Josh sprinted down the dimly lit alley, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Every step felt like a gamble as if the ground beneath him shifted with every footfall. Jorge's shadow darted around the corner ahead, slipping through the darkness like smoke. He was losing him.
"Come on!" Josh hissed through gritted teeth, his eyes fixed on the fleeting figure. Jorge Garcia, the man he'd been chasing for days, the man who held all the answers, the man with a cane who had spoken about "altering the state of the river." Josh had to know what he meant. But fate, it seemed, was not on his side tonight.
Josh rounded the corner, but his path was immediately blocked by a truck that wasn't there a moment before. It screeched to a halt inches away from him, the driver shouting curses in a language Josh didn't recognize. He sidestepped, dodging just in time, but the seconds he lost felt like minutes. Jorge had gained more distance.
Josh darted left, taking a shortcut he knew well. He felt his lungs burning, his legs screaming at him to stop, but he couldn't. Every twist and turn seemed to bring more obstacles—construction barriers that hadn't been there before, a fallen stack of crates, even a group of stray dogs snarling at him from the mouth of another alleyway.
Jorge had been careful, precise in his movements. Almost like he knew exactly where Josh would go.
Josh cursed under his breath. He could feel fate working against him, pushing him back, forcing him off course. "How does he do that?" Josh muttered, frustration mounting. It felt as if the entire city had been rearranged to keep him from getting any closer to Jorge.
He reached a small square, breathless, the air cold against his skin. He turned his head, eyes scanning every shadow. For a moment, he thought he'd lost him. Jorge was gone, vanished into the night like a ghost.
"Damn it!" Josh slammed his fist against the nearest wall. "He's gone!"
"Not quite," a voice called from behind him. Josh spun around to see William Dangerfield leaning casually against a lamppost, a half-smirk on his lips.
"William?" Josh asked, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
William shrugged, pushing himself off the post and strolling over with his usual swagger. "Same thing as you, kid. Trying to catch a ghost. Looks like you could use some help."
Josh shook his head. "He's gone. He must have some kind of ability... It's like the entire city is against me."
William chuckled. "Oh, he does. Trust me on that."
Josh blinked, taking a step closer. "You know who he is?"
William's grin widened, a glint of seriousness in his eyes. "I think I know exactly who he reminds me of." He paused, letting the tension hang in the cold night air.
Josh swallowed. "Who?"
William took a deep breath, his expression shifting from playful to something darker, more thoughtful. "Jorge Garcia. Benito's father."
Josh felt his heart skip a beat. "Benito... Garcia?" He remembered the stories, the man who could change the distance between objects, whose mere presence distorted reality itself. Benito had been a legend in the Power Royale, and now here stood his father, manipulating fate like a river, shifting every obstacle to flow against Josh's path.
"Yeah," William continued, his tone deadly serious. "And if he's anything like his son, you better be prepared for a whole lot more than just bad luck."
Josh's mind raced. Benito had been nearly unstoppable, his power one of the most fearsome in the Power Royale. And now, his father...? The thought made his skin crawl.
"What do we do?" Josh asked, feeling the weight of this new revelation settle in his bones.
William's smirk returned, but his eyes were still hard. "Simple. We don't let the river drown us. We learn to swim."
Josh nodded, determination hardening his resolve. But as he glanced over William's shoulder, he saw movement, the faintest flicker of a figure in the shadows, Jorge resting casually on his cane, watching them both with an inscrutable smile.
"I can alter the state of the river," Jorge called out, his voice smooth and confident. "But can you change where it flows?"
The words sent a shiver down Josh's spine. He clenched his fists, his heart pounding. This was just the beginning.
Josh Cruise's lungs burned as he ran down the narrow alley, sweat streaming down his face. He couldn't see Jorge anymore, but he knew the man was just ahead, a shadow slipping between shadows. Every time Josh thought he was getting close, something would get in his way—a car would back out unexpectedly, a group of pedestrians would cross in front of him, or a door would slam shut. It was like Jorge was playing with him, placing rocks in the river to divert his course.
