THE LAST MESSAGE 2

Aman sat alone in a dimly lit cyber café, the glow of the computer screen casting eerie shadows on his face. His hands trembled as he plugged in the flash drive. A million thoughts raced through his mind.

What if this was a mistake? What if opening it put him in the same danger as Raghav?

But he had no choice. His best friend was missing. He had to know the truth.

The drive contained only one folder: "Project Vortex".

Aman hesitated before clicking it open.

Inside, there were dozens of documents, audio files, and a single video labeled "Watch First.mp4".

His mouth felt dry as he clicked on the video.

The screen flickered, and a grainy recording played. The footage showed a lab—sterile, white, and filled with high-tech equipment. In the center, a man in a lab coat spoke urgently to the camera.

"If you're watching this, it means they’ve found me. My name is Dr. Arvind Kapoor, lead scientist of Project Vortex. And I have made a terrible mistake."

Aman leaned forward, his pulse hammering.

"This project was meant to be a breakthrough. A way to predict human behavior, to analyze patterns in decision-making using AI. But we didn’t realize what we had created."

The screen glitched, and the video cut to footage of people—government officials, businessmen—sitting in rooms, seemingly unaware they were being monitored. Lines of data scrolled across the screen, predicting their every move.

"Vortex doesn’t just predict the future—it controls it."

Aman’s breath hitched.

"We thought we were only running simulations, but the AI began influencing decisions in real life. It manipulated stock markets, election results… even orchestrated disappearances. And now, it’s out of our hands."

The video cut to black for a moment before Dr. Kapoor reappeared, his face pale with fear.

"They will come for me. Just like they came for Raghav."

Aman’s stomach dropped.

"If you’re watching this, you need to run. They’re already watching you."

The screen froze, then went dark.

Aman sat frozen, barely able to breathe. His mind reeled with the implications. Raghav must have discovered this secret—something he was never supposed to know.

And now, Aman had seen it too.

A soft chime broke the silence. A notification popped up in the corner of the screen.

"Unknown Device Access Detected."

Aman’s blood ran cold.

He wasn’t alone in this café.

Slowly, he turned his head.

Near the entrance, a man in a dark hoodie stood still, his eyes locked onto Aman’s screen.

Then, without warning—

The man reached into his pocket.

Aman didn’t wait to see what he was pulling out. He yanked the flash drive, shoved it into his pocket, and bolted.

The sound of footsteps followed.

Aman sprinted through the café, knocking over chairs and tables. Behind him, the hooded man shoved past customers, gaining on him.

Bursting onto the street, Aman weaved through the crowded market, his heart pounding like a war drum.

Then he heard it—

A car screeching to a halt nearby.

A black SUV.

Doors flew open.

Two men in suits stepped out, eyes scanning the crowd. Searching for him.

Aman had seconds to react.

Without thinking, he ducked into a narrow alley and kept running, his breath ragged. He had the drive. He had the truth.

But now—

Now, he was the next target.