The sun was setting by the time they gathered at their new residence. The house was quiet, curtains drawn, the perfect hideout for what they were about to do.
Felix sat at the center of the setup—four monitors glowing around him, casting pale light across the dark room. His fingers flew across the keyboard, face tense with focus.
Kai stood behind him, arms crossed. Iris, Evan, and Jonah hovered nearby, watching the screens anxiously.
“Alright,” Felix muttered. “I’m in. Pulling all of Emilia’s father’s local files first.”
One by one, folders opened—bank statements, spreadsheets, contracts. Transactions ran down the screen.
“So far… clean,” Felix muttered. “All legit transactions. No strange money movements. No hidden accounts.”
Iris’s shoulders slumped a little.
“Then maybe… he is innocent?”
Kai’s eyes stayed cold, focused.
“What about the company system? Can you access that? His credentials might open more doors.”
Felix glanced back, skeptical.
“That’s… risky. But I can try.”
Minutes ticked by as Felix worked. Access denied. Again. Then—
“I’m in.”
The screen shifted. Lines of code, account logs, financial data — all flowing fast.
Felix skimmed, eyes narrowing.
“Okay… here’s something. There’s a transfer. Big. Doesn’t show on his personal files, but… it was made under his account.”
“How much?” Kai asked.
“Close to two million.”
Iris gasped.
“Pull the access log,” Kai ordered. “Was it really him?”
Felix’s fingers danced across the keys.
“Wait… no. This was done from a different terminal. Not his work computer.”
Kai’s eyes sharpened.
“Can you track whose?”
Felix bit his lip, scanning fast.
“Give me a sec…”
Data flashed by until Felix stopped, pointing at one of the screens.
“Here. This machine — it’s usually logged in by another user. Employee tag: S-13.”
“Name?” Kai asked.
Felix ran a cross-check.
“Lisa Darnell. She’s… the company secretary.”
They stared at the screen.
Jonah whistled low.
“Figures. Secretaries see everything.”
Felix added,
“And get this — she regularly chats with another account. I pulled one of the saved exchanges.”
The chat popped up on the screen: vague messages, but enough to feel dirty.
Lisa: It’s done. No one will trace it. He won’t even know.
Kai leaned in, voice cold.
“Save everything. Screenshots. Logs. Build me a case.”
Felix nodded, hands already moving.
Iris whispered,
“She set him up… didn’t she?”
Kai straightened, the faintest smirk touching his lips.
“Looks like Emilia’s dad was the perfect fall guy.”
The night air was cool as Kai, was ready to leave. The screens went dark one by one, but the weight of what they’d uncovered lingered in the room.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
As they headed toward the door, Felix suddenly called out—his voice cutting through the quiet.
“Kai… wait.”
Kai stopped, half-turning, his face unreadable.
Felix glanced at the others, then lowered his voice.
“There’s something I need to ask… What really happened earlier? Did you know… all this was going to happen? Before Emilia ever told Iris anything?”
For a second, the room was silent.
Kai’s gaze stayed steady. Calm.
“The Watchers have eyes everywhere, Felix. Sometimes… they see things long before they unfold.”
Felix’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. He glanced sideways — and saw Iris watching him closely, confusion shadowing her face.
Evan gave a low chuckle, but it was forced. Jonah said nothing, his eyes darting between them.
Kai didn’t wait for another question.
“Get some rest. We did good today.”
With that, he turned and left — the sound of the door closing behind him felt heavier than it should have.
The others left soon after, leaving only Felix and Iris in the living room. The glow of the computer monitors still lit Felix’s face as he reviewed the logs.
Iris stayed quiet for a moment, then moved closer.
“Felix… can I ask you something?”
Felix glanced up.
“Yeah?”
She hesitated, biting her lip.
“Back there… What did you mean? About Kai knowing before any of us?”
Felix sighed, pulling off his glasses and rubbing his face.
“It’s complicated. But… a while back, I got this call. Weird number.
Iris’s eyes widened.
“And?”
“He… told me to hack into Emilia’s dad’s system. Told me exactly what to do, how to do it. I… didn’t know it was Kai back then. Not until today.”
Iris was quiet, but her mind was racing.
