Rebecca slowly opened her eyes and saw that she was in a hospital room. The light was dim and the silence around her was heavy. She could hear the beeping of a machine nearby and the sound of her own breaths. She tried to move but felt a sharp pain in her chest. She realized that she had been injured in the incident and must have been unconscious for some time.
As she lay there, her mind started racing with thoughts of Hiro and his sacrifice. She couldn't believe that he was gone, that he had given his life to save hers. Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered his smile, his voice, and his kindness.
"Why did it have to end like this?" she asked herself. "Why did he have to die? Why did he have to leave me alone?"
Her heart felt heavy and she couldn't stop the tears from flowing. She thought about all the moments they had spent together, the good times and the bad, the laughter and the tears. She wished she had told him how much she cared about him, how much he meant to her. She wished she had said goodbye.
Rebecca tried to focus on something else, to distract herself from the pain and the sadness. She thought about her own future, about what would happen next. She didn't know if she would be safe, if the people who had tried to kill her were still after her. She didn't know if she would be able to go back to her old life, if she would be able to find a new purpose.
As she lay there, her thoughts became more and more jumbled. She couldn't make sense of anything, couldn't find a way to move forward. She felt lost and alone, with nothing to hold onto.
But then she remembered Hiro's words, his encouragement and his belief in her. She remembered how he had always been there for her, how he had never given up on her. She knew that he would want her to be strong, to keep fighting, to never give up.
Rebecca took a deep breath and wiped away her tears. She knew that she had to be brave, that she had to honor Hiro's memory by living her life to the fullest. She knew that she had to find a way to move forward, to keep going, no matter how hard it seemed.
"I won't let you down, Hiro," she whispered. "I will make sure that your sacrifice was not in vain. I will keep fighting, I will keep going, and I will make sure that justice is served."
Rebecca's mind was racing as she tried to piece together what had happened since the last thing she remembered was being in the hospital after Hiro's death. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn't right. How did the police know where they were being held captive? Who tipped them off?
As she lay in the hospital bed, she went over everything that had happened in her mind. The break-in at Hiro's apartment, the video of the money laundering, the fake Hiro's father, the car chase, and the shootout that ended in Hiro's death. She couldn't understand why the police didn't arrive sooner, why they weren't able to save Hiro.
Rebecca was determined to find out what had happened. She couldn't let Hiro's death be in vain. She had to find out who was behind all of this and make sure they paid for what they had done.
She knew she had to be careful. Whoever was behind this was powerful and had the resources to cover their tracks. Rebecca didn't know who she could trust, but she had to start somewhere. She decided to start with the police and see if they could give her any answers.
---
Suddenly, Rebecca was startled as the door to her hospital room opened, and a man stepped inside. He was tall and lean, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. He wore a sharp black suit and a stern expression.
"Good afternoon, Miss Rebecca," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "My name is Detective John Matthews, and I'm with the police department."
Rebecca sat up in bed, her heart racing. "What's going on? Is everything okay?"
Detective Matthews crossed the room and took a seat in the chair next to her bed. "I'm afraid there's been some trouble, Miss Rebecca. You and your friends were involved in a rather dangerous situation."
Rebecca's mind raced as she tried to recall the events leading up to her hospitalization. She remembered their escape and the tragic moment when Hiro had shielded her from the shooter's bullet. But how had the police found them?
"Can you tell me what happened?" she asked, her voice trembling.
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Detective Matthews leaned forward, his expression grave. "It seems that the men who captured you were involved in a large-scale money laundering operation. In fact the entire company that owns Nexus was part of the money laundering operation. The police had been investigating them for some time, and they received a tip that led them to your location."
Rebecca felt a wave of relief wash over her. So it wasn't a setup, as she had feared. But something still didn't feel right.
"But how did they know where we were?" she asked. "We were in a secret location, and we didn't tell anyone."
Detective Matthews hesitated for a moment before answering. "Miss Rebecca, I have a confession to make. I'm not just a police officer. I'm also a member of Nexus, the online community where you and your friends spend so much of your time."
Rebecca's eyes widened in surprise. "What? You're Blackscythe?"
Detective Matthews nodded solemnly. "Yes, that's one of my aliases. I've been keeping tabs on the money laundering operation for some time, and I was able to plant a malware on your phone while I was talking to you in Nexus to track down your location and inform the police."
"We've been investigating Nexus for some time now, and we've discovered that the company has been using their marketplace to launder money. They've been doing it for years, and they've gotten away with it because they're able to hide behind the vast amount of micro transactions happening within the huge world of Nexus."
Rebecca was shocked. "What does this have to do with Hiro?" she asked.
"Hiro was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Detective Matthews explained. "He stumbled upon two people in Nexus chatting about laundering money, and he recorded a video of their conversation. When the two people realized they were being spied on, they entered a rift and told Nexus’s administrators to close Hiro's account. He tried to take the video to the police, but he was captured before he could do so. I tried to track him using his cellphone signal as soon as I found out, but the perpetrators turned off his phone and I have not planted the special bug like what I did with your phone"
Rebecca stared at him in disbelief. She had never imagined that the person who they thought was a bad guy and a hacker was actually a police officer.
"But why didn't you tell us?" she asked, her voice trembling with anger and confusion.
Detective Matthews sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Miss Rebecca. I had to keep my identity a secret in order to protect my cover. I never intended for anyone to get hurt. I was just trying to do my job and bring these criminals to justice."
Rebecca shook her head in disbelief. She felt a mix of anger and gratitude towards Detective Matthews. On the one hand, she couldn't believe that he had been deceiving them all along. On the other hand, she was grateful that he had been able to help them and bring the criminals to justice.
"I don't know what to say, I mean I just don’t care anymore, not that I just lost the most important person in my life" she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
Detective Matthews reached out and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I understand that this must be a lot to take in, Miss Rebecca. But you and your friends are safe now. And that's what's most important."
“Wait, what do you mean my friends are safe now?”
---
" Hiro …" Detective Matthews grinned, " didn't die. The bullet missed his vital organs, and he's in stable condition now."
"Oh, thank goodness," Rebecca said, tears of relief streaming down her face.
"He's still in critical condition, but the doctors are optimistic about his recovery," Detective Matthews continued.
"Can I see him?" Rebecca asked.
"Not right now," Detective Matthews replied. "He's still in the ICU, and the doctors don't want any visitors until he stabilizes further. But I promise to keep you updated on his condition."
"Thank you, Detective," Rebecca said, wiping away her tears.
Rebecca nodded slowly, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over her.
Detective Matthews stands up from his chair, glancing at Rebecca one last time with a reassuring nod before making his way towards the door. The bright fluorescent lights cast shadows across his features, making his face appear more serious than before. As he reaches for the handle, he turns to face Rebecca one more time.
"Take care, Rebecca. And do get some rest."
With that, he exits the room, the door slowly closing behind him with a soft click. Rebecca watches him go, her eyes following his every move until he disappears from her sight.
Rebecca couldn't believe it. Hiro was still alive. Her heart swelled with relief, gratitude, and an unexpected surge of joy. He was alive. She had thought she had lost him forever. But he was still alive. She couldn't stop the tears that welled up in her eyes, and her lips trembled as she fought to contain her emotions.
She couldn't help but remember their time together, the way his smile would light up a room, the way his eyes would sparkle with mischief when he was up to something. The way he would always know just what to say to make her feel better. The memories came flooding back, and she felt her heart ache with longing for him.
She had never been able to confess her true feelings for him, not wanting to jeopardize their friendship or make things awkward between them. But now, with the possibility of losing him for good, she realized how much she truly cared for him.
As she lay there, she thought back to the moment when Hiro had shielded her from the bullet. He had risked his life to save hers, and she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt. She wondered if things would have been different if she had been the one to shield him, if she had been the one to take the bullet.
But she knew that dwelling on "what ifs" would not change the past, and she resolved to focus on the present. She would be there for Hiro when he woke up, to help him through his recovery and to support him in any way she could.
Rebecca knew that their relationship would never be the same after this. She had been given a second chance with Hiro, and she was not going to waste it. She was going to tell him how she felt, no matter the consequences.
As she closed her eyes, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that Hiro was alive, and she had the chance to be with him. She resolved to cherish every moment they had together, and to never take anything for granted again.
Rebecca knew that the road ahead would not be easy. There were still many questions left unanswered, and the danger was not yet over. But she also knew that she was not alone. She had Detective Matthews and the police on her side, and she had Hiro.
Looking out the window, Rebecca saw the hustle and bustle of the city below her. Cars rushed by on the street, and people walked by in a blur. It was a stark contrast to the quiet of her hospital room, and she couldn't help but feel a little envious of their freedom.
She leaned her forehead against the glass and closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. Her mind drifted back to Hiro, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was doing right now. Was he awake yet? Had he asked about her? She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
Rebecca knew that she needed to focus on getting better so she could help Hiro in any way possible. She needed to be strong for him, just like he had been strong for her. She took a deep breath and straightened up, feeling a sense of determination coursing through her veins.
With a newfound sense of purpose, Rebecca turned away from the window and walked back to her bed, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.