Chapter 14

I stepped out of the cramped room, nerves still gnawing at my heart. The corridors of Moon Shark headquarters seemed deserted, but the silence only made me more alert. The device Miranda had in my hand vibrated, indicating the direction I should go. Casting my eyes around, I made sure no one was watching before continuing my steps.

Every second seemed to slow down as I walked, my brain trying to process all the possibilities that could happen. Miranda could be in danger, and I didn't have time to hesitate. Down these narrow hallways, the rusted walls and flickering lights added to the tense atmosphere. Behind every closed door, there could be a Moon Shark member ready to get in my way.

When the device in my hand beeped, I paused. The coordinates showed a room that appeared to be the control center of the security system. Immediately, I approached the door and checked around. The sound of my heartbeat seemed to overpower the sound of the machines operating in this base. In an instant, I opened the door carefully.

The room was dark, lit only by screens emitting a dim blue light. In front of one of the screens, a console with rows of glowing buttons awaited me. My confidence rose along with the desire to complete this mission. Wasting no time, I approached and began pressing the buttons according to the instructions Miranda had given.

"I hope this works," I whispered to myself.

A few seconds passed, and the screen started pulsing in a strange pattern. The more I pressed it, the more complex the images appeared. However, the moment I tried to enter the code provided, an alarm buzzed, electrifying the entire room. "Damn it!" I exclaimed to myself, trying to remain calm.

The alarm signaled that the system had detected my presence. In a state of panic, I tried to find a way to speed up the process. Just then, the memory of Miranda's face, full of hope and tension, came to my mind. I couldn't let all this go to waste.

Quickly, I grabbed the scrambling device in my bag and connected it to the console. The moment the device was connected, I felt a beam of energy flow into me. It provided a bit of calm, even though the clock was ticking fast. Following the instructions on the screen, I directed the device to hack into the security system.

The results were starting to show. The once-tight system began to weaken one by one, until finally a single screen displayed the status: "Access Granted." My breathing was relieved, but I knew this was just the beginning. It was time to destroy the entire system and disrupt Moon Shark's plans.

Just as I prepared to press the last button, the door to the room opened with a bang. A large tall man, with a sharp gaze and a face full of scars, stood in the doorway. "What are you doing here?" he shouted, his voice echoing in the void.

My instincts kicked in immediately. I picked up the scrambler and pointed it at the man. "Don't move!" I called out, trying to show courage even as my heart trembled with fear.

He just smiled, as if unfazed by the threat. "You think it'll stop me?" He took a step forward, making me step back.

"This is not your place, back off!" My screams trembled, but I knew I had no choice. In an instant, the man was already within striking distance.

I hit the button that activated the alarm, hoping that the sound would attract the attention of others. However, the man quickly caught my hand, pushing me to the ground. With the scrambler out of my grasp, I was forced to struggle to get up.

Despair hit me as I saw my device lying far away. In an instant, the man was already preparing to attack. "You can't leave here!" he shouted.

I summoned what was left of my courage, trying to think clearly. As he took a step forward, I looked at the still-lit console. If I could activate the damage system before he caught me, there might still be hope.

Moving my legs with all my might, I tried to reach the device. Both the man and I were trying to get ahead of each other. My heartbeat was getting faster, and time seemed to be getting shorter.

Finally, just as my hand was about to touch the device, he caught my wrist and lifted me into the air. "You won't break anything!" he shouted.

Our eyes met, and in that instant, I felt a sense of peace despite being caught in danger. An idea struck me. "Miranda, help me!" I cried silently.

She wouldn't allow me to leave so easily. With all the strength I had left, I struggled, tearing at her grasp. Suddenly, there was an explosion outside, and the entire base shook. It was chaos out there. Without thinking, I jumped towards the console and pressed a random button.

"No!" the man shouted, but it was too late. A flash of light filled the room, and the screen started flashing.

The security system began to break down. However, just then, another door opened, revealing more armed Moon Shark members. They looked at us with confusion.

"He's here!" the man shouted, while I felt fear strike.

In a state of urgency, I could only hope that Miranda and our comrades would come soon. My heart kept pounding, and in one moment, I realized: I might have messed up this whole plan, but maybe, just maybe, this mess would give us a chance to escape.

However, as more enemies approached, I knew that this journey wasn't over yet. would we be able to survive this chaos that had just begun?

As the Moon Shark members stormed in, I felt trapped in a death trap. They pointed their weapons at me, my eyes glancing at the scrambler lying on the floor. If I could pick it up, I might still have a chance to fight back.

"Hurry! Get him!" one of the members ordered, his voice full of pressure. I had to act fast. Panic began to drive me to move, but the legs seemed rooted to the spot. In an instant, the memory of Miranda and everything we'd been through together pushed me to be brave.

Feigning desperation, I shouted, "Help! This is all wrong!" I stepped back, trying to get away from them. As they diverted their attention, I ducked down and picked up the scrambler quickly. My hands shook as I picked it up, ready to mess with it.

"Let him go!" shouted the man who had caught me earlier, now starting to try and grab the device. However, I was faster. With a single motion, I activated the device, emitting electromagnetic waves that hit all the electronic devices in the room. The screens flickered before going out completely, and their communication systems were destroyed instantly.

Chaos ensued, everyone was shocked and started shouting. "What are you doing?!" The man tried to get closer, but I wasn't going to let him catch me again.

"Back off!" I shouted, trying to point the tool at them. With what courage I had left, I ran toward the exit. The sound of footsteps chased behind me, but the fear only made me go faster.

The corridor outside seemed dark, but I didn't have time to think. In the distance, I heard gunshots. The Moon Shark members began to panic, creating confusion among themselves. I had to seize this moment.

Walking quickly, I headed in the direction Miranda had given me earlier. Every step was hard, but the image of her face fueled my fire. "She must be waiting," I whispered, hoping she was okay.

When I reached the turn, I saw a group of Moon Shark members gathered, speaking in worried tones. "She can't have gone far," one of them said. Without hesitation, I slipped behind the wall, trying to hold my breath and wait for an opportunity.

The clock was ticking, and I felt like a trapped rat. Sweat ran down my forehead, but I knew I had to act. Under these conditions, there was no room for hesitation. From the vantage point, I saw a member separate from the group and step away. This is my moment.

I ran, ambushed him from behind, and shut his mouth quickly. With quick movements, I took the weapon from her and pinned her against the wall. "Shut up, or I'll render you helpless," I whispered, realizing this might be my only chance to gather information.

"Join or die," she urged, but I didn't have time to listen to her stupid offer. I pointed the gun at him and said, "Now, where can I find Miranda?"

He paused for a moment, hesitating. "Downstairs, but you'll never be able to go there alone," he said in a dismissive tone.

"Let go," I replied, gripping harder. "I can do this without your help." However, just as I was beginning to doubt my position, there was a loud explosion from outside.

"Run!" he shouted, forced to take advantage of the chaos. I had no other choice. With a little push, I let go of her and ran towards the sound of the explosion, hoping Miranda was in the same place.

However, as I got closer, I realized how much the situation had worsened. As the front door of the base opened, black figures appeared from outside that were more Moon Shark members. In an instant, I was surrounded, with no way out.

In that moment, all hope seemed shattered. However, I knew one thing, I had to fight to the end. There was no other choice, and the tension crept back in as I prepared to face whatever came next.