Rudy was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The teens could only watch him leave with somber faces.
The day's shadows had grown long, and the sun had begun to set.
"They just made it personal," Jack growled. "Let's finish this."
An inconspicuous Ella Wong observed the whole situation, scowling. She almost swore before regaining her composure.
"I was right. It's happened," she muttered to herself. "Better prepared."
Suddenly the gang appeared around her.
"Better be prepared for what?" Milton demanded.
Kim snatched her phone while Jerry grabbed her arms.
"Going somewhere? Doubt it!" he scoffed.
"It's called a preemptive strike!" Jack was furious. "Now start talking!"
Eddie had hung back as his friends captured the girl. Her piercing eyes caught him trying to sneak away.
"Where do you think you're going?" Ella's voice penetrated the air. "Mr. Jones."
Kim was frustrated. "This phone has nothing! All her contacts have blocked IDs!"
Milton saw Eddie slipping away. "Hey, Eddie! What're you doing?!"
The boy still held the white envelope, and the set of his mouth told them he'd come to a decision.
"I'm sorry," he apologized with slight guilt. "I'm sorry!"
He held his hand high and yelled in a foreign tongue, something none of them could comprehend.
Smoke billowed, surrounding the group. Once the fog cleared, Eddie had vanished.
"Eddie? Eddie?!" The Wasabi Warriors were almost frantic. They dispersed their cluster to search around the square, running around urgently.
"Uh, guys?" Jerry was headfirst in the bushes. "I think I lost Ella."
"That slippery little rat!" Milton exploded.
"Kindly insult me when I'm out of earshot!" She appeared at his shoulder.
"GAH!" Milton screeched.
Everyone ran to protect Milton, but Ella put her hands up. "I could've ran away, but your so-called friend Jones did first," she remarked brazenly. "Somehow, I believe we both possess information that could be mutually beneficial once exchanged."
Kim massaged her temples. "Get to the point, will ya?"
"As long as Martinez keeps his hands off me, I'll stay." Ella's eyes twinkled darkly. "Let's have a chat."
The group relocated to the woods, led by their strange guide.
They made it to a deep clearing as the stars twinkled in the night sky.
"Why are we here?" Kim grimaced. "I got a blister."
"Cool it, princess," Ella retorted. "I needed to make sure we weren't overheard. The night sounds will hide our conversation from any eavesdroppers."
Kim was about to unleash a barrage of criticism when Jack stopped her.
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" he questioned.
In the centre of the clearing was a fire pit, which Ella lit in two short seconds. She threw a handful of powder and the flames flared high.
The gang flinched, though Ella didn't even move.
"I guess you'll have to trust me, Jack," she smiled. "Come sit around the fire. I've got a story to tell you. I call it…The Tale of the Cryptographers."
The Cryptographers were a mysterious organization that released sets of complex puzzles and codes via text. Those who were able to decipher and submit their answer received special currency that could be used for anything. Technology, clothes, accessories, you name it: they could get it. Through word of mouth the game spread in certain circles, and others began to receive texts. But as tit grew more popular, the rules suddenly changed. Before, anyone who decoded would be allowed to leave without any restrictions, with their currency rounded up for a final gift. Now, those who tried to leave were harassed, blackmailed, and forced to stay as the puzzles became increasingly difficult. The rewards system was abruptly deactivated, and soon kids were not only solving codes: they were running missions, doing drop offs, sharing information, and surveilling targets.
They became teenage spies.
Sometimes, we'd have to catch each other for an "evaluation." The person who lost disappeared.
The Cryptographers then revealed themselves with a logo and strange instructions. The puzzlers were suspicious about their true identity and motives, suspecting they might be a government agency or even terrorists. They had united and resolved to find the truth.
The teens actually got pretty the Cryptographers didn't take kindly to their former agents' prying. They struck hard, tearing the group apart, targeting their families, friends, and entire lives. Afterwards they were forced to leave behind their pasts, and a new game was proposed to them. The premise was a final duel where they could win their life back—but the Cryptographers held all the cards.
