#CHAPTER 15:- THE SILENT ENTRANCE
Rox entered Hexa's lab through the back door, slamming it shut behind him. His brows were furrowed, and his half-closed eyes carried a storm of frustration.
Hexa, who had been sitting on the sofa in the corner, immediately jumped to her feet and rushed toward him.
"Rox, what happened? Why do you look so… broken?"
Rox turned his face away, silent.
Hexa grabbed both his shoulders, shaking him slightly.
"I said, what happened? Where is Kavya?"
Rox's expression softened for a moment, but a single tear slid down his cheek. He tilted his head upward, his voice cracking.
"Kavya… she gave up. She offered herself to the government."
Hexa's brows shot up, her eyes widening.
"What?… But why?"
Rox turned to the side, his voice laced with frustration.
"I don't know. I think… she believes if she gave up, we wouldn't get dragged into all this."
He stepped forward and sank onto the sofa, his shoulders slumping.
Hexa walked over and sat beside him, crossing one leg over the other. She tapped her finger thoughtfully against her lips before speaking.
"We have to save her. We can't just sit here while the government tortures her."
Rox leaned back against the sofa, his voice low and uncertain.
"What… how are we even supposed to do that? Are you saying we'll infiltrate?"
Hexa turned to face him, her expression firm.
"We have to. The only way is to make a plan and rescue her."
Rox took a deep breath, the weight of her words sinking in. The air between them grew thick and heavy—there was no other choice. This was the only path left to take.
Kavya stood in front of a massive hall-like structure, its walls painted stark black. The entrance was sealed with towering metal shutters that gleamed faintly under the light, giving the building an imposing presence.
Beside her, Hanza and Kavy stood in silence, their expressions unreadable.
Finally, Hanza broke the quiet.
"This is our hideout—PEACE," he said, his voice calm but steady.
"Let's go in."
Hanza stepped forward, veering slightly to the left, where a narrow alleyway stretched between two looming buildings. Crumbling structures surrounded them, their walls weathered and scarred by time. The road beneath their feet felt abandoned, as if it belonged to a forgotten part of the city—a society left behind.
Kavya followed closely behind Hanza and Kavy as they moved through the narrow street. To the right, Hanza suddenly stopped in front of an old metal door. Without a word, he pushed it open, stepping inside. Kavya and Kavy followed him into the dimly lit building.
As Kavya stepped inside, her eyes widened.
The hideout wasn't what she had expected.
A vast hall opened up before her, its heart dominated by a massive holographic map of the city, glowing in shades of blue and white, suspended mid-air like a living, breathing thing.
To the left, a cluster of worn but comfortable sofas formed a lounge area where several members sat, their hushed conversations mixing with the soft hum of machines.
On the right, a towering black shutter bore a striking white bird painted across it—the unmistakable symbol of PEACE. Beneath the shutter, rows of computers flickered with cascading data, their screens illuminating the faces of tech specialists typing furiously.
Further down, the armory sprawled like organized chaos. Weapon racks lined the walls—laser rifles, booster gear, and energy blades stacked in rows—while tangled, exposed wires snaked across the floor, just waiting to trip anyone careless enough to step wrong.
The place felt alive—a strange mix of rebellion and order, of danger and hope.
Hanza and Kavy moved toward the sofa area with the ease of people who belonged here. Kavya trailed behind them, feeling the weight of every unfamiliar eye in the room.
The three of them stopped in front of a group of six people sprawled across the sofas. Conversations died mid-sentence. A few of them leaned forward, sizing her up with curious, guarded stares.
Hanza broke the silence, his voice steady but carrying an edge of importance:
"Guys… this is Kavya. She's the one the boss was talking about."
Kavya's eyes darted from left to right, scanning each face on the sofa.
Most of them were strangers—sharp eyes, cold expressions, people who looked like they'd been through too many battles to care about pleasantries.
But then…
Her gaze stopped.
Her brows furrowed. Her breath caught for a moment as she focused on one particular face.
Familiar.
Impossible.
Her chest tightened with a shock she couldn't hide.
Before Hanza could finish speaking—
"Is the boss com—"
Kavya's voice cut through the room like a blade.
"Is that you… Hexa?"
Hexa, seated at the far right, turned slowly toward her. Her lips pressed together—one tugged slightly over the other, as if she was weighing her words, ready to explain everything.
But before a single sound could leave her mouth—
The air shifted.
A shadow stretched across the floor.
A tall silhouette stepped into the hall from behind them.
The entire room fell silent.
Only the soft hum of the holographic machines remained, filling the air like a distant warning.
The atmosphere thickened, heavy enough that no one dared to breathe too loudly.