The rocks beneath Nader's boots slid as he ran down the narrow cliff path.
Loose gravel scattered into the darkness below.
Behind them, the sound of men shouting echoed through the night.
"They're right behind us!" Kareem shouted.
Gunshots cracked through the air.
A bullet struck the rock beside Nader's shoulder, sending fragments flying.
"Keep moving!" Jahan yelled.
The path twisted sharply along the cliffside, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
Now they were running across it in near darkness.
The ocean roared below them like an angry beast.
Nader's heart pounded violently in his chest.
Ten minutes ago he thought he was going to see his father.
Now he was running for his life with armed hunters chasing them through the night.
Another gunshot exploded.
This time Kareem cursed loudly.
"Damn it!"
Nader looked back.
"You hit?"
"Just grazed!"
Kareem's sleeve was torn and blood ran down his arm.
But he kept running.
Nader's father stopped briefly and turned back toward the slope above them.
Several flashlights were moving quickly down the path.
"They're gaining on us," he said calmly.
Jahan grabbed his arm.
"This isn't the time to admire the scenery."
His father looked down toward the coastline.
"There."
A small wooden structure sat near the bottom of the cliff.
An old fishing shack.
Nader followed his gaze.
"You have a plan?"
"Something like that."
The Descent
The path suddenly became steeper.
They had to slide and climb down several jagged rocks.
Jahan moved quickly, her movements precise and controlled.
Nader realized again how skilled she was.
"You've done this before," he said between breaths.
She glanced at him.
"I've had worse nights."
Behind them Viktor's voice echoed again.
"Don't let them escape!"
Flashlights danced wildly across the cliffside.
More gunshots followed.
The hunters were desperate now.
Kareem jumped down the last rock and landed heavily on the sand below.
"Move!" he shouted.
Nader followed, then helped his father down.
Jahan landed silently beside them.
They were now at the base of the cliff.
The waves crashed violently against the nearby rocks.
The small shack stood about thirty meters away.
Old.
Weathered.
But intact.
They ran toward it.
Inside the Shack
Kareem kicked the door open.
The interior smelled of salt and old wood.
Fishing nets hung from the walls.
Rusty tools lay scattered across a small table.
But Nader's father didn't hesitate.
He walked straight to the back wall and pushed aside a stack of wooden crates.
Behind them was a hidden metal hatch.
Nader blinked.
"You've been here before."
His father nodded.
"Long ago."
Kareem whistled.
"Well I'll be damned."
Jahan crossed her arms.
"You prepared this."
"Just in case."
Nader crouched beside the hatch.
"What's down there?"
"A tunnel."
"To where?"
His father looked at him.
"Somewhere safer."
Before Nader could ask more—
Footsteps outside.
Fast.
Close.
"They're here!" Kareem warned.
The door burst open.
A flashlight beam filled the room.
"Don't move!"
One of Viktor's men stepped inside with a rifle raised.
Another followed behind him.
For a moment everything froze.
Then Jahan moved.
Her foot slammed into the first man's wrist.
The rifle flew across the room.
Before the second man could react, Kareem punched him hard in the stomach.
The man collapsed.
Nader grabbed the fallen rifle.
His hands shook slightly.
"More are coming!" Kareem said.
Nader's father opened the hatch.
"Everyone inside."
Jahan jumped down first.
Kareem followed.
Nader hesitated.
Then he heard Viktor's voice outside.
"Search the shack!"
That was enough.
He climbed down.
His father closed the hatch behind them just as the door above slammed open again.
The Tunnel
Darkness surrounded them.
Jahan switched on a small flashlight.
A narrow tunnel stretched ahead.
Stone walls.
Damp air.
The sound of distant water dripping.
Kareem exhaled slowly.
"Well… that was close."
Nader looked at his father.
"You built this?"
"Not exactly."
"Then who?"
His father hesitated.
"Someone who helped me disappear."
Jahan started walking down the tunnel.
"Let's save the family reunion for later."
Nader followed her.
The tunnel sloped gently downward.
After several minutes of walking, Kareem spoke again.
"So… about this secret organization trying to kill us."
Nader sighed.
"Yes, I'd also like some details."
His father's footsteps slowed.
"They're powerful."
"How powerful?" Kareem asked.
"They have people everywhere."
Jahan nodded.
"In governments… businesses… security forces."
Nader frowned.
"That sounds impossible."
His father stopped walking.
He turned toward them.
"I stole something that proves their existence."
Nader's eyes widened.
"The document you mentioned."
"Yes."
Kareem scratched his head.
"And where is this magical piece of paper now?"
His father looked directly at Nader.
"Hidden."
"Where?"
"In a place only I can access."
Jahan's voice turned serious.
"That's why they can't kill you yet."
His father nodded.
"They need me alive."
Nader felt uneasy.
"So what's their plan tonight?"
Kareem answered before anyone else.
"Capture us."
"And force him to give it to them."
Silence filled the tunnel.
After a moment Nader asked quietly:
"What happens if they succeed?"
His father's answer was simple.
"The truth disappears forever."
The Chase Continues
Suddenly a loud metallic bang echoed through the tunnel behind them.
Everyone froze.
Jahan turned off the flashlight.
Darkness swallowed them.
"What was that?" Nader whispered.
Kareem listened carefully.
Then his expression darkened.
"They found the hatch."
Another loud crash followed.
Then voices.
Distant.
But getting closer.
Jahan cursed softly.
"They're coming."
Nader's father looked ahead into the darkness.
"How far does this tunnel go?" Kareem asked.
"About two kilometers."
"Then we better start running again."
Jahan switched the flashlight back on.
They began moving faster.
Their footsteps echoed through the narrow passage.
Behind them the sounds of pursuit grew louder.
Metal scraping.
Boots hitting stone.
The hunters had entered the tunnel.
And they were not slowing down.
A New Threat
After nearly fifteen minutes of running, the tunnel widened into a larger underground chamber.
A small underground river flowed through the middle of it.
Nader stopped.
"What now?"
His father pointed to an old wooden boat tied near the water.
"We cross."
Kareem laughed.
"You hid everything down here."
"Preparation saves lives."
They climbed into the boat quickly.
Jahan untied the rope while Kareem grabbed the oars.
Nader's father pushed them away from the shore.
The boat drifted into the dark river.
Behind them, flashlights appeared at the tunnel entrance.
Viktor stepped forward slowly.
His eyes locked onto the boat.
"Well done," he said calmly.
"But not good enough."
He raised his hand.
Several of his men aimed their rifles.
The first bullet struck the water beside the boat.
Nader ducked instinctively.
Kareem rowed harder.
"Go! Go!"
More shots echoed across the cavern.
Water splashed violently around them.
Jahan grabbed Nader's arm.
"Stay down!"
Nader looked back.
Viktor watched them calmly.
Then he smiled.
And pulled out a phone.
Jahan's eyes widened.
"Oh no."
"What?" Nader asked.
She looked at him.
"This river…"
"…leads to the harbor."
Kareem froze.
"And?"
Jahan's voice turned grim.
"He just called reinforcements."
Nader's father clenched his fists.
"That means—"
Lights suddenly appeared far ahead in the tunnel where the river continued.
Bright.
Moving closer.
Boats.
More hunters.
Nader's heart dropped.
They weren't escaping.
They were heading straight into another trap.