The road cracked beneath their tires as the truck rolled to a stop. Grass grew through the concrete. The building ahead was old — steel-plated walls, rust creeping up every bolt, a heavy chain dangling from a crooked gate. Abandoned. Forgotten.
But not by Raegal.
"We're going to an old safehouse," he said, stepping out. "I kept my armoury there."
No one questioned it.
They disembarked in silence. The air was stale and dry. Kael walked with his hands in his pockets, scanning the horizon out of habit. Alex trailed beside him, trying to fill the space with words.
"You excited?" he asked with a crooked smile.
Kael didn't even look at him. "Why would I be excited to grab guns…"
Alex cleared his throat. "You got a fair point."
Raegal had already reached the gate. He glanced back once.
"Kids, we are here. Cover us."
Kael stopped near a rusted stairwell that led nowhere. Aira stood a few meters off, hands behind her back, gaze fixed on the distant hills. Alex moved farther out, checking angles like second nature.
Inside, Raegal kicked open the door. Nila followed behind, boots crunching over shattered glass and metal. Dust clung to the air like smoke. The room was dark, filled with crates, dismantled gear, and silence.
Raegal headed straight to a weapon locker in the back.
"Your screen time must be insane," he muttered, prying open an old rifle case.
"Shut up," Nila said, distracted. Her eyes weren't on the guns.
She moved toward a ruined desk in the corner — bent frame, cables dangling underneath. A military-grade laptop sat buried under layers of dust and rust. She recognized it instantly.
UDB Standard Issue. White Division serial.
She crouched, wiped it clean, and flipped it open.
Dead screen.
From her jacket, she pulled a small, scratched-up pendrive — the one she'd taken during the last facility raid. No label. Just instinct. She hadn't trusted anyone enough to open it until now.
She plugged it in.
A few seconds of static.
Then—
LOGIN VERIFIED. UDB ACCESS LEVEL 4
PENDING DECRYPTION COMPLETE
A folder auto-opened.
PERSONNEL // CODE: LOTUS-23
She clicked. Her breath caught halfway through.
---
Personnel File – LOTUS-23
Name: Aira [REDACTED]
Alias: Lotus-23
Age: 15
Program Assignment: White Room – Subdivision B
Operational Status: Active
Deployment Clearance: Approved
Psychological Stress Index: 89%
Physical Readiness Index: 60%
Compliance Risk: Moderate
Threat Classification: Tier 2 (emotionally unstable under prolonged exposure)
Recommended Action: Deploy under external supervision. Blackmail protocols authorized.
---
She stared at the screen.
Frozen.
The lines blinked in cold digital type.
Deployment Clearance: Approved.
Blackmail Protocols: Authorized.
"...Shit," Nila whispered.
She stood up fast, yanking the pendrive free.
"ALEX!" she shouted.
His voice came from outside. "Got it."
—
Down by the shoreline, Kael stood beside Aira. The breeze carried a hint of salt. The water lapped gently against the rocks, soft, rhythmic, almost calming.
"You like nature?" Aira asked, barely loud enough to hear.
Kael didn't answer immediately. His eyes followed the ripples in the water.
"Yeah…"
A pause.
"I love nature."
"I wanted to live near the lakes."
"It's quiet... and safer than cities…"
Then came the sound.
Click.
Small. Mechanical. Final.
Aira's hand shook. Her finger hovered just above the trigger. She stared straight ahead, not at him.
"I-I'm s-sorry."
Kael didn't turn. He just stood there, eyes on the lake.
I knew this was going to happen.
But I didn't expect it to be her.
But… I'm glad it was her.
Another click.
From behind.
Alex stepped out of the trees, gun raised. Aimed square at Aira.
"Stay... away... from him," she said, voice shaking.
A second later — click — Kael's arm moved. His gun locked on Alex without hesitation.
Alex's voice cracked, just slightly.
"You… love her that much?"
Kael answered without emotion.
"She's… my sister, after all."
"She's a traitor, Kael! A goddamn traitor!"
...
Alex froze.
God damn it. What do I do... what do I do...
Kael's eyes dropped to Aira's hands. Still trembling.
He reached out.
Gently. Calmly.
And held them.
Not to stop her.
To help her pull the trigger.
"If you don't do it…"
"I will…"
"F**K IT!" Alex shouted.
He moved — fast.
He fired.
Then rushed forward, tackling Kael and shielding him with his body.
BANG.
—
Silence returned.
The birds scattered from the treetops. The lake stilled.
One gun lay in the dirt.
One secret was out.
And one bond had already shattered.
Aira didn't scream.
She dropped like her body stopped listening.
Knees hit the dirt. Then hands. Then silence.
Blood seeped through her shirt in widening rings