Ambulances and police cars screamed up to the café, lights painting the street in frantic blue and red. A uniformed officer burst through the door, panic written across his face. He stepped over broken glass, looked at the scene, clutched his gut, swallowed hard and retched.
Mathew glanced up at him and asked, "What happened?"
The officer's voice came out strained. "If you're done here, can we take people out?"
Mathew stared at the bodies for a long beat. "Who said we are done? We need to confirm whether any Shadow members are among these bodies."
"Sir," the officer said, voice cracking, "ambulances are here for anyone with even a one percent chance of living."
Mathew leaned forward, contempt in his tone. "Look at the bodies. Do you think anyone's still alive?"
The officer could not meet his eyes. After looking at bodies he turned away, threw up.
Mathew gave a short, harsh laugh and muttered, "You police are too soft."
A man approached their table, gun in hand.
From behind the overturned furniture, Rian hissed, "A guy is coming our way."
Leo barked an order under his breath. "Both of you put the masks on."
Finn's voice had the edge of a grin. "What are we going to do?"
"Act innocent," Leo said. "That's the only play we have."
The gunman loomed, training the muzzle at the table. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
Hands went up at once. Another officer shouted back, "Captain Mathew, there are three people behind that table."
Mathew rose, eyes cold. "Someone survived? Who are they? Bring them here."
The man pushed them forward, gun steady as he shoved the three toward Mathew.
Mathew scanned them, frowning. His quiet thought was sharp and immediate. Crystal gang members, he considered. He needed confirmation.
Finn stammered out the obvious line. "Sir, don't kill us. We are innocent."
Leo's face betrayed his nerves. He knew Finn was a poor actor.
Mathew's voice went flat and weary. "Same line a thousand times."
Leo tried to recover. "Sir, we were scared. We hid behind the table."
Mathew waved them down for now. "All right."
Finn forced a smile and started to move, casual and too bright. "Let's go, guys."
Mathew cut him off. "Not so fast. First, show me your faces."
Finn froze. "We can't do that."
Mathew blinked. "What?"
Leo scrambled. "It's our rule. We don't show our faces. It's—religion, you know."
Mathew's patience broke. "Religion? Then die. Shoot them."
Leo panicked. "W-wait. I mean, yes, but this is necessary, right? We'll show."
Mathew barked a harsh laugh. "Good. Take off the masks. Now."
Before anyone could comply, a volley of gunshots ripped through the street and sirens swelled louder. Heads turned. Fear snapped the air taut.
"What's happening outside?" Mathew demanded.
Another officer lunged in, out of breath and wild-eyed. "Sir, Shadow members are outside in a bulletproof armored vehicle. Behind them, the 3rd Division of SARS."
Mathew's mouth hung open. "Shadow members? And the 3rd Division?"
The officer swallowed and kept talking. "Not only that. Crystal gang elements are here. They started a shootout with the 5th Division."
Mathew's face hardened. "Crystal gang?" He barked a quick order to the nearest man. "Everyone out. Support Unit One. Move."
The men obeyed, spilling out into the chaos. For a moment, the café felt like the eye of a storm.
Mathew turned to the remaining officers. "I'm going after the Shadows. That's our priority. Keep an eye on these three."
"Yes, sir," the officer gasped, and Mathew followed outside.
Left behind, Rian, Leo and Finn sat in the sudden, uneasy quiet. Leo's voice cut through it, sharp with worry. "What is happening out there? Tell us."
The officer who stayed behind ran a hand over his face. "Pure chaos. Shadow crews rolled in with armored support. They're trading shots with SARS and with Crystal gang elements. It's a madhouse."
Finn shrugged, trying to make light of it. "If they hadn't come right when they did, we'd have been in real trouble, right?"
Leo's answer was tight. "Yeah. You're right."
Three of them remove there masks
The officer looked at them, puzzled. "What are you talking about? "
Finn bristled. "you dont know us because You work for the police that clean up the mess SARS makes."
The officer opened his mouth to reply, then stiffened. Rian planted his feet and, fast as a flash, swung his right leg in a brutal arc beneath the officer's jaw. The man dropped like a stone, out cold.
Finn's grin returned, sharper now. "That was fast"
Rian snatched the officer's pistol from his grip.
"That will be useful," Leo muttered.
From the back door of the café, Ethan appeared, motioning for them to move.
