Leaving the Embassy

The three comrades hastened their steps towards the third staircase, the urgency of their mission lending wings to their feet as they approached the towering edifice.

Pausing before the door marked with a bold numeral three, Peter was momentarily transported back to the days of his youth spent within the confines of the orphanage. Yet, there was no time for reminiscence as they pushed open the door, revealing a seemingly endless ascent that lay before them.

"Did your phone manage to track our progress?" Xavier inquired of Vienne, his tone tinged with a note of uncertainty. She shook her head in response, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Very well, let us proceed," she murmured softly, the gravity of their task weighing heavily upon her shoulders as they embarked upon the arduous climb.

Step by step, they ascended the staircase, each footfall echoing in the cavernous silence of the stairwell. Yet, as they progressed ever upwards, they remained oblivious to the dizzying heights they scaled until Peter's gaze chanced upon the vertiginous drop below.

With a startled cry, he recoiled, his heart pounding within his chest as he beheld the perilous precipice that yawned beneath them.

"What is it?" Xavier inquired, hastening to Peter's side. Together, they peered over the edge, their stomachs lurching at the dizzying expanse that stretched out below.

"By Merlin's beard, how did we ascend so high?" Vienne gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.

Xavier scoffed softly, his tone tinged with wry amusement. "How indeed," he murmured, his hand coming to rest upon Vienne's shoulder in a gesture of reassurance.

Unnerved by their nonchalant response, Peter quickly moved to put some distance between himself and his companions, the intimacy of their exchange unsettling him deeply.

"Let us press on," he declared, his voice tinged with a note of urgency as he forged ahead, his determination unwavering in the face of adversity.

Though puzzled by Peter's abrupt departure, Xavier and Vienne dutifully followed in his wake, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the stairwell as they neared their destination.

At last, they reached the pinnacle of their ascent, the door to the fifth floor standing sentinel before them.

"Proceed with caution," Vienne commanded, her stance poised and ready as they prepared to breach the threshold.

Drawing their pistols, they braced themselves for the inevitable confrontation that lay ahead, steeling themselves for the battle to come.

"According to my phone, there are numerous individuals present," Vienne murmured, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Xavier, you are to guard Peter. Should an opportunity for escape present itself, seize it. We shall follow your lead."

With a nod of understanding, Xavier assumed his position, his gaze sharp and vigilant as they prepared to enter the fray.

"Let us not dally any longer," Vienne declared, her resolve unwavering as she kicked open the door, her pistol trained on the unknown threat that lay beyond.

But to their surprise, the room beyond lay empty, devoid of the expected adversary. Instead, they found themselves confronted with an abandoned parking lot, its desolate expanse stretching out before them.

Lowering their weapons in disbelief, they exchanged perplexed glances, their confusion mounting with each passing moment.

"Where are the Ikes?" Xavier demanded, his frustration evident in his voice as he surveyed the empty space before them.

Asiris, ever the voice of reason, pushed open the door leading into the adjacent hallway, his senses alert for any sign of danger.

"It appears we are alone," he observed, his tone laced with a hint of uncertainty as he scanned the empty corridor.

Caville, her instincts honed by years of experience, remained on high alert, her weapon at the ready as she surveyed their surroundings.

"But where are the guards?" she wondered aloud, her brow furrowed in consternation as she searched for any sign of movement.

Asiris, however, remained undeterred, his gaze sweeping over the walls with a keen eye for detail.

"They're ricochet walls," Caville exclaimed, her eyes widening in realization as she pieced together the puzzle before them. "There must be a turret nearby."

No sooner had the words left her lips than a whirring sound filled the air, the telltale sign of impending danger.

"Run!" Asiris shouted, his voice ringing out in panic as he grabbed Micah and dragged him to safety.

With adrenaline coursing through their veins, the three comrades bolted down the hallway, their footsteps echoing in the empty expanse as they sought refuge from the deadly onslaught.

"It all makes sense now!" Asiris shouted over the din of gunfire, his mind racing with the realization of their perilous predicament.

But in the midst of chaos, Caville's quick thinking offered a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.

"We must split up," she declared, her voice firm with determination. "I will find a means of escape. You must keep him safe."

With a nod of understanding, they parted ways, each determined to do whatever it took to ensure their survival.

As Caville navigated the labyrinthine corridors, her mind raced with possibilities. They had sealed the door behind them, leaving no avenue for retreat. Yet, amidst the chaos, a plan began to take shape—a desperate gambit born of necessity.

The windows! They offered the only means of escape from the relentless barrage of bullets that pursued them.

"Asiris! Micah! Follow me!" she called out, her voice echoing in the empty halls as she sprinted towards the nearest exit.

With a leap of faith, she hurled herself against the wall, her muscles straining with the effort as she propelled herself towards the open air below.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they plummeted towards the ground below, their fate hanging in the balance.

Then, with a crash, they landed upon the turf below, the impact jarring their senses as they collapsed in a heap upon the rooftop.

Gasping for breath, Caville struggled to her feet, her gaze sweeping over the rooftop in search of her companions.

Asiris and Micah lay nearby, the former cradling the latter in his arms as he sought to shield him from harm.

Drawing a deep breath, Caville offered a silent prayer of thanks for their narrow escape, their journey far from over as they prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead.

Meanwhile, in another part of the embassy, Peter and Xavier found themselves ensconced within the confines of an elevator, their ascent towards the rooftop proceeding without incident.

"So, how are you holding up?" Peter inquired, his tone tinged with concern as he regarded his companion.

Xavier shrugged nonchalantly, his expression unreadable as he contemplated the gravity of their situation.

"It varies," he replied cryptically, his thoughts consumed by the weight of their mission.

A silence descended upon the elevator, thick with unspoken tension as they ascended ever higher towards their destination.

Then, with a sudden jolt, the doors slid open, revealing the rooftop beyond—a veritable arsenal of weaponry lay spread out before them, a testament to the magnitude of their task.

Xavier's eyes lit up with excitement at the sight before him, his spirits buoyed by the prospect of imminent action.

"This is what I'm talking about!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm palpable as he bounded towards the waiting helicopter.

Despite the gravity of their mission, a moment of levity seized hold of them, laughter bubbling forth as they reveled in the sheer absurdity of their circumstances.

But their mirth was short-lived, for amidst the chaos, Vienne's voice rang out, her tone filled with shock and disbelief.

"I know why they're not here," she called out, her words a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond the horizon.

She swished her face back to them, looking at the curiosity in the boys.

"They're leaving the embassy."