The aftermath of the rooftop attack was quiet, almost too quiet. The campus buzzed with whispers of the mysterious assassins who had targeted Elias, but as usual, he walked undeterred, like a man destined to break every rule the system had ever laid down.
Mila, however, couldn't shake the unease that had settled over her. They weren't safe—not even close. The people watching Elias, the power games being played, had only just begun to unravel.
---
5:10 PM – The Alley Behind the Campus Club
Elias walked with purpose, the watch glowing faintly beneath his sleeve, its pulse syncing with the chaotic energy surrounding him. Mila stayed close, too close, as if afraid the moment she turned away, something would happen.
"I need to find Kane," Elias said, his voice flat.
"Kane?" Mila echoed, confused. "The business professor?"
"The same."
"But why?"
Elias didn't respond immediately. He was already scanning the club's entrance, his eyes flitting across the people entering, noting the cars parked along the alley, the people hanging around the corners—everyone was watching.
This was the beginning of something darker, and it had everything to do with Kane's ties to Nexacorp, the mysterious organization pulling the strings from the shadows.
"I'm going inside," Elias said, pulling Mila into the club with him.
---
5:25 PM – Inside the Club
The club was packed, loud music pulsing through the air, bodies grinding on the dance floor, flashing lights creating an illusion of freedom. But it wasn't freedom. Not for Elias, and not for Mila.
They navigated through the crowd with practiced ease, their presence unnoticed by most, but their every move scrutinized by a few sharp eyes watching from the bar.
"Stay close," Elias muttered to Mila, his voice tense.
They reached a secluded VIP section at the back, where a tall man in a tailored suit sat alone, sipping a glass of scotch. His sharp features and commanding presence marked him as someone important—someone dangerous.
"Professor Kane," Elias said as he approached, his voice low but clear.
Kane looked up slowly, his eyes betraying no emotion, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
"You've been causing quite the stir, Elias," he said smoothly, leaning back in his chair, studying him. "Do you know how many people are looking for you?"
Elias didn't flinch. "I'm looking for answers. And I know you have them."
Kane's lips curved into a slight smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "What makes you think I'll give you anything?"
"Because you owe me," Elias replied, his voice suddenly colder. "You've been playing this game longer than I have. You know how it works. And you know what happens to people who don't answer my questions."
Kane's smile faltered for a brief second, before he regained his composure. He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "You think you can take down the system? That's cute."
Elias didn't flinch. "I don't think it. I will."
Mila tensed beside him. She could feel the tension thickening in the air, as though they were standing on the edge of something terrible.
Kane let out a low chuckle, then leaned back again, clearly amused. "You're not as naive as you look, Elias. But there's a reason I'm the one in control here. You've got the Watch, sure. But I have something better."
Elias's eyes narrowed. "What's that?"
"The real power behind the campus. The people who pull the strings. Nexacorp didn't get this far by being stupid, Elias. They've been controlling everything—every student, every professor, every system." He looked at Elias, his eyes filled with something between disdain and admiration. "You're not the only one with an agenda."
Elias stared at him, every nerve in his body alert. He'd known there was more to the story, but this… this was bigger than he had expected. Nexacorp—the name echoed in his mind like a hammer strike.
"I'm not here to play games, Kane," Elias said, his voice steady. "I need information. And if you won't give it to me, I'll make sure everyone knows what you've been hiding."
Kane paused, his smile fading as he assessed Elias. Then, slowly, he stood and walked to the window, looking out over the darkening city.
"You think you can bring down a titan like Nexacorp? You're a pawn, Elias. A pawn in their game."
"Then why don't you help me?" Elias asked, his voice low.
Kane didn't turn to face him, but there was a shift in the air, a change in his stance. "I'll give you one chance, Elias. One. You have the Watch. You have the power. But it won't be enough. Not against them."
Elias took a step forward. "Then I'll make it enough."
---
6:00 PM – Outside the Club
The air had turned colder. The once-glamorous club now seemed a distant memory, the neon lights and pulsing music faded in the background.
Mila glanced at Elias, but he was deep in thought, the Watch flashing faintly in the dim light. She could feel the weight of the conversation they'd just had, the dangerous ground they were treading.
"What now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Elias looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Now, we find out who's really pulling the strings. And we take them down."
The city loomed before them, dark and full of secrets. But Elias wasn't afraid. Not anymore.
The war was just beginning.