"Come on!" Josh muttered, frustration bubbling over as he skidded around a corner. "Where are you?"
He heard Lauri's voice crackle over the earpiece. "Josh, are you still on him?"
Josh leapt over a discarded trash bin, barely keeping his balance. "Yeah... kinda. This guy is slippery. Feels like he knows exactly where I'm gonna be before I do."
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Lauri's sigh came through loud and clear. "That's because he probably does, Josh. Remember, he can control fate. He's putting obstacles in your way, just enough to slow you down."
Josh gritted his teeth. "Then I'll just have to outpace fate, won't I?"
The alley opened up into a small courtyard. Josh slowed, scanning the area. There were a dozen doors, all shut. Jorge could have gone through any of them. He cursed under his breath. He needed a new plan. Before he could come up with one, his earpiece buzzed again.
It was William's voice this time, low and urgent. "Josh, I just got a call from Vlad. He says he knows where Jorge is. You need to meet him at the old docks, near the west side. Now."
Josh didn't hesitate. "On my way."
He took off in the opposite direction, his heart pounding in his chest. As he ran, he couldn't shake the unease creeping up his spine. Something about this didn't sit right. Vlad had sounded confident earlier, sure that he could take on Jorge if needed. If Vlad had called for help, things had taken a turn for the worse.
Josh could hear Lauri's footsteps behind him, catching up quickly. "You heard the man?" she panted, falling into stride next to him.
"Yeah," Josh replied. "We need to get to the docks. Something's up."
Lauri nodded, her face set in determination. "Let's hurry. If Vlad's in trouble, we can't waste any time."
They sprinted through the maze of streets, Josh's mind racing with possibilities. What if Jorge had set a trap? What if they were too late? He glanced at Lauri, who was keeping up with him, her eyes fierce. He hoped they were making the right call.
As they approached the docks, the air grew colder, a mist rolling off the water and obscuring their view. The old wooden planks creaked under their feet, and the smell of salt and rotting fish filled the air. It was quiet. Too quiet.
"Where is he?" Lauri whispered.
Josh scanned the area, his heart thumping. "Vlad! Vlad, where are you?"
For a moment, there was no response. Just the sound of the waves gently lapping against the dock.
Then, they heard a faint groan coming from behind a stack of old crates. Josh felt his stomach drop. "Vlad?"
He and Lauri rushed over, and there he was—Vlad Ivanov, crumpled on the ground, blood pooling beneath him. His suit was torn, his face bruised and battered. His hand, still gripping his beloved karabela, was shaking.
Josh knelt beside him. "Vlad, what happened?"
Vlad coughed, a pained smile forming on his lips. "I... I underestimated him... Jorge... he's stronger than I thought."
Lauri's face paled, and she dropped to her knees beside him. "Vlad, hold on, we're here now. We'll get you help."
Vlad winced, trying to sit up but failing. "He got away... he knew... he knew I'd be here. It's like he saw it coming."
Josh felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. "Where did he go, Vlad? We need to find him."
Vlad shook his head weakly. "I... I don't know... I just know... he's playing a game, Josh... a dangerous one... and he's two steps ahead."
Josh looked over at Lauri, who seemed as shaken as he was. "We need to call for help, now."
But before they could do anything, Vlad's hand shot out, grabbing Josh's wrist with surprising strength. "Listen to me... he's not just after the money... he's after something more... something that goes beyond this lottery."
Josh's heart raced. "What do you mean?"
Vlad coughed again, his grip loosening. "He... he's like a shadow... always there... always just out of reach... be careful, Josh... he can control fate... but he can't control... your choices..."
And with that, Vlad's hand fell back, his eyes closing as he slipped into unconsciousness.
Josh looked up at Lauri, his mind spinning with questions. "What the hell do we do now?"
Lauri's eyes were wide with fear, but also determination. "We find Jorge. And we stop him. Before it's too late."
Josh nodded, steeling himself.
