The Labyrinth Keys

In my hurry, I check the time—it's the crack of dawn, just before 6:00 AM. I turn on the lights in the front room. Nobody is here. I peek out the window, but the driver has already sped off. Something is off in the house. I rush over to the desktop and yell out loud, "Shit!"

The damn key is missing. Whoever snuck in here took the chip and ran. I smash my fist on the table. Goddammit, it was right under my damn nose!

The crash startles Maki awake. She flies out of the guest room, knife raised, still half-asleep. Her light blue hair is a tangled mess, and she's half-dressed. "What the fuck is going on?"

I grit my teeth, frustration and self-loathing boiling over. "Someone took the damn key! That's what's going on!"

Rin stumbles out of Finn's room, apparently woken by my shouting. She rubs her eyes, her dark hair a mess. "What?" she mumbles groggily. Then she sees my face, sees Maki with her knife drawn, and her exhaustion vanishes, replaced by sharp awareness.

"The key?" she repeats, voice rising. She rushes to the desk, scanning the now-empty space where the chip had been. "You're joking."

"I wish," I snap, running both hands through my hair. "I heard a car door. Someone was in here while we were sleeping. They took the damn key and ran."

Maki lowers the knife, but her expression hardens. "How the hell did they even get in? We would've heard something!" She steps closer, her voice dangerous. "They took the damn key—right next to you—and you just slept through it?"

I grit my teeth, my frustration mounting. "You think I let them? I didn't hear a damn thing!" I shake my head, pacing. "Whoever it was, they were good. Too good."

Rin clenches her jaw, crossing her arms. "So what now? We just sit here and mope?"

Maki huffs, running a hand through her messy hair. "Hell no. We find the bastard and get the damn key back."

I bark orders, my mind still buzzing from the adrenaline. "Both of you, get dressed. We know where the damn chip is going to be used. The subway station is our best lead. Grab what you can carry in a backpack, and let's go."

Rin doesn't hesitate, already rushing back to grab her gear. Maki shoots me a sharp look but nods, disappearing into the guest room to change.

I clench my fists, forcing myself to take a breath. My mind races through possibilities. Whoever stole the key knew exactly where to find it. That meant they had either been watching us or already knew what they were after. Either way, we weren't dealing with some random thief—we were dealing with someone who had a plan.

I get dressed quickly, not even caring—I throw on the clothes I wore yesterday, along with my green jacket that I left at Finn's house. I grab a large, strapped leather backpack that Finn used for hiking. I pack all the water we have left, plus some bars in case we need them.

A few minutes later, Rin and Maki return, both dressed and armed. Rin has Finn's old backpack strapped to her back, a compact pistol holstered at her side likely a sidearm Finn didn't bring with him. Maki wears her usual black combat boots, a knife secured to her belt, and a satchel tucked under her jacket.

Maki jerks her chin toward me. "You ready, Jack?"

I nod. "Let's move."

We slip out the front, keeping low as we head toward Maki's truck. The streets are still quiet, the early morning haze clinging to the asphalt. As Maki starts the engine, Rin pulls up the subway maps on her phone.

"There are three main access points to the old tunnels," she says. "One's sealed, one collapsed years ago... but the third?" She glances up at me, eyes sharp. "It's still accessible. And guess what? It's less than fifteen minutes from here."