They had no chance of success, and vanished one by one. That left only two puzzlers standing.
"Actually one, since I don't know what's happened to Juliana," Ella admitted. "I'm the last operative still out here. I was the best, so I knew they couldn't catch me."
The listeners were rapt by her tale.
"What about your family?" Jerry asked.
"No family, no friends," Ella laughed bitterly. "I have no one. Ironically, that helped me escape the Cryptographers' purge."
She poked the fire with a stick. "Juliana saved my life once. I owe her. That's why I had to get Eddie's attention. She loves him."
Her audience was shocked. "'Loves?'" Kim queried. "Present tense? She's okay?"
Ella's eyes were tired. "Alive, yes, okay, not so much. Juliana was taken from Mrs. Riker en route to her dance lesson, but she escaped. She contacted me about the game she agreed to play and begged for my assistance."
"So where is she now?" Jack asked. "Why won't she meet with us?"
The girl's eyes flashed. "That's the problem. She disappeared right before your dojo was attacked."
Everyone groaned simultaneously.
"I suspect the Cryptographers coerced her into giving me up," Ella's face had a lean, hunted look. "In return, they'll offer amnesty. It is their most likely course of action."
Milton was disparaging. "She can't actually believe that'll happen, though, right?" he stood straight. "These Cryptographers appear to have psychopathic tendencies, and one thing about psychopaths is that they love controlling people."
Kim sighed. "Juliana's dead meat."
"Not if we help her first," Ella corrected. "I have a plan, but I'll require your assistance. Can I count on it?"
Jerry laughed. "Yeah right! Why should we trust you?"
The girl's eyes flashed. She threw more powder into the fire.
"I could ask you the same," Ella scolded as sparks flew. "I'm putting my neck on the line here. Besides, you already saw what happened to your sensei. Do you think it was a coincidence you escaped?"
A hush fell over the group.
"What about your goons?" Jerry's mind was unstoppable.
"They were mercenaries," Ella glared. "They just owed me a favour. I couldn't ask them for anything too complicated without strings attached. That's why I only used them to get your attention."
Jack rubbed his hands together as the teens contemplated. It was a daunting choice. The risks were high if they said yes…but even higher if they said no.
"Either go on the offensive or leave this mess behind. The Cryptographers are unkind to meddlers, and they never make mistakes." Ella pointed out. "In the end it's your decision."
They looked at each other, trying to gauge the general opinion.
"She's right, guys," Jack admitted. "So what do you want to do?"
Kim inhaled deeply. "We'll follow your lead."
"No," Jack contradicted gently. "If some of us want out, I don't blame them. Right now, right here, we need to be dedicated…any half-hearted stunts could get us killed."
Jerry hissed. "Are you sure we can trust her?"
Ella rolled her eyes and punched him in the arm.
"If you're going to be rude, do it when I'm not sitting here," she snapped.
Milton frowned deeply. "I believe that if we stay divided, we'll be conquered. Our intel can aid each other in defeating the Cryptographers and rescuing Juliana. Eddie might need to be saved too."
Jack nodded. "All in favour of Ella joining?"
One by one, they slowly raised their hands. "I guess you're in, Ella, but you need to do one last thing," Milton hinted.
She snorted. "Not that stupid oath!"
"It isn't stupid. Maybe a little campy, but we take it seriously," Kim warned.
Ella Wong briefly hesitated before sticking her hand into the circle.
"We swear by the light of the dragon's eye, to be loyal and honest and never say die. Wasabi!"
The Chinese girl almost cursed afterwards, her hands and feet curling as she cringed. "AGH! I've never been so embarrassed in my life!"
Unbeknownst to them, there was an observer for their ceremony. Eddie watched, clearly conflicted, before melting back into the night.