Wolfram

The next few hours passed in a blur. Jake and Lucy had to be quick. They couldn't afford to linger. The streets had become less forgiving, the threat of Dreadstone's men creeping in closer with every passing minute. Jake felt the tension in the air, the certainty that they were being hunted.

They made their way back to the storage shed, the same one they'd turned into their base of operations. The place, dimly lit and cluttered with maps and notes, felt heavier now. The walls seemed to close in on Jake as he entered, his mind spinning with everything that had happened.

Lucy was already pacing, her eyes scanning through the files they had collected. "We need to know more about Dreadstone. If he's behind this, we need to understand what we're up against."

Jake didn't respond immediately. His gaze lingered on the makeshift table where they had marked down the villains' locations, their names, everything they'd learned. It all seemed so futile now. He hadn't meant for any of this to happen, yet it had. And that man's death weighed heavily on him.

But then it hit him. A realization that made his chest tighten.

"Dreadstone," Jake muttered, as though the words themselves summoned the answer. "It's not just about the serum. He wants control. This whole thing... it's a power struggle."

Lucy paused and looked up. "What do you mean?"

Jake turned to face her, his eyes sharp. "I don't think Dreadstone is interested in *just* the serum. I think he's after the technology behind it. The serum can turn anyone into a weapon. But if he gets his hands on the technology that makes it possible..." Jake shook his head. "It could change everything."

Lucy frowned. "If he has that much power, then we're in serious trouble."

"We have to move fast," Jake said, his voice cold with determination. "I'm done running from this."

Before Lucy could respond, there was a sound—a distant rumble, almost like a truck engine. Jake's heart skipped a beat. It wasn't just any truck. It was the unmistakable sound of a military-grade vehicle.

"No," Jake whispered. "They've found us."