The night air was thick with tension as Josh, Lauri, and William stood over Vlad's battered body. Josh's hand trembled, clutching his sword tightly. His mind raced with the image of Jorge Machado, the last person they wanted to slip through their fingers. A trail of blood led away from Vlad, a crude path into the darkness, and Jorge was somewhere out there, lurking like a phantom.
"We have to find him," Josh muttered, his voice shaky. He looked at his sister, Lauri, who nodded in agreement. Her face was a mix of determination and worry. She had been texting and calling Vlad constantly before he finally sent them his location, but now, looking at him in a bloody heap, she regretted every moment she hadn't been there to protect him.
William Dangerfield crouched beside Vlad, placing his hand on the man's shoulder. "We'll get you some help," he said, but his eyes were scanning the darkness around them. "Lojan, stay here with him," he commanded.
Lojan Mackimee, always with a quip, this time looked uncharacteristically serious. "Yeah, yeah, keep the immortal guy on nurse duty. You got it," he said, kneeling down next to Vlad. Vlad's eyes fluttered open, and he coughed weakly.
"He's... going to the river... Jorge," Vlad whispered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "I tried... but he was ready."
Josh and Lauri exchanged a glance. "We need to hurry," Lauri urged. Her hands buzzed with electricity, a faint hum rising from the devices around her. "If Jorge reaches the river, it'll be almost impossible to track him. You know what they say... rivers wash away everything."
Josh nodded, gripping his sword tighter. "Let's move. William, you take the lead."
William's eyes narrowed. "Fine, but if this gets too messy, we're calling it off. I'm not getting into another disaster because we weren't prepared." There was an edge to his voice, the echoes of old trauma from the Power Royale still haunting him.
They moved quickly, following the blood trail for a few hundred yards before it vanished into the brush. The forest loomed around them, tall shadows stretching and merging with the inky sky above. Lauri's fingers twitched, and a burst of electricity jumped from her fingertips, illuminating the surroundings for a split second.
"I can't see a damn thing," Josh muttered, frustration growing with each step. "This is hopeless..."
William stopped, raising his hand. "Quiet," he whispered. "Listen."
For a moment, the forest was silent. Then, in the distance, the faintest rustle of leaves—someone moving, trying to stay quiet. A soft whistle of wind followed.
"That's him," Lauri hissed, her eyes darting in the direction of the sound.
They sprinted towards the noise, weaving between trees and dodging branches. Josh's heart pounded in his chest, his sword feeling heavier with each step. They burst through a clearing, and there it was—the river, winding and dark, flowing fast and steady.
But no Jorge.
William cursed under his breath, scanning the banks for any sign of movement. "He's here. He has to be."
Lauri stepped forward, electricity crackling around her fingers. "Jorge!" she shouted into the darkness, her voice echoing against the trees. "We know you're out there. Come out, or we'll make you come out."
No answer. The river continued its unending flow, its dark waters mocking their urgency. Josh's frustration boiled over. "We're wasting time! He's playing us—"
"Enough," William snapped, cutting him off. "He could be anywhere by now. We're not going to find him like this."
Josh opened his mouth to protest, but William held up a hand. "I'm calling it. The chase is off."
"What?" Lauri exclaimed. "We can't just—"
"We're calling it," William repeated, his tone firm. "We're running in circles, and that's what he wants. We need to regroup, think this through. Charging around like this is only going to get us killed."
Lauri's face fell, her frustration mingling with worry. She cast a final, longing look into the shadows, hoping to catch even a glimpse of movement. But the river flowed on, indifferent to their desperation.
Josh sighed, lowering his sword. "Alright," he muttered, defeated. "We call it."
William nodded, his expression softening. "Let's get back to Vlad. We still have time. Jorge won't get far."
The three of them turned back, retracing their steps through the forest. As they moved, the river seemed to whisper behind them, carrying away the sounds of their fading pursuit.
But even as they left, a pair of eyes watched from the darkness, just beyond the riverbank, and a small, satisfied smile spread across Jorge Garcia's face.
To be continued.
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