Episode 10: Unconscious

The sound of the footsteps grew louder.

Closer.

Moving toward them.

No longer faint whispers, but heavy, deliberate steps.

Zoe and Kael were frozen in terror, the flickering holographic file abandoned.

A foot entered the room from the darkened hallway. The rest of the man followed. He was a Black man with a mustache, wearing casual clothes—not the uniform of an officer.

He was holding a gun, pointing it directly at them.

“Hands up,” he commanded.

He stepped fully into the light, his gaze hard. "Surrender."

Kael and Zoe slowly raised their hands, their eyes locked on the barrel of the gun. But just as the man took a step closer, a shadow moved in the darkness behind him.

Before anyone could register the movement, a length of rusty metal pipe suddenly swung into view.

THWACK!

The pipe slammed hard against the base of the man's skull.

He didn't make a sound. His eyes rolled up, his body went instantly limp, and he collapsed to the floor with a heavy, sickening thud.

Unconscious.

Kael and Zoe stood frozen, staring at the motionless body on the floor. Their gaze then tracked to the figure standing over the fallen man, the one still gripping the rusty pipe: Ethan.

He looked just as shocked as they were.

 

Ethan released the metal pipe. It tumbled from his hand and hit the floor with a loud, ringing CLANG!

“What happened? Who is he?” Ethan asked, his voice shaky. “Why was he pointing that gun at you?”

“I don’t know,” Kael replied, his eyes wide. “He just showed up with that gun.”

“Maybe he was a J-COD officer,” Zoe whispered, her gaze fixed on the man’s casual clothes.

“They found us already?” Ethan said, his earlier fear returning in a rush.

“I think so,” Zoe agreed, snapping herself out of the shock. “First, we have to tie him up.”

They worked quickly. They found two pairs of magnetic handcuffs on the man’s belt and used them to secure his hands and legs, leaving him lying on the dusty floor.

 

After some time, the man on the floor began to stir. His eyelids fluttered. He was waking up.

Zoe saw the movement. “Kael, he’s awake.”

They both immediately turned and walked toward the restrained figure. The man was still visibly dizzy, his head moving slightly against the floor.

Zoe knelt down, her face hard. “Who are you?”

He didn’t answer, just blinked slowly.

“Kael, bring some water,” Zoe commanded.

Kael quickly brought a plastic bottle of water. Zoe took it, uncapped it, and without hesitation, splashed the water directly onto the captive’s face.

He gasped, his eyes flying open and focusing instantly.

Zoe leaned in, her voice low and dangerously serious.

“So, who are you?”

“I was from J-COD,” he replied, his voice rough.

“Which division?” she pressed.

He met her gaze, his eyes sharp despite the situation.

“The Phantom Division.”