Chapter 8: The Escape Plan
324 Words
*The Escape Plan*
Jayden didn’t sleep.
By dawn, he was back on the diner roof with a cracked tablet, three burner chips, and an empty wallet. He stared at the city skyline — metal towers, flickering holo-ads, security drones slicing across the clouds like knives.
Somewhere out there, *Maestro’s people* were hunting him.
And if Coda’s warning was real, Mary didn’t have much time.
He tapped into the tablet, fired up an old connection from his brother’s hidden archive — the one marked only “Exit Protocol.” Blueprints loaded. Maps of sewer lines, traffic tunnels, and black market checkpoints lit the screen.
*There was a way out.* But it wasn’t cheap.
He needed cash. Fast.
Downstairs, Zeke barely looked up when Jayden stepped in.
“You’re early.”
“Yeah. Wanted to ask... You still got that old delivery bike?”
Zeke raised an eyebrow. “You mean the one with half an engine and a cursed gas tank?”
“That’s the one.”
Zeke eyed him suspiciously. “What’re you planning?”
Jayden smirked. “Making a few quick deliveries. Off the books.”
Zeke sighed. “It’s yours if you fix it. But don’t get caught. That bike's not even registered.”Two hours later, the bike roared to life — just barely. Jayden had hacked the limiter, installed a shield plate under the seat, and rerouted the exhaust to muffle the sound. It wasn’t a Valen, but it would do.
Before leaving, he slipped Mary a note under her door: *“Pack a bag. Be ready. Midnight. - J”*
She’d understand.
As night fell, Jayden took to the streets — *delivering illegal chips*, *dodging patrols*, and *earning enough credits* for a clean identity wipe. He moved fast. Silent. Smart.
Every second brought him closer to freedom… and every turn carried the risk of death.
But the clock was ticking.
And Jayden was done playing it safe.
- Writer
