The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 17: Retaliation

The safehouse was quiet when they returned, but the air was heavy with unspoken tension. Victor dropped the stolen uniforms into a bag and tossed it into the corner before slumping into a chair.

Marcus lit a cigarette, his expression unreadable. "So, how long do we have before Jared comes knocking?"

Adam's eyes flicked to the system, waiting for its inevitable update.

He quickly posed his first question.

Adam's heart sank. "We've been compromised," he said, his voice low. "Jared knows where we are, and he's sending people here. We've got about an hour and a half."

Victor swore under his breath, standing abruptly. "How the hell did he find us?"

Marcus frowned. "Leon's network. Must've been someone on the inside."

Victor slammed his fist onto the table. "Damn it. We can't stay here."

Adam nodded. "We need to move, but not blindly. Let me ask another question."

Adam relayed the answer, and Victor grabbed a map from the table, marking the location.

"That'll work," Victor said. "We'll head there now."

---

Packing was quick and efficient. Victor and Marcus were clearly used to situations like this, their movements practiced and methodical. Adam, on the other hand, felt like he was running on autopilot.

The safehouse was stripped bare in less than ten minutes. Marcus shouldered a duffel bag filled with weapons and supplies, while Victor double-checked their exit plan.

"Ready?" Victor asked, his gaze sharp.

Adam nodded, though his hands trembled slightly.

---

The journey to the industrial facility was tense. Victor drove with practiced precision, taking back roads and avoiding main streets. The city seemed quieter than usual, as if it too was bracing for what was to come.

The facility came into view after nearly an hour of driving. It was a sprawling complex of rusted metal and cracked concrete, surrounded by overgrown weeds. The place looked abandoned, but Adam couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

They parked the SUV behind a crumbling warehouse and slipped inside through a broken door.

The interior was dark and filled with the faint smell of oil and decay. Marcus lit a flashlight, sweeping the beam across the space.

"This'll do," he said.

Victor nodded. "Secure the perimeter. Adam, stay here and keep an eye on the system. Let us know if anything changes."

---

Adam set up in the corner of the warehouse, his back against the cold wall. The system's glow illuminated his face as he typed his final question of the day.

Adam frowned. "Victor," he called out.

Victor approached, his expression wary. "What is it?"

"This area isn't completely abandoned," Adam said. "There are gangs nearby. We might run into trouble."

Victor rubbed his temples. "Great. As if we didn't have enough to worry about."

Marcus returned from his sweep, a shotgun slung over his shoulder. "Perimeter's clear for now, but I found fresh tracks near the east side. We're not alone out here."

Victor sighed. "Alright. We'll take shifts tonight. Keep watch in pairs."

---

Hours passed, and the night deepened. Adam couldn't sleep. Every creak of the building, every distant sound outside put him on edge.

Marcus sat nearby, his shotgun resting across his lap. He glanced at Adam and chuckled. "First time on the run?"

"Yeah," Adam admitted. "I didn't think it'd feel like this."

"You'll get used to it," Marcus said, though his tone wasn't comforting.

"I don't want to get used to it," Adam muttered.

Marcus shrugged. "Fair enough. But you've got a knack for staying alive, kid. That's more than most can say."

---

The system lit up suddenly, displaying a message without Adam having asked anything.

Adam shot to his feet. "Victor! We've got company."

Victor rushed over, his hand already on his weapon. "How many?"

Adam hesitated, looking back at the system. "It didn't say."

"Doesn't matter," Marcus said, standing. "We're ready."

Victor nodded. "Marcus, take the east side. Adam, stay low and keep watch from here. I'll cover the north entrance."

---

The next ten minutes felt like an eternity. Adam pressed himself against the wall, listening intently.

The first sound was faint—footsteps crunching on gravel. Then came the voices, low and rough.

Marcus was the first to engage, his shotgun booming in the darkness. Shouts erupted, followed by the crack of return fire.

Victor moved swiftly, his pistol precise and deadly. Adam watched in frozen terror as the shadows of the fight played out across the warehouse walls.

A figure burst through the door near Adam, and before he could react, the man lunged at him. Adam scrambled backward, grabbing a metal pipe from the ground. He swung it wildly, connecting with the attacker's arm.

The man yelped in pain, but before he could recover, Marcus appeared and finished the job with a single shot.

"You alright?" Marcus asked, pulling Adam to his feet.

Adam nodded shakily, his grip on the pipe still tight.

---

The fight ended as quickly as it began. Victor and Marcus regrouped, their faces grim.

"That was a scouting party," Victor said. "The real trouble's not far behind."

The system's message confirmed his fears:

Adam swallowed hard. The war had come to them, and this time, there was no running.