“So… what if…” she whispered, voice shaking slightly. “What if Kai’s the one who… set this up? What if he stole the money?”
Felix froze.
Iris pressed on, whispering like she was afraid the walls could hear.
“Think about it — he knew everything. Too much. What if he used you to get in… and then covered his tracks?”
Felix shook his head slowly, though the doubt flickered in his eyes.
“No… I mean… yeah, he planned it. Scarily well. But… he never had access to the system himself. I kept everything closed. He only told me who to target — never touched a file. Never once asked me for a copy or login.”
Iris bit her lip, still unsure.
“Are you sure? Because if he is playing us… we’d never know.”
Felix sat back, staring at the dark screen.
“I don’t know, Iris… but if Kai is that deep…”
His voice trailed off, a chill settling over them both.
“Then we’re already too far in to stop him.”
The next day felt almost normal.
Kai sat with his theater friends, laughing and chatting like nothing else existed. They ran through lines, Kai even stepping onto the stage for a scene — his voice steady, his emotions sharp.
For a moment, he let himself be just another student.
But as the class ended, Kai’s eyes shifted — calculating. He gathered his team afterward.
“Get ready,” he told them calmly. “Tomorrow… is the day.”
The Following Day —
The sun was bright, but the tension in the air was heavier than ever.
Outside Westbridge Technologies, Evan, Iris, and Jonah took their positions — blending perfectly into the morning rush. Each wore a small, hidden camera clipped to their clothes, transmitting everything back to the villa.
Inside the villa, Felix sat hunched over the monitors, his face pale. Kai stood behind him — silent, unreadable.
Felix swallowed.
“We’re live.”
Kai’s eyes narrowed.
“Send it.”
Felix hesitated, then hit the key.
In the company’s building seated Lisa Darnell sipping a coffee at her desk, typing casually.
On Lisa’s screen, an anonymous message popped up:
“We know everything. The money you stole.”
Lisa froze. Her face drained of color as the words burned into her mind. The cup in her hand trembled — then fell, shattering.
Without a word, she grabbed her purse and shot up from her desk.
Iris’s voice came through after a moment the comm:
“She just stepped outside she’s moving. She’s spooked.”
“Stay on her,” Kai ordered.
They followed at a distance, cameras rolling.
Lisa’s heels clicked fast against the pavement as she crossed the parking lot — an open outdoor garage near the building’s edge. Sunlight hit the rows of cars.
Just as Lisa reached her car—
CRACK!
Lightning split the sky. Out of nowhere, a bolt slammed down, striking her car with a deafening roar. The vehicle exploded in sparks, the horn blaring once before dying.
Lisa screamed, stumbling back, shaking uncontrollably.
“Holy shit—” Evan muttered. “You seeing this, Kai?”
Felix’s hands hovered over the keyboard, stunned.
“Stay on her,” Kai ordered.
They followed at a distance, cameras rolling.
Lisa’s heels clicked fast against the pavement as she crossed the parking lot — an open outdoor garage near the building’s edge. Sunlight hit the rows of cars.
Just as Lisa reached her car—
CRACK!
Lightning split the sky. Out of nowhere, a bolt slammed down, striking her car with a deafening roar. The vehicle exploded in sparks, the horn blaring once before dying.
Lisa screamed, stumbling back, shaking uncontrollably.
“Holy shit—” Evan muttered. “You seeing this, Kai?”
Felix’s hands hovered over the keyboard, stunned.
“It’s like… the universe is helping you.”
Kai’s expression didn’t change.
“Stay focused. Follow.”
Panicked, Lisa staggered toward the street, waving down a taxi.
“She’s in the cab,” Jonah reported. “What now?”
Kai’s eyes narrowed.
“Wait. She’s not going far.”
As predicted, barely two blocks away, the taxi sputtered. Smoke poured from the hood. The driver cursed, pulling over.
“Car’s dead, lady. You’re on your own.”
Lisa, eyes wide, scrambled out — hyperventilating now.
She stumbled toward the nearest bus stop — wild, desperate.
“Hold position,” Kai ordered. “She’s right where I want her.”
Felix leaned back, swallowing hard.
“This is… insane.”
Kai’s gaze stayed locked on the screen.
