Factory facade

Lila and Kai masked themselves before approaching the docks. Under the cover of dusk, they slipped along the side of a crumbling warehouse. Their eyes darted over the area as they pressed themselves against a graffiti-stained wall. In the distance, they observed a lone guard methodically moving a stack of strange-looking boxes. The boxes bore a faded label: "Llyod Inc. Glass Factory Since X975." The atmosphere was tense, every sound amplified in the quiet of the night.

Lila shifted her weight and whispered, "Did you manage to get your hands on the building plans?"

Kai shook his head. "Nope," he replied curtly.

Lila frowned and asked, "Did you have any idea on how to reach the basement?"

"Not a clue," Kai answered again, his tone nonchalant despite the situation.

Lila crossed her arms and sighed. "Then what are we going to do once we are inside?"

Kai grinned, a roguish smile that didn't quite hide his uncertainty. "Do I really look like a guy with a plan?"

For a brief moment, silence reigned as they both considered the risk. Then Kai sprang into action. He darted to a nearby window and flung it open, peering out over the darkened factory grounds. "Ladies first," he teased, nudging Lila toward the open window.

Lila sighed, her determination mixed with apprehension, and passed through the window. As Kai leaped after her, he winced and clutched his ribs in pain. Lila's heart sank as she thought to herself, It's been a few days since they beat him and inflicted those injuries. Is he going to be okay?

Inside, Kai landed on a creaking wooden floor and quickly pushed his hands against a nearby rack to steady himself. "So, what do we have here?" he muttered, his eyes scanning the room.

Outside, the guard continued packaging boxes and stacking them neatly into an old elevator. Kai's eyes twinkled with mischief as he observed, "Looks like they are all armed."

The guard, absorbed in his work, pressed a button, and the elevator descended with a low groan. Lila reached out, taking Kai's hand. "I hope there is another way to the basement," she said quietly.

Kai grinned. "Why… I'm sure they will give us a ride if we ask nicely. And they're unconscious—I don't think that will be necessary."

The pair moved stealthily toward the elevator. Kai crouched low, scanning the area. He looked down at Lila and said, "Ready for some climbing?"

Lila frowned, adjusting the strap of her mask. "Let's hope the elevator doesn't come back up."

They ascended a narrow flight of stairs built into the side of the building. Each step creaked ominously under their weight. When they finally reached the landing, a faint noise echoed in the vast, empty space. The guard quickly turned toward the sound, but there was nothing.

Lila, her nerves on edge, bent down to investigate. In a split second, she saw someone who looked exactly like her turn toward her in shock—and she instinctively covered her mouth. However, as she blinked and looked again, she realized it was merely a mirror reflecting her own image. She let out a shaky laugh. "Oh, it's just a mirror."

Regaining her composure, Lila turned back to Kai. "The weapons are probably hidden in these boxes, but there are so many boxes everywhere."

Kai patted her shoulder. "I don't think they mix the weapons with regular merchandise. Maybe the guard will lead us to it."

Suddenly, another sound startled them—a clatter from behind a stack of boxes. The noise made the guard suspicious. He walked purposefully toward the source of the sound, and Kai and Lila quickly ducked behind a large mirror mounted on the wall.

Their hearts pounded in unison as the guard drew nearer. Lila's pulse raced so fast she could almost hear it thumping in her ears. The guard came closer, peering in the direction of the mirror. In an odd moment, he touched his face, then smiled and said aloud, "Maybe I do need a moustache."

He then turned to his partner. "Why are you going through the stairs when you can use the elevator?" he asked.

The other guard replied, "The location has been changed. We're gonna have to start moving the stock up—the truck will be here in a couple of hours."

Before the guard with the moustache could look back at the mirror again, he followed his partner away.

Lila exhaled slowly and faced Kai. "The stairs… that must be it."

Kai nodded in response as they left their hiding place and crept toward the stairs. Lila found a lever hidden near a rusted control panel and pushed it. With a low groan, a section of the stairs shifted, revealing a secret room behind it.

Kai frowned as he peered inside. "Great… more boxes," he said under his breath.

Lila approached the newly revealed room and gently ran her fingers along the boxes. "No, Kai," she said, pointing at one particular crate. "These boxes look different—look at the markings on them."

Kai squinted and recalled something. "You're right. These are the signatures of Apostle Seventh."

Curiosity mixed with caution, Lila carefully opened one of the boxes. Inside, she found a mirror. When she shone her torch on it, she felt an odd chill. "Mirrors again?" she murmured, unsettled.

Kai, drawn to the reflective surface, peered into it and gasped. In the dim light of his torch, he saw the reflection of Mei, blood dripping from her head. Unable to bear the sight, he shut his eyes tightly and turned away, his face contorting with pain and disbelief.

Lila quickly removed the mirror and instead discovered an assortment of weapons neatly arranged inside the box. She looked up at Kai and said, "Clever. They have been using the factory shipping business to smuggle and hide the weapