Wolfram

The days that followed were a whirlwind. Jake and Lucy had set up a makeshift base in an abandoned storage shed near the university campus, far enough from prying eyes, but close enough to gather information when needed. They spent hours brainstorming and researching—Jake pouring over every detail of his newfound powers, while Lucy worked to track down any remaining traces of Rex Steel's criminal network.

Jake's life had become a series of late nights, filled with maps, dossiers, and endless theories. Lucy was a force to be reckoned with—her quick thinking and no-nonsense attitude made her the perfect partner in this strange new world. But Jake knew they were only scratching the surface.

One evening, as they sat in their makeshift hideout, going over some research notes, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Lucy looked up from her laptop, noticing his furrowed brow. "What's on your mind?" she asked softly.

"I don't know… I just feel like we're waiting for something. Like there's a storm on the horizon," Jake muttered, rubbing his forehead. "We've been playing defense, but I don't know how long we can keep this up."

Lucy paused, then leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "I get that. But there's nothing more we can do until we learn more about Rex Steel's people. Whoever's after you, they're organized. And we need to stay one step ahead."

Jake didn't respond right away. He knew she was right, but the uncertainty gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the image of the villains who had attacked him a few days ago. The look in their eyes. The cold confidence that they'd find him, no matter what.

As if on cue, his phone buzzed across the table, interrupting his thoughts. It was a message from an unknown number. 

**"It's time to stop hiding, Jake."**

Jake's pulse quickened. He glanced at Lucy, who was already looking over his shoulder. The air in the room shifted, charged with tension.

"Who's it from?" Lucy asked, her voice low.

"I don't know. But I have a bad feeling about this," Jake said, his finger hovering over the screen. He opened the message.

**"If you want to keep playing the coward, stay hidden. But I will find you eventually. There's nowhere to run."**

Jake felt a cold shiver run down his spine. This wasn't a random message. Whoever had sent it knew exactly who he was. They knew he was the one with the serum. And worse—they weren't going to stop until they found him.

"This is bad," Jake muttered, running a hand through his hair. "They know where I am. Or at least, they know I'm on campus."

Lucy stood up, her face hardening. "We need to make a move. Sitting here and waiting won't protect you anymore."

Jake clenched his fist, feeling the weight of the tungsten arm again. "I've been running my whole life. But now… I'm not sure what to do."

Lucy gave him a sharp look. "You've got this power now, Jake. And you don't have to do it alone. We've been preparing for this. It's time to fight back."