In a country where the roots of corruption have spread deep within the government and its people, there was a man neither good nor bad. Some admired his actions and bravery, while others saw him as a traitor to his nation.
It was midnight, in the abandoned Fairview Mall, a wanted killer was hiding from the authorities. Not long after, a passerby who saw him enter the desolate building tipped off the police. Once they received the information, the authorities rushed to the location, unaware of the danger that awaited them.
At exactly 12:35 p.m., two SWAT vehicles arrived at the scene carrying 12 heavily armed officers. They equipped themselves with riot shields, rifles, and armored vests, preparing for a high-risk operation. A plan was quickly formed: Team A would focus on securing all exits to prevent the killer's escape, while Team B would sweep the interior and capture him alive.
Team B entered the mall through the front entrance, moving quietly. The abandoned mall was dark and eerie, sending chills down their spines. The only light came from the flashlights attached to their rifles. As they cleared each floor, they found no sign of the killer -- no evidence, no movement.
They then checked the employee hallways at the back, where staff once moved discreetly throughout the mall. As they explored the labyrinthine corridors, one member became separated and lost in the darkness. He stumbled upon the corpse of a teenager, slashed and stabbed to death. Frozen in fear, he suddenly felt as though he was being watched.
From the shadows, a silhouette emerged -- calm, deliberate. The light from the officer's flashlight slowly revealed a terrifying figure: the killer. He wore a long black trench coat, leather gloves, black pants, boots, and a ski mask that concealed his face, with only two eye holes. Over the mask, he wore a pair of steampunk goggles.
Panicking, the SWAT officer raised his rifle to fire, but before he could shoot, a dagger flew through the air and pierced his skull, killing him instantly.
As the remaining five members of Team B wondered what happened to their comrade, a dagger struck one of them from behind, causing chaos. When they turned toward the direction of the attack, they saw the killer dragging their teammate's lifeless body.
Paralyzed by shock, one officer opened fire. The killer swiftly used the corpse as a shield to block the bullets. The others began firing as well, but the killer hurled the body into them, knocking them down. Two officers were then struck down by expertly thrown daggers.
The remaining three tried to retreat and report the situation to Team A. However, the killer picked up a fallen rifle and executed them before they could escape.
Team A, after receiving the emergency report, decided to end the threat by leveling the entire building. They detonated C4 charges placed at all exits, reducing the abandoned mall to rubble and sending tremors through the nearby area.
Unknown to them, the killer had already escaped through the sewage system beneath the mall.
Later, Team A reported to their superior, claiming that the target had been eliminated and detailing the casualties from the operation. But their superior remained unsatisfied. He decided to send an NBI investigator -- Christopher Rodriguez -- to examine the aftermath of the operation.
As morning came, the sound of an approaching car echoed through the empty streets -- it was Inspector Christopher, arriving at the scene alongside his colleague, Chief Police Elizabeth Espiritu, to investigate the aftermath of the incident.
Inspector Christopher stepped out slowly, his eyes scanning the ruins of the destroyed mall. He moved cautiously, observing the wreckage with sharp attention, trying to determine if the killer had somehow survived the explosion. As he examined the collapsed floors and rubble, there was no sign of the killer's body -- only the remains of the fallen SWAT members from Team B.
They proceeded to the ground floor, deciding to split up and search for any possible clues. Elizabeth wandered near the parking lot and suddenly spotted something out of place -- a manhole cover that had been left open. Realizing its significance, she sprinted back to Christopher, breathing heavily from the sudden rush.
She reported what she had found, suggesting that the killer might have used the sewage system to escape the explosion. Christopher's expression hardened. He immediately called their superior and reported the findings, confirming that the killer was still alive and had most likely escaped through the sewers.
Upon hearing this, the superior gave them a direct order: find the killer and bring him to justice for the crimes he committed during the political campaign.
With their mission clear, the two investigators exited the destroyed mall and returned to their vehicle. As they drove, both pondered the possible locations the sewer system might connect to. Then, Elizabeth spoke up:
"Some sewage systems are connected to the underground subway. Maybe he's heading there. At this rate, he's probably already out of the sewers. Our best chance to track him is to check the camera footage in the subway."
Without hesitation, Christopher turned the car toward the nearest subway station, hoping to find any trace of the killer's emergence.