, in a cold, emotionless voice, he muttered:
"Don't celebrate such a fragile victory… This is only the beginning, you foolish rebels. You know nothing of life's true justice."