They hurried toward the front, but before they could escape, Mathew burst back inside, gun raised.
"I knew you were suspicious!" he shouted, pulling the trigger.
The shots rang out, but the group managed to slip through the door and into the street. Mathew gave chase, his footsteps pounding behind them.
Outside, Ethan jumped behind the wheel of a black car while the others piled in. Rian, however, darted into another vehicle and sped off in the opposite direction.
Mathew reached the street just in time to see Ethan's car vanishing at the end of the road. He clenched his jaw. Shit, I messed up. Grabbing his phone, he barked into it, "The Shadows slipped from my hands. They're in a black car, four men, back side of the café… yeah, kill them."
Inside the moving car, Ethan let out a laugh as he steered sharply into the alleyways. "Ha! That was thrilling, wasn't it?"
Finn leaned forward. "Where did you send Rian alone?"
"To pick up Ripley, Freya, and Adrian," Ethan replied smoothly.
Leo narrowed his eyes at him. "Ethan? How are you even here? I heard SARS was after you."
"They were," Ethan said with a grin. "But then Sammy stepped in and promised he'd handle them."
Finn blinked. "Sammy is here?"
"Yeah," Ethan laughed again, "and not just him. Diana and Shykin came too, to help rescue you guys."
"Diana and Shykin also? Then where are they?" Finn pressed.
"They could still be in a shootout with SARS's 3rd Division," Ethan answered casually.
Leo's expression tightened. "A shootout with the 3rd Division?"
"Don't worry," Ethan said with confidence. "I'm certain they'll be fine."
Just then, Finn glanced at the rearview mirror. "SARS has started chasing us!"
Ethan's grin widened as he slammed his foot on the accelerator, the engine roaring as the car surged forward.
Outside the café, chaos consumed the street. Cars were scattered across the road as Crystal Gang members exchanged relentless fire with the SARS 5rd Division, bullets sparking off metal while agents crouched behind their vehicles for cover. Not far from the café, the 3th Division tore after a monstrous armored truck roaring down the road.
Inside the truck's backseat, Shykin sat drenched in sweat, his eyes darting to the rear window. "T-they're right behind us! What should we do, Diana?" His voice cracked as he stared at the endless stream of gunfire.
Diana, seated in the passenger seat, barely flinched. She wore a sleeveless crop top with jeans, her short black hair brushing her neck, bangs falling neatly across her forehead. A dark cape trailed over her shoulders, giving her an almost regal air. With a sigh, she pulled out a pistol and shoved it toward Shykin.
"Shut up for one second, Shykin. Here. Shoot back at them."
"Shoot? Hell no!" Shykin recoiled, pushing the gun away. His wide eyes snapped to the driver. "Hey, Sammy! You do something—they're shooting nonstop at us!"
At the wheel sat Sammy—white t-shirt, jeans, tattoos spiraling across both arms, a cigarette dangling lazily from his mouth, and a cape draped over his head. Smoke curled into the air as he spoke, calm as ever.
"Relax, Shykin. This beauty's been modified by me and Diana. They can shoot all they want; we'll be safe inside."
"You've been saying that the whole damn time!" Shykin yelled. "But still—"
Before he could finish, Diana leaned back, pressing a handkerchief against his face. Shykin's words trailed off as his eyes rolled back, and he slumped unconscious in his seat.
"My ears will be safe now," Diana muttered, tucking the handkerchief away.
Sammy chuckled. "Haha, so that's why you carry that thing around. What the hell did you lace it with? Knocked him out in a second."
Diana leaned forward toward him, her sharp gaze locking onto his. Sammy stiffened, a faint blush creeping onto his face.
"W-what is it?" he stammered.
Without a word, Diana plucked the cigarette from his lips, tossed it to the floor, and crushed it beneath her boot.
"No smoking. How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Yes, ma'am," Sammy sighed, sheepish.
Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror, catching the flashing lights still tailing them. "They're persistent. When are you going to use it?"
Sammy smirked. "Now. Speed booster plus smoke screen."
He yanked a lever and slammed his palm onto the button beneath it. The truck roared with a sudden burst of acceleration, flames spitting from the exhaust as a thick wall of smoke poured from the back, blinding the SARS vehicles.
"Try catching up to our creation now!" Sammy laughed, knuckles tight on the wheel as the armored monster thundered farther and farther from its pursuers.