Today
Niko was sitting in his small apartment in Singapore, reviewing forecast data on his laptop, when he received the notification of several press articles mentioning his name. Social media mentions were heating up.
He looked at the story in panic, his thoughts circling, when interrupted by a direct notification on his phone—a message from an unknown number.
The police are on their way. Leave now.
Niko’s heart pounded. He stared at the message, trying to comprehend its implications. Was it a prank? Or a tip-off?
There was no time to think. He grabbed a small backpack, stuffing it with essentials—his laptop, money, and a few clothes. His mind raced through possible escape routes as he bolted out the door.
Once he exited his apartment, he was immediately greeted by the distant wail of sirens. Panic surged through him. He knew he had only minutes before the authorities would arrive.
Niko’s apartment was on the fifteenth floor of a modern high-rise, a condominium complex with tight security and surveillance cameras at every corner. He cursed the same technology he had once found reassuring, knowing it now worked against him.
His first thought was to take the elevator but quickly dismissed it. Elevators were traps—too slow, too predictable. Instead, he opted for the stairwell.
As he dashed down the stairs, his footsteps echoed loudly, each step feeling like a countdown to his capture. Breathe, Niko, breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Stay quiet. Stay calm. The sirens grew louder. He pushed on, forcing himself to think clearly despite the urgency.
The wail of sirens grew louder. He pushed on, forcing himself to stay calm and think clearly.
On the tenth-floor landing, he paused for a moment to catch his breath. He could hear voices from below, and the sound of heavy boots on the stairs. The police were already inside the building. He had to act fast.
He glanced around, his eyes falling on a window at the end of the corridor. It was a risky move.
He sprinted toward the window and forced it open, peering out at the fire escape that zigzagged down the side of the building. The metal structure was old and rusty, but it was his best option.
He climbed out, feeling the cold night air against his skin, and began to descend. The fire escape creaked under his weight, each step sending a jolt of fear through him. He moved as quickly and quietly as he could, knowing that any noise might give away his position.
Halfway down, he ducked as a flashlight beam swept across the building, narrowly missing him. He pressed himself against the wall, holding his breath, waiting for the danger to pass. When the light moved on, he resumed his descent, heart pounding in his chest.
Reaching the ground, Niko slipped into the back alley behind the building. He glanced around, ensuring he was alone, and then blended into the dark.
The narrow alley was filled with dumpsters and stray cats, the smell of garbage and decay hanging in the air. He moved swiftly, keeping to the darkest parts, his senses heightened. Every noise, every shadow, felt like danger.
Emerging from the alley, he found himself on a busy street. The city was alive with its usual evening crowd—people heading home from work, others going out for dinner or drinks. To Niko, every passerby seemed like a potential threat. He needed to stay hidden, to blend in without drawing attention.
He pulled a face mask from his bag and put it on, knowing the city was filled with surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology. Fortunately for him, face masks were a common sight due to the worsening air quality.
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With the mask securely in place, he walked quickly but not too fast, trying to appear casual. He kept his head down, avoiding eye contact, while scanning the area for any sign of the police. The MRT station at Farrer Park was just a few blocks away, yet it felt like miles. He navigated the crowded sidewalks, slipping between groups of people, always moving, never stopping.
As he neared the station, Niko saw police cars pulling up nearby. Acting quickly, he ducked into a narrow side street, crouching behind a stack of crates.
The muffled voices of officers questioning people on the street reached his ears. His heart hammered in his chest as he waited, tense and alert. Once the officers moved on, he slipped out of his hiding spot and made his way to the station.
Inside, he blended into the crowd of commuters, using their numbers as a shield. The station was buzzing with activity. He navigated through the maze of tunnels and platforms purposefully, heading for the first available train. Boarding it with his pulse still racing, he knew this was just the beginning of his escape.
He sent a quick, coded message to Priya, arranging to meet in the evening at a busy mall on Orchard Road—one of the few places he hoped to blend in.
The mall was teeming with shoppers, the air filled with the sounds of laughter, conversation, and music from various stores. Niko kept his head down, weaving through the crowd, constantly looking over his shoulder.
His anger grew as he read the article detailing the accusations against him, complete with his picture and a plea for the public to report any sightings.
The gravity of the situation sank in. He was being framed, and someone powerful was behind it. He stood there, hoping that Priya would show up until he finally spotted her near a large fountain in the center of the mall, her expression tense.
“Niko, over here,” she called softly, glancing around nervously.
He hurried over, pulling her into a semi-secluded corner near a row of shops. “Priya, thank you for coming. What’s been happening?”
She looked around to ensure they weren’t being watched. “Ryan’s behavior is getting more erratic. He’s pushing the board harder than ever, demanding they stick to the launch schedule no matter what. But the board is too scared to confront him. They’re afraid of what he might do.”
“Did Ryan say something about me to you?”
“He hasn’t, but I barely see him these days except through the screen. The only thing he keeps saying is that NAPPA cannot be dragged down by you and that they collaborate with the police.”
Niko frowned. “And what about my files? The ones you told me were supposedly destroyed? How did information about my past leak?”
Priya shook her head, her eyes filled with concern. “I swear I don’t know, Niko. The files were supposed to be wiped clean—General Meyer assured me of it. There’s no way they should have resurfaced. Someone with serious power and connections is behind this.”
Niko’s fists clenched. “I need to clear my name, Priya. I can’t let them get away with this.”
Priya reached into her bag and handed him a small envelope. “I managed to get a hold of these today; don’t ask me how. They are fake documents. Also, I found a way for you to get out of Singapore. Read the description inside. But be careful; they are monitoring the city, as NAPPA has a lot of connections in the government and police. I’ll do my best to dig into your file and the accusations. I promise.”
Niko took the envelope, feeling a surge of gratitude and determination. “Thank you, Priya. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
She smiled faintly. “Just stay safe. I’ll be in touch as soon as I find anything.”
Niko watched as Priya melted back into the crowd, her figure quickly disappearing among the throngs of shoppers. He knew she was taking a great risk by helping him, and he couldn’t afford to waste this opportunity.
A few days later, with the fake documents in hand, Niko navigated the crowded streets to a small fishing dock near the Singapore harbor. He kept his head low and his movements deliberate, every fiber of his being alert to potential threats.
Priya had arranged for a passage on a small tugboat for him, a humble, unassuming means to escape the city.
As he approached the dock, the pungent smell of fish filled the air. He saw the tugboat—an old, weathered vessel with peeling paint and a crew of grizzled fishermen loading their catch. He approached the captain, a wiry man with a weather-beaten face.
“You must be Niko,” the captain said in a low voice. “We leave in ten minutes. Stay out of sight, lah!”
Niko nodded and boarded the boat, finding a small, cramped space below deck where he could hide.
The boat’s engines rumbled to life, and they were soon moving, leaving the familiar skyline of Singapore behind.
As the tugboat made its way through the dark waters, with a strong stench of fish in his nose, Niko reflected on the events that had led him to this point. Someone powerful was clearly trying to frame him, most likely someone in NAPPA itself. Could it really be Ryan, as the Bulldog had proposed? Surely, he would have much to gain from Niko’s fall, but somehow, Niko couldn’t believe that Ryan, his friend, would be able to do such a thing. Whoever it was, he knew that clearing his name and uncovering the truth would not be easy.
He felt a mix of relief and apprehension as the boat cut through the water, taking him to an uncertain future. Soon thereafter, he fell asleep under the stars.