Max's heart was pounding in his chest as he sprinted across the dark rooftops, the cool night air whipping past him. His senses were on high alert, every muscle in his body humming with the newfound strength and speed of the suit. It felt like something out of a dream, but the urgency was real—too real. The agents were hot on his trail.
The sound of their heavy boots clanging against the concrete echoed below him, followed by shouts that made his stomach twist with anxiety. "Stop! We're not gonna hurt you! Just give us the meteorite!" one of them yelled. Max didn't even spare them a glance. His focus was solely on the rooftops ahead.
"Not gonna happen!" he muttered to himself, pushing himself harder.
The suit's enhanced agility allowed him to leap from rooftop to rooftop with ease. He could feel the power surging in his legs as he effortlessly cleared gaps between buildings. His mind was racing faster than his feet, trying to think of a way to shake the agents off his trail.
Max's fingers gripped the edges of the rooftop as he swung himself over a ledge, landing with a soft thud on the other side. He glanced over his shoulder, heart leaping in his throat. The agents were still there, their footsteps growing closer, their voices tinged with frustration. "We'll catch you, Max!" they shouted. They knew his name. How? Had they been watching him for longer than he realized?
"I can't let them catch me," Max thought, his breath ragged as he darted down another alley. The walls of the buildings seemed to close in around him, but he kept moving, pushing his legs faster, his mind racing through options. He needed to lose them—needed to make them think he was somewhere else.
His mind worked quickly. He spotted a narrow alleyway to his right. It was a gamble, but he had no choice. Without hesitation, Max veered sharply, hurtling into the tight corridor between two buildings, hoping that the narrow space would make it harder for the agents to follow.
The agents' voices were louder now. "He went this way! He couldn't have gone far!" one of them shouted, and Max could hear the pounding footsteps behind him. The sound of sirens blared in the distance, but that didn't matter. What mattered now was survival.
Max's breath hitched as he reached the end of the alley, his eyes scanning for his next move. The street ahead was too open, and the agents were closing in too quickly. He needed something to give him a slight edge. His eyes landed on a fire escape ladder hanging down from the side of a building. It was his only option.
With a sharp inhale, Max launched himself toward the ladder, his hands gripping it just as the agents rounded the corner. "There he is!" they shouted, and Max could feel the heat of their pursuit in the air.
His fingers scrambled up the ladder, his feet pushing him higher, the metal rattling under his weight. He could hear the agents cursing below, but he didn't stop. He had to get to the roof. "Come on, come on!" he muttered to himself as he climbed faster, his body still adjusting to the suit's capabilities.
Finally, he made it to the top. As Max hauled himself onto the roof, he could see the agents standing below, their faces twisted with frustration. But they couldn't follow him—not here. Not yet.
"Damn it!" one of the agents yelled, his voice echoing in the street below. "He's gone! Split up, search the area!"
Max crouched low, heart racing, listening to the agents scatter, their shouts fading into the distance. He had escaped for now, but his relief was short-lived. The night air felt colder than it ever had before. His thoughts raced: What's happening? Why are they after me?
Max's eyes locked onto the horizon, where the city lights blurred into the distance. His mind was already working, piecing together the puzzle his father had left behind. "This is bigger than I thought," Max whispered to himself. "They'll never stop until they get what they want."
With a deep breath, he stood tall, his hand resting on the edge of the rooftop. The chase had only just begun, but Max knew one thing for sure: he wasn't going to give up. Not now. Not ever.
As he stood there, his heart slowing just a little, Max realized the gravity of the situation. The suit was just the beginning. There was something much more dangerous out there, something much bigger than him, and he had to be ready.
"They won't stop," he whispered, tightening his grip on the ledge. "And neither will I."