The rain fell in slow relentless sheets onto the wasteland as if trying to drown whatever there was left. One streetlight stood apart across the street, it's light softly flickering in the dark and barely enough to see anything at all.
On the edge of the road, there was a white battered van. Its windows were fogged by the cold and the car itself looked old and rusty. Inside, Shin sat in the driver's seat, unmoving, waiting. He worked the lighter in his hands, the cap clicking softly in the silence as he continued opening it and closing it. Over and over.
He wore the same mask he always did. A smooth, black mask hanging on his jaw, covering his nose and mouth. Strands of silver hair slipped loose hovering over his hazel eyes, shining in the faint moonlight.
His gaze was locked on the motel in front of him. Three stories of crumbling concrete. The place was most definitely abandoned and would serve as a great hiding spot as well.
"Room 308." said Kaito grinning from the backseat, his muscular frame leaning on the door of the van, checking the slide on his rifle.
"The guy picked a charming little hell hole."
Juno hunched over her tablet, snorting.
"Yeah... real five star energy. Anyways, I am picking up five heat signatures. Three of them are pacing in the hallways, the other posted near the entrance and the last one... is weird."
Shin's voice was quiet, filtered through the mask.
"What do you mean weird?"
Juno narrowed her eyes and said.
"No movement, he ain't dead... just still."
"Hostage?" Kaito offered
"Could be..." Shin said. "Or it could be bait."
Rei, the youngest, leaned forward. "So, what's the game plan?"
Shin slowly turned to look at them, his team, for many years, his family. Even behind the mask, the weight of his stare settled heavily.
"We go quiet. Sniper on green, sweep fast. Leave nothing standing. It's a quick in and out."
"Just like the old times!" Kaito said with a cocky smirk, winking at Juno.
Shin reached for the handle of the door of the van, his voice low and rough.
"Let's move."