#16: On the Edge of Survival

The streets were alive with the usual chaos of futuristic Rio: flying cars cutting through the sky, drones flashing lights on street corners, and people moving in a hurry, each trapped in their own bubble of trouble. For Lara, Dante, and Caio, this crowd was both a blessing and a curse.

“We can’t just walk around like this,” Lara said, her eyes scanning the surroundings. “They have cameras everywhere, and they probably already know we left that building.”

“So, what do you suggest?” Caio asked, out of breath after running.

Lara pointed to a narrow entrance between two tall buildings.

“There. Let’s go inside.”

The three of them entered an alley that smelled of oil and rusty metal. It was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the gleaming skyscrapers around them, but at that moment, it felt like a safe haven.

“What now?” — Dante asked, leaning against a wall and checking his gun.

Lara put her backpack on the floor and opened her laptop.

— Now, we need to figure out where to go. Caio, you said you know a safe place to open the data. Where is it?

Caio looked around before answering.

— There's an old warehouse near the port. It's off the main surveillance routes, but it's risky.

— Everything we do is risky — Dante grumbled. — How do we get there?

Caio pulled up a holographic map from his personal device and showed a route.

— If we take a shortcut through these underground passages, we can avoid most of the cameras and patrols.

Lara nodded, but her eyes narrowed as she looked at the map.

— And what else is there? I don't want any surprises.

Caio hesitated before answering.

— The place is used by smugglers from time to time. But they’re usually busy with their own business.

“‘Usually’ isn’t a guarantee,” Dante said, standing up. “But it seems we don’t have much of a choice.”

Descent into the Underground

The entrance to the underground passages was hidden behind a rusty panel in an even narrower alley. Lara used a magnetic device to open the door, revealing a steep, dimly lit staircase.

“Okay. Go down first, Caio,” Dante said, pointing at the stairs with his gun.

Caio sighed but obeyed, descending carefully. Lara followed close behind, while Dante closed the door behind them.

The air was heavy and humid, with the smell of mold and old electricity. The concrete walls were covered in graffiti that seemed to date back decades, reminders of an era when the struggle for survival was a constant.

“This is making me nervous,” Dante muttered, his footsteps echoing in the hallway.

“Relax.” I haven't seen any bodies on the ground yet,” Lara replied, with a smirk.

“Funny.”

The Unexpected Encounter

They weren't far from the exit when they heard voices. Lara stopped suddenly, raising her hand to signal silence.

“Smugglers?” Dante whispered, approaching her.

Caio listened carefully and shook his head.

“No. These guys don't seem to be locals.”

Before they could decide what to do, two figures appeared in the hallway ahead. They were armed and wore unmarked black uniforms, but their cold gaze and rigid posture made it clear that they weren't just civilians.

“We found you,” one of them said, with a cruel smile.

Dante didn't hesitate. With a quick movement, he drew his gun and fired, hitting one of the men in the shoulder. The other reacted immediately, pulling out a pistol.

“RUN!” — Lara shouted, pulling Caio back while Dante covered the retreat.

Bullets ricocheted off the walls, and the sound was deafening in the tight space. Lara pulled out her device again and activated an improvised flash grenade. An intense flash filled the hallway, temporarily blinding the pursuers.

— This should buy us a few seconds! — she shouted, already running towards the exit.

Turn of events

When they reached the exit, the daylight seemed brighter than ever. They were close to the port, but the sound of footsteps behind them indicated that they were still being pursued.

— We're screwed — Dante said, between heavy breaths.

Caio pointed to a warehouse ahead.

— There! It's the warehouse.

The three of them ran, forcing themselves to ignore their fatigue. Inside the warehouse, Lara quickly found a makeshift computer station.

— Hold them off for a few minutes. I'm going to open the data now.

— Are you crazy? They're almost here! — Dante shouted.

— Then hold on tight — she replied, already connecting Caio's device to the laptop.

Caio and Dante positioned themselves near the entrance, ready to face whatever came. Lara, meanwhile, dove into the codes and firewalls, trying to access the information that could change everything.

But deep down, she knew that every second counted was a gamble with her own life.