Lisa’s breath came shallow as she stood at the bus stop, glancing over her shoulder like prey sensing the hunter.
A city bus pulled up.
Without thinking, she climbed in.
From the villa, Kai’s voice came calm through the earpieces.
“All of you, on the bus. But spread out. Don’t let her see you. Also don’t seat at the back.”
Iris, Evan, and Jonah nodded, slipping inside as passengers — each finding a seat behind Lisa, scattered but close.
Lisa sat at the front, clutching her purse like it was the only thing keeping her grounded.
The bus doors closed with a hiss. It pulled onto the road.
In the villa, Kai leaned over Felix’s shoulder.
“Send it.”
Felix’s finger hovered — then tapped Enter.
Lisa’s phone buzzed.
She glanced down, frowning — then paled.
On her screen:
“This is your first warning. In 30 seconds, the bus will crash. Don’t worry — you’ll survive. But if you don’t confess to the police in the next 24 hours… the next accident will be your end.
PS: The lightning.”
Her head snapped up, wide eyes scanning the bus — breathing sharp, panicked.
From her seat, Iris whispered:
“She’s reading it… she’s freaking out.”
Lisa clutched the phone tighter, knuckles white — when suddenly:
SCREEEECH!
The bus jolted violently. A car — speeding recklessly — lost control and slammed into the back of the bus.
The impact shook everyone but didn’t cause major harm.
Gasps filled the air. A few people screamed.
Lisa froze, shaking — staring straight ahead, face pale as death.
“Is everyone okay?” Jonah whispered.
Kai’s voice crackled over the comm, calm, almost cold:
“That… was perfect.”
Felix sat back, wide-eyed.
“Kai… did you…?”
Kai didn’t answer — just stared at the screens.
“Now… she knows the game’s real.”
Lisa stayed frozen, staring blankly, her world crumbling.
And the message burned in her mind: 24 hours. Confess… or die.
As the group dispersed, Kai’s calm voice crackled over their earpieces.
“Good work today. We’re done… for now. Meet at the villa tomorrow.”
He ended the call and started walking — hands in his pockets, mind replaying every move.
Scaring her…
That was the key.
Not through words — but through the impossible. The lightning — a sign no one could fake. A divine warning.
Kai smirked faintly, recalling the night before. How he had seen it. Not the details — just himself standing, watching a screen as the lightning struck, and the bus screeching to a stop after being hit at the back. The image was all he needed.
Now… it was real.
He stopped — right by the wrecked car that had rammed the bus. The driver stood beside it, pale but unharmed, speaking with the passenger.
Kai approached calmly, no fear, no hesitation. Both turned as he arrived.
Without a word, Kai slipped two envelopes into their hands.
“Buy yourselves a new car,” he said simply — and left them stunned.
Further down the road, the broken taxi sat with its hood up. The driver cursed under his breath.
Kai approached, handed him an envelope.
“Fix the car. Keep the rest.”
The man blinked, confused — but Kai was already walking away, disappearing into the city.
The Next Day —
By the time Kai arrived, everyone was already waiting — Felix, Evan, Jonah, Iris — their faces tight with something between fear… and respect.
Kai stepped in, calm as always.
“Good work yesterday,” he said, nodding. “You all did well.”
Iris didn’t wait.
She leaned forward, eyes wide.
“Kai… I heard something. From Emilia.”
Kai turned his gaze to her — silent, waiting.
“This morning… Emilia told me her dad’s coworker — Lisa — turned herself in. Confessed everything. Said she planned it with her fiancé… to steal the money and run.”
Felix’s jaw dropped. Jonah let out a low whistle.
“Her dad’s… free?” Evan asked.
Iris nodded fast.
“They released him. Emilia… was crying when she told me.”
Kai simply smiled — slow, calm.
“Good.”
But Iris didn’t stop.
Her voice lowered, almost a whisper.
“So… all that stuff about the Watchers… It’s real?”
The room went still.
Kai’s eyes lifted, meeting hers — unreadable.
He didn’t answer directly. Just smirked… and leaned back in his chair.
“Let’s just say… Some eyes are watching. Some things… aren’t meant to be said yet.”
Iris sat back slowly — eyes wide, goosebumps rising on her skin.
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