Midnight Alert

**Page 1**

Josh Cruz lay in his bed, deep in the embrace of sleep, when a sudden, thunderous banging shattered the tranquility of his small house. Startled, he jolted upright, his senses immediately on high alert.

As the echoes of the loud intrusion reverberated through his home, Josh squinted in the dimly lit room and recognized the silhouette of his friend, Mark, at the front door. Panic surged through him as he rushed to the entrance.

**Josh:** *(concerned)* Mark, what's going on?

Mark's face was a mix of urgency and frustration. He wasted no time in delivering the unsettling news.

**Mark:** *(breathless)* Josh, there's trouble. Another gang is trying to steal a part of our turf.

Josh's heart raced as he processed the gravity of the situation. He knew that any intrusion on their territory was a direct challenge to their authority and power. He needed more details.

**Josh:** *(determined)* Which Barangay, Mark? Where's this happening?

Mark didn't mince words as he replied, his voice tense with worry.

**Mark:** *(quickly)* Delas Alas, Josh.

Without a second thought, Josh sprang into action. He had no time to lose. With a swift, purposeful movement, he grabbed his motorcycle keys from a nearby table and headed for the door.

The night air was filled with uncertainty, but Josh Cruz was no stranger to the dangerous world of gang rivalries. As he revved his motorcycle's engine and roared into the darkness of Delas Alas, he knew that he was about to confront another chapter in the ongoing turf wars that defined his life.