Chapter 20: Infiltration
The storm hit just before they reached the island.
Waves slammed against the hull of the private vessel Declan had secured. Rain sliced through the sky like knives. But Elara stood on deck, soaked and steady, her eyes locked on the dark silhouette of the island ahead.
Killian emerged beside her, wind howling around them. "We hit the shore in ten. No lights. No gunfire unless fired upon."
Elara nodded. "Copy that."
They landed silently, like ghosts. Through jungle and brush, they followed the coordinates until concrete towers loomed in the darkness—fortified labs hidden beneath a canopy of leaves.
Declan's voice buzzed in Elara's earpiece. "Security grid's up. Infrared, motion detection, facial ID. You've got five minutes of window before it resets."
She looked at Killian. "We go in quiet. Find the control room. Extract the data. Then we burn it."
Inside, the halls were sterile, cold—haunted.
As they reached the lower level, Elara froze.
Behind one glass wall, she saw them—six individuals, unconscious but alive. Monitors tracked vitals. Her chest tightened.
"Subjects," Declan whispered through the feed. "The next generation."
A voice rang out behind her. Calm. Calculated.
"I knew you'd come."
Elara turned slowly.
Damon Kane stood at the end of the hallway, flanked by armed guards.
He smiled, almost proud. "You're exactly what I hoped you'd become."