Chapter 49: Into the Trap

[14th April 2024]

Evan wasn't the only one stepping out that morning.

From another corner of the city, another figure emerged from his home—his destination unknown, yet his steps were aligned with Evan's. That person was none other than Rey Dragonstorm, the self-proclaimed sidekick of our tale, and his path too led toward the abandoned factory.

Inside that factory, chaos was already brewing.

A gang of thugs stood nervously as their boss, Jacob, shouted at the top of his lungs. His fury was palpable, though the reason behind it wasn't immediately clear.

"You bunch of useless morons! I've trained you for years, and you still can't carry out a single task properly!"

"Tell me—did those two brats show up at their school or not?"

It wasn't hard to figure out who he meant.

Yes. He was talking about Evan and Rey—both of whom were now unknowingly closing in on the very den of danger.

"Boss," one thug spoke up, "our guys tailed them. Neither went home today. One of the kids' friends even left crying—probably had a fight with his parents or something."

Jacob's eyes lit up.

"So the rat's already on the move toward the trap, huh?"

"Good. Snatch him the moment he's alone in public. I don't want complications. Once we've got both of them—and whatever that thief stole—toss 'em into the next batch. Who knows, maybe they'll fetch a better price as a pair."

With a twisted smirk, he dismissed them. The thugs nodded and scattered, returning to their posts.

Tonight, after all, a shipment was scheduled. And the merchandise? It wasn't cargo. It was people.

Meanwhile, Evan was sitting on a quiet park bench.

The park was mostly empty save for a few stray joggers and the occasional passerby. He leaned forward, elbows on knees, his eyes scanning the area.

"I've got to keep my head low… Wait until nightfall, then sneak into the factory unseen," he muttered.

Why did he leave so early then? Simple.

He feared that if he waited until evening, his aunt or uncle might insist on seeing him off. That was the last thing he wanted. So, he left in the morning and planned to hide out all day.

No schoolmates. No family. No neighbors.

He wandered until he found a secluded area with spaced-out benches, finally settling down and pulling out his phone. A fresh SIM was already inserted.

As he turned it on, a flood of missed messages hit the screen—most were from his aunt, and one from James.

He didn't notice that he was already being watched.

The thugs Jacob had deployed had found him. At first, only one had eyes on him. But now, several more had gathered.

And Evan… was too focused on his screen to notice anything at all.

Fate had truly drawn him here.

Absorbed in a video, he didn't even react as a figure approached him from the side.

His gaze was eventually pulled toward a shadow, and when he looked up—

Splash!

A strange liquid flew at his face.

"W-What the hell?! You think this is a prank!?" Evan snapped, leaping to his feet. But the protest barely left his lips before his legs buckled and a wave of dizziness slammed into him.

His body trembled.

His vision blurred.

And within seconds, he slumped back onto the bench, unconscious.

The man who attacked him gave a subtle nod. His comrades emerged from hiding and moved in.

As onlookers approached, confused, the thugs spoke quickly.

"We found him passed out. Tried waking him, even splashed water on his face…"

The wet spots on his shirt backed up their story.

No one questioned further.

They hoisted Evan up like deadweight and loaded him into a black car before driving away—toward the abandoned factory.

"Man, that was easy," one thug said with a smirk, sitting beside the unconscious boy.

"Yeah. That chemical knocks out normal folks instantly. Even a low-level martial warrior would've lasted maybe a minute."

They laughed.

What they didn't know… was that Evan was far from ordinary.

Back at the factory…

The car pulled in through the rear gate. The thugs dragged Evan's limp body inside, treating him like a sack of grain.

Jacob turned, hands clasped behind his back. His lips curled into a grin.

"Well, well… you actually managed to do something right."

He stepped forward, inspecting the boy's unconscious face.

"How much of the spray did you use?" he asked coldly.

"Just a little, boss. Barely even a spit."

Jacob nodded.

"He'll wake soon. Tie him up—we'll deal with him later."

They left Evan in a chair, arms bound, head slumped.

Unnoticed by all, the nanosuit hidden within him remained dormant… for now.

Outside the factory, another figure had arrived.

Peeking over the wall, scouting the area carefully, was a teenage boy with windswept hair and sharp eyes.

Rey.

A large bag hung from his shoulder as he crept along the perimeter, completely unaware that his best friend had already been taken.

But fate has its own plans.

Perhaps, just perhaps… this was the moment everything would change.

—To be continued—

Author's Note:

I know this chapter felt a bit fast-paced, but I'm super excited for what's coming next. You do not want to miss the moment Evan's powers activate—and what happens when Rey unknowingly steps into the lion's den. Add the book to your library so you get notified when the next chapter drops!