Chapter 7: Warning shot
279 Words
*Warning Shot*
Jayden didn’t go home that night.
Instead, he ducked into the underground tunnels near the East freight line—old subway paths converted into hideouts, smuggler routes, and dead zones the city’s surveillance couldn’t reach. His footsteps echoed as he moved, careful, quiet. He’d been here before… but not as the hunted.
At the far end of the tunnel, a voice called out, low and raspy.
“Took you long enough.”
A tall figure leaned against the wall, shadows hiding half his face. Scar on his lip. Jacket stitched with bulletproof lining. *Coda*, Maestro’s fixer.
Jayden tensed. “You following me?”
Coda tossed a data chip between his fingers. “You took something, Pulse. Something not meant for you.”
“I didn’t take anything. Someone left it.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Coda said, stepping forward. “Maestro wants it back.”
Jayden kept his hands still. “It’s not with me.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Coda said, and suddenly, the silence broke.
A loud *crack* rang out — a bullet hit the wall behind Jayden, missing his head by inches.
Coda didn’t flinch.
“Next one’s not a warning,” he said. “You’ve got 24 hours to return it. Or the girl gets a visit.”
Jayden’s blood ran cold.“You stay away from Mary,” he growled.
“Clock’s ticking, kid.”
With that, Coda vanished into the dark like a ghost.
Jayden stood still for a long moment, heart pounding, fists clenched.
This wasn’t just about the drive anymore. They knew about Mary. And if Maestro was involved, things were about to spiral fast.
He turned and ran.
- Writer
