Episode 9: The Third night

The anchor's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “And there’s a rumor that the case is being handled by a special group. The Phantom Division.”

The three of them stared at the screen. A chilling silence descended as the news anchor finished her sentence.

The Phantom Division.

Zoe stumbled back, her knees hitting a rickety wooden chair. She sank onto it, her body trembling. Ethan stood beside her, his face pale with sudden, stark fear.

Kael’s expression, however, was a blank question mark.

“What happened?” Kael asked, looking from Zoe to Ethan. “Why do you two look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

“Did you hear that, Kael?” Zoe’s voice was a strained whisper. “The Phantom Division is working this case.”

“What division?” Kael frowned. “I’ve never heard of it. I only know J-COD’s Field Operations and Digital Forensics.”

“You really don’t know about them?” Zoe looked at him with disbelief, then began reciting the facts, her fear making her words sharp and fast. “Listen, you idiot. The Joint Cyber Operations Division, J-COD, has two key teams. Digital Forensics for tracing data, and Field Operations for on-the-ground work. You know that much.”

Kael nodded quickly. “I know all that. Get to the point!”

“Here’s the point,” Zoe snapped. “Within those two main forces, they established two special units three years ago. They only recruit the most skilled elites.”

She leaned forward, her eyes wide.

“The Ghost Division. J-COD-TGD. They are the top-level talent for high-stakes digital missions. The most terrifying in all of J-COD for their ability to find anything online.”

She took a shaky breath.

“And the other one is… The Phantom Division. J-COD-TPD. That’s the elite, covert team for the most dangerous and sensitive missions. They are the most skilled, dangerous, and respected Division for field operations in J-COD.”

“Ooo,” Kael murmured, a slow, reckless grin spreading across his face. “So we’re officially most wanted now.”

“Don’t joke!” Ethan hissed, gripping the back of Zoe’s chair. “If the Phantom Division is working it, that means the Ghost Division is definitely involved too. Those two teams always work together. That means they’ll find us within hours!”

“That’s true,” Zoe agreed, nodding weakly.

Kael’s smile vanished. “Relax. You didn’t hear what the anchor said. It was just a rumor.”

With Kael’s words, a small measure of calm returned. After a quick meal, Ethan gathered his things.

“I should head out,” he said quietly. “I’ll check the perimeter and bring back more supplies tomorrow. Good luck.”

As Ethan left, Kael immediately went to work on the NODE. He manipulated the clunky projector, tapping at its base.

“What are you doing now?” Zoe asked, frustration in her voice. “We should be using this to research our legal options.”

Kael didn’t look up, a slight, knowing smile on his lips. “I’m doing something much more important. Just rerouting the connection. You’ll see.”

A moment later, a flickering blue screen appeared beside him.

“Good. So you managed to escape,” Sol’s voice echoed in the small, dusty room. “I’m impressed, Kael.”

Zoe stared. “That’s your AI, right? Where was she all this time?”

“Watching the guards at home,” Kael explained.

“Ooh, then how did she come here?”

Kael tapped the dusty NODE. “I connected this to my CUBE remotely. I managed to bring Sol right here.”

“So you didn’t bring the CUBE with you?” she asked, worry creeping into her voice.

“No, I left it when the guards came. I thought you knew that.”

“You didn’t tell me that, so how could I know?” Zoe snapped. “Without the CUBE, how can we crack the password?”

“That’s why I connected it,” Kael explained, pointing to the NODE. “The CUBE has the processing power, and Sol has the access.”

“And did you forget that file was a tracker?” Zoe pressed. “It was sending a live location to Nexus Corp. That’s how they found your house.”

“How did you know that?” Zoe asked, turning to the flickering hologram.

“I found out when they were approaching,” Sol replied calmly. “And I can display everything stored in the CUBE, including that file, right here without sharing our location with the network.”

Zoe was surprised. She looked at Kael. “Your AI is better than you.”

“I was the one who created her,” Kael replied with a hint of pride. He then turned to his AI. “What’s happening at home?”

“They’re still there,” Sol replied. “They know you left the CUBE, so they’re thinking you’ll come back for it.”

“Okay,” Kael nodded. “Sol, display that file here.”

A protected holographic file appeared in the room. Immediately, Kael and Zoe got to work.

 

Two full days of relentless hacking blurred into a haze of failed attempts and rising anxiety. Kael’s fingers slammed against the Dusk, fueled by stale coffee and a desperate need to break the code.

The file's security was stronger than they ever imagined. Every minute was a reminder that their time was running out.

Then, on the night of the third day, as Zoe and Kael hunched over the flickering, locked file, a sound cut through the quiet.

Faint, slow footsteps echoing in the hall outside.

They both froze, standing still as statues.

Their eyes met, wide with the same chilling question.

The sound of the footsteps grew louder.

Closer.

Moving toward the house.

No longer faint whispers, but heavy, deliberate steps.

 

​"The heavy footsteps are echoing in the hall! Predict who's in the hall and what their motive is!"