Chapter Fifty-Five: The Real Battle Has Begun

Aboud returned to his home after the long and eventful night. He felt utterly exhausted, but his mind couldn't stop racing about everything that had happened. Despite surviving the attack, he knew deep down that this was far from over. The organization was after him, and things were escalating fast.

He sat on the couch, leaning his head back, trying to calm his nerves. Suddenly, his phone rang again. He glanced at the screen and saw it was John.

Aboud (thinking, with a tired tone): "John again... What does he want now?"

Aboud answered the call.

Aboud (calm but exhausted): "Hello, John."

John (with clear concern): "Aboud, Aurora told me what happened tonight. Are you okay? Do you need help? I can be there in no time."

Aboud (firm but calm): "Don’t worry, John. I’m fine. I’m not going down that easily. I’ve been through too much to let them take my life."

John (cautiously): "Aboud, why don’t you just give them what they want? The code… If that’s all they’re after, why not hand it over and put an end to this? It’s better than living in constant danger."

Aboud paused for a moment, thinking about what John said. But the truth was clear to him: he didn’t know anything about the code they were after. Everything was shrouded in mystery, and he was aware that he was entangled in secrets far greater than he had imagined.

Aboud (confused, but sincere): "John, I don’t have any code. I don’t know what they’re talking about. If I knew, I would’ve given it to them already."

John (sounding surprised): "What? How could you not know? Gregor trusted you, and he was the only one who knew the truth about this code. You must know something."

Aboud (seriously and perplexed): "Gregor never told me anything specific. He always talked about big secrets, but he never explained the details. If there’s a code or something hidden, I never received it."

John (suspiciously): "That’s strange, Aboud. The organization is convinced the code is with you. They won’t stop until they get it. How can you be sure Gregor didn’t leave something with you? Maybe he gave you the code in a way you don’t realize."

After the call ended, Aboud sat for a moment, trying to process everything John had said. How could he have the code without knowing? Did he miss something? Had Gregor hidden something from him without his knowledge? Aboud started to rethink every moment he had spent with Gregor—in prison, and in every conversation they had.

Aboud (to himself): "Could the code have been with me this whole time? But where? And how? And how does John know so much?"

These thoughts raced through his mind, endlessly looping. There was no clear answer, but Aboud knew he had to search more thoroughly. His life depended on it now, and so did the lives of those he loved.

Aboud (determined): "I can’t just sit here and wait. I need to find this code and figure out exactly what they’re after."

He got up from the couch, making a decisive choice. He wouldn’t run anymore. He needed to face this organization, but first, he needed to understand the truth about the code. He started thinking about places where this hidden code could be. Had it been with him all along? Or was there something else he needed to uncover?

Aboud (with steely resolve): "If the code is with me, I will find it. And I won’t let them control me this easily."

He walked to his window, looking out at the dark street below. He knew the real battle had only just begun, and he was about to face the greatest challenge of his life.