The emergency lights cast an eerie crimson glow across the safe house's concrete walls. Outside, the storm from the previous night had turned into a steady drizzle, droplets tapping rhythmically against the windows like a countdown to disaster. Inside, Selene and her team braced themselves for the inevitable.
The safe house had become a fortress under siege.
Selene stood near the central command console, her jaw tight, eyes flicking between the flickering monitors. The power outage had knocked out most electronic surveillance, leaving them blind to the outside world. Lina was frantically working to reroute backup power and restore communications, fingers flying over the keyboard with practiced precision.
"We've got about fifteen minutes before they breach the outer perimeter," Lina said without looking up. "Their hacking attempts are relentless—I can't keep the systems stable."
Calder paced nearby, weapon ready, his expression grim. "They've got numbers. Too many. We can't hold this place forever."
Marrow leaned against the wall, silent but alert, eyes narrowing at the locked doors and barricades that were already showing signs of wear.
Selene's mind raced. They were outnumbered and trapped, but surrender was not an option.
"This is more than a simple raid," she said quietly, voice steady despite the tension. "Harrow's sending a message. They want to break us—not just physically, but mentally."
Her gaze shifted to Cassandra's cell, where the lieutenant sat calmly, watching the team with an unsettling smirk.
"I want everyone prepared," Selene continued. "We hold until reinforcements arrive. If they come."
Suddenly, the sound of metal grinding echoed through the corridors—the enemy was at the gates.
"Get to your positions!" Selene ordered.
The team moved swiftly. Calder took point at the front entrance, Lina set up improvised barricades near the main hall, and Marrow positioned himself by the stairwell, watching for flanking maneuvers.
Selene lingered briefly beside Cassandra's cell.
"Ready yourself," she said quietly. "If they break in here, it's going to get worse."
The lieutenant only smiled. "I'm ready for anything."
The first wave hit like a storm.
Explosions shook the foundation, followed by shouts and gunfire.
Selene dove behind cover, returning fire with deadly precision. Bullets ricocheted off walls, and the air thickened with the acrid smell of smoke and sweat.
Calder's voice rang out over comms. "They're pushing hard at the front! I need backup!"
Marrow responded instantly, joining Calder in a fierce firefight that sent enemy soldiers sprawling.
In the chaos, Lina's fingers never stopped moving, trying desperately to stabilize the power grid.
"Almost there… just a few more seconds," she muttered, sweat beading on her brow.
Suddenly, the monitors flickered back to life—security cameras showing the enemy forces breaching the second perimeter.
Selene's heart pounded.
"Fall back to the inner defenses!" she commanded.
The team retreated methodically, setting traps and using every inch of the safe house to their advantage.
But the enemy was relentless, using flashbangs and tear gas to flush them out.
Selene found herself separated from the group momentarily, cornered in a narrow hallway by two heavily armed operatives.
Thinking fast, she kicked a loose pipe toward them, startling them just long enough to slip past and sprint down the corridor.
Reunited with the others near the command center, Selene took a breath.
"We need to hold this room at all costs," she said. "It's our last line."
They barricaded the doors, piling furniture and equipment to block the entry.
Outside, the pounding intensified—the enemy was determined to tear down their defenses piece by piece.
Hours passed like this—each moment a battle for survival.
Amid the firefight, Selene's thoughts drifted to the bigger picture.
Harrow's power was vast, their reach deadly, but the team's resolve was unyielding.
They fought not just to live, but to preserve the hope of dismantling the shadowy empire.
As dawn approached, the enemy's attacks slowed.
Lina finally restored enough power to broadcast a distress signal.
"Help is coming," she announced, exhaustion and relief mingling in her voice.
Selene allowed herself a moment of hope.
But as the first rays of sunlight filtered in, a new question loomed—how much had they lost in the fight to survive?
And what new dangers awaited once the siege was over?