Episode 14

As we walked through the hallways toward the exit, the weight of the mission began to take its toll on the group. The jokes and laughter that had echoed in the lab were now replaced by a cautious silence. Each step seemed to resonate louder than usual, and although the tension was present, there was a certain determination in all of us.

I continued to hold the pistol that Jade had given me, feeling slightly uncomfortable. The weapon felt too heavy for my taste, and I couldn't help but think about how it might hinder rather than help.

My fingers were still shaking around the trigger, and as much as I tried to appear calm, my body betrayed me, showing my nervousness.

Maya, who was walking next to me, noticed my discomfort. She smiled playfully, trying to break the ice. 

 "You know, Violet, if you need any tips on how to look 'Badass' while holding a gun, just call me. I can teach you how to do a dramatic pose while shooting."

"Dramatic pose?" Jade chimed in, one eyebrow raised and a smirk on her face. "Maya, the most you're ever posing for is fumbling your aim while talking too much."

Maya placed a hand on her chest, pretending to be offended. "Hey, being dramatic is part of the charm! And besides, who said I need perfect aim when I can be the most amazing distraction ever?"

"I think I'd rather avoid drawing attention to myself for now," I replied, trying to smile.Jade gave a small, understanding smile, but her eyes were those of someone who had seen this kind of insecurity before.

 "We all start out that way, Violet. And honestly, I trust your intelligence more than your skill with a gun. If something goes wrong, I'm sure you'll find a way out of it."

As Jade spoke, I felt someone stare at me. I looked up to see Phoenix watching me closely, his face expressionless, but his eyes focused on me in a way that made me uncomfortable. It was as if he was sizing me up, measuring whether I was capable of handling what was coming.

Instinctively, I looked away, fidgeting with the pistol in my hands nervously, trying to ignore the feeling of being judged. But it seemed impossible. And now I had to deal with the fact that Phoenix, that angry little shit, was paying attention to every move of mine.

Maya, realizing the situation, let out a soft laugh. "Relax, Violet," she said, throwing her arm around my shoulders in a friendly manner."Phoenix may be Bryan's loyal lapdog, but he doesn't bite."

The joke caused the tension to ease for a moment, and even Jade chuckled. Phoenix, however, just rolled his eyes and kept walking, which made Maya wink at me, as if to say, "See? Nothing to worry about."

The heavy atmosphere left everyone silent, except for the occasional small talk to ease the tension.

"So, Lena," Maya began, trying to bring some lightness. "Any combat tips for someone who prefers to settle things with words instead of punches?" She smiled, but her tone showed that she was sincere.

Lena, who was usually reserved, glanced at Maya and responded with a slight smile. "Best tip? Don't underestimate the power of running away. Sometimes, it's the only thing can work."

Maya laughed, shaking her head. "Running is my specialty. But honestly, I don't think it's going to help much in this mission."

The hallway ahead began to change in atmosphere, becoming darker and colder. The lights were more spaced out, leaving patches of shadow between them. Further ahead, a massive steel door stood out, covered by metal bars, with gaps that allowed only small glimpses of what was inside. The interior was a dark hole, and suddenly, something began to move within.

A blurry silhouette emerged, barely visible in the darkness except for its eyes—two red dots that glowed softly, staring straight at us. The friendly but mischievous voice echoed from the cell as we passed.

"Ah, what a pleasure it is to see you passing by again. Always so busy, always in such a hurry. I hope you're taking good care of yourselves."

There was a pause before the figure continued, and the red eyes glowing in the darkness focused directly on Lena, who now seemed even more tense, barely hiding her terror.

"Lena, my dear, why don't you come by more often? I really miss our conversations... and our little games. Maybe next time we can play a little more?"

The soft laughter that followed was enough to make everyone's hearts race.The warm and gentle tone of the voice contrasted with the sinister atmosphere it brought. Immediately, the group tensed up.

Lena, who had always seemed so steady, froze in place. Her eyes widened, and her hand flew instinctively to her neck, touching a scar I hadn't noticed before. Her face showed pure terror, as if this being in the darkness had some kind of control over her.

I looked at Maya, who had always been laughing and joking, but now looked deadly serious. Her expression hardened, and she said nothing for a moment. When I finally spoke, my voice was low and hesitant.

"Maya… who is this person?"

Maya took a deep breath. "She is.." Maya replied, her voice devoid of a hint of humor, "She is the dog who bites."

The silence that followed was suffocating, and even the sound of our footsteps seemed to disappear for a moment. Everyone knew what that meant.

The group remained silent after Maya's comment, with everyone understanding the weight of the words, but no one daring to prolong the conversation.

The creature's red eyes still watched them from the darkness, and, even though there was a strange familiarity in the voice that echoed from the cell, no one was willing to risk any interaction.

Lena continued to touch the scar on her neck, her fingers pressing almost automatically, as if she were trying to calm the growing panic inside her. 

I wanted to ask, to try to understand what was happening, but something in the air held me back. It was as if disturbing that silence would bring greater consequences than any words could fix.

So, without saying anything else, we moved on.

The corridor seemed to get longer and longer, with the lights dimmed and the atmosphere dense. The presence of that figure behind the bars seemed to still follow us, even when we had already distanced ourselves.

No one looked back.

Little by little, the scenery began to change. The metallic coldness of the building's interior was giving way to a subtle warmth, and an orange light began to illuminate the path ahead of us. We were getting closer to the exit.

When we finally reached the large metal door, it creaked open, revealing the late afternoon outside. The sky was painted in shades of orange and purple, with the sun setting behind the skyscrapers, casting long, deep shadows across the city.

The gentle evening breeze was beginning to cool the air, but there was something comforting about finally being outside of that place. Outside, a few cars were already waiting for us.Dark, discreet vehicles, with tinted windows, ready to take us to our destination. The low roar of the engines in the air brought a reminder that the mission was about to begin in earnest.Maya let out a long sigh, finally breaking the heavy silence that had been carrying us since the hallway. 

"So, who's going to ride with me?" She smiled, trying to ease the tension that still lingered. "I promise not to drink anything before driving."

Phoenix, already near one of the cars, glanced at her quickly, but chose not to comment. Instead, he got into the vehicle ahead, assuming his usual posture: focused and prepared.Lena, still quiet and withdrawn, did her best to hide her uneasiness, moving slowly towards one of the cars, clearly trying to compose herself.

I approached Maya, still holding the gun with the discomfort that had not left me since the lab."I'll go with you," I murmured, trying to sound confident, although my mind was still stuck on what we had just witnessed.

"Good choice," Maya replied with an encouraging smile, patting my shoulder before opening the car door. "Let's go. This sunset won't last forever."