The storm had burned itself out by morning, leaving the cabin soaked and the air sharp with the smell of wet pine. Sunlight pushed weakly through the broken window, throwing pale gold streaks across the room.No one really slept.Beverly was the first to move, tugging on her boots with stiff hands. “Up. Everyone. We don’t have time to waste.”Wilson groaned from under his blanket, tossing an arm over his face. “You sound like a coach before a suicide drill.”“Better than sounding like a corpse,” Beverly shot back. She grabbed her jacket and yanked it on, movements quick and angry, like if she slowed down, she might break.Davion sat up slowly, feeling his bandages pull against his ribs. His body ached everywhere, but he didn’t complain. He couldn’t. Not today.Reika was already awake, sitting cross-legged in the doorway with her knives laid out like she was arranging jewelry. She didn’t look up as she said, “Big day, huh? Hope you all wrote your wills.”Lina hugged her knees tighter o

The lobby was hell.Operatives poured in from every balcony, their armor glowing red with those eerie cybernetic veins. The sound was a mix of boots slamming against marble, weapons humming, and Wilson yelling things that definitely weren’t heroic.Davion’s pipe slammed into the first one’s mask, the crack reverberating up his arm. “Move!” he shouted again, his voice already hoarse.“I am moving!” Wilson yelled, swinging his chair at another operative. It shattered instantly. “Okay, not my best plan!”Beverly darted past him, her blade flashing in the red glow. Sparks flew as she slashed at one soldier’s arm, cutting through wires beneath the metal plating. The operative convulsed and dropped. “Stay focused!” she barked.“Focused on what?!” Wilson snapped, ducking under a swing. “Not dying?”“Exactly,” Beverly shot back.Reika whirled through the chaos, using the butt of her weapon more than the blade. She cracked one soldier across the head and hissed, “They’re stalling us.”Davion g