Kail stood in the empty cave, his heart echoing the hollow silence. He pulled out his radio, his voice shaking with a mix of fury and desperation. "Send everyone to my location! Now! Surround the Nilton sector. We've lost her!"
"Yes, Sir! Units are moving!"
The Dragon's Nest
In a damp, dimly lit room deep within the hidden facility, I was tied to a chair. My wrists burned from the rough rope, but I kept my face a mask of indifference. Gilbert stood over me, a twisted smirk on his face.
"Did you call Chris?" Gilbert asked one of his men.
"Yes. He's on his way."
"Good," Gilbert purred. He turned back to me, leaning in close. "Chris will be here soon. But before he arrives... why don't you save us all some trouble? Where is the flash drive?"
I didn't flinch. I let a slow, mocking smile spread across my lips. "Why bother telling you? Even if I did, you're not smart enough to use it. And soon enough, you'll be dead without ever even seeing it."
Gilbert's eyes flashed with rage. "Hahaha... we'll see who dies today, Silvia."
He began to pace the room, his agitation growing. "Chris is late. I can't wait to slice your throat... honestly, it's a waste. If you had joined us, you'd have wealth and authority. But you chose the losing side."
"Then my pride would be as low as yours," I spat. "I'm happy with who I am. My self-respect is worth more than all the blood money in the world."
"The way you are now?" Gilbert laughed, gesturing to my bound state. "You're about to die, and you say you 'love' this? You're delusional."
"Call it what you want," I grinned, my eyes sharp. "But God loves me more than you. I'm always lucky."
"Hmph!" Gilbert growled, turning on his heel and storming out of the room to check on Chris's arrival.
In Silvia's mind: Finally. Get out of here so I can work.
I didn't wait for someone to save me. I had been working on the knot behind my back since the moment they sat me down. With a final, painful tug, the ropes fell away.
I crept to the door. Two guards stood outside, distracted by the shouting in the hallway. I didn't give them a chance. I burst out, catching the first one with a palm strike to the throat. Before the second could raise his rifle, I swept his legs and slammed his head into the stone floor.
"Sleep well," I whispered, snatching his pistol.
I moved through the dark corridors like a wraith. I could hear Gilbert's voice echoing from a central chamber, screaming at his subordinates.
"You bastards! You let a girl escape?! Find her! If she gets away, I'll behead you myself!"
In Silvia's mind: Get away? I'm not leaving until I see you breathe your last.
I waited until the guards scattered, leaving Gilbert alone in the hall. I stepped out of the shadows, my gun leveled at his head. "Don't be afraid, Gilbert. I promised I wouldn't leave without killing you."
Gilbert froze, then slowly turned around. He didn't look scared. He looked insane. "Even if you kill me, Silvia, you're coming to hell with me."
"What are you talking about?"
"I prepared for this," he hissed. "If we can't have the information, then no one can. If you don't surrender right now, I'll give the signal. This entire building will turn to ashes in seconds."
"You're bluffing. I'm the one with the gun."
"Heh... look around."
From the shadows above and behind him, more muzzles emerged. But before anyone could pull a trigger, the world rocked.
— BOOM! —
A massive explosion ripped through the lower levels. Then another. And another.
"You brat!" I yelled, steadying myself against the vibrating wall.
"What?!!!" Gilbert screamed, his face turning pale. "I didn't give the signal! It's too early!"
In the confusion, I lunged forward. I slammed the butt of my gun into Gilbert's temple, knocking him unconscious. His men, seeing the ceiling begin to crumble, panicked and fled toward the secondary exits.
"Shit!" I coughed as thick smoke filled the air. The facility was collapsing. The 'Dragon' was burning itself down, likely triggered by Chris or a fail-safe that had malfunctioned.
I sprinted toward the only light I could see—a high ventilation window. The floor beneath me groaned and gave way. I didn't think. I scrambled up a fallen pillar and leapt for the window, crashing through the glass.
As I fell through the air, time seemed to slow down. I saw the faces of the people I had met in this strange second life. Erina, the Professor, even Eden... and then, I saw him.
Kail.
I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact of the forest floor. But instead of hard earth, I felt strong, familiar arms wrap around me, absorbing the shock of the fall.
I opened my eyes, gasping for breath.
"Silvia!"
Kail was looking down at me, his face covered in soot and sweat, his eyes filled with a terror I had never seen before. He had caught me.
"Kail..." I whispered, my strength finally failing. "You came back."
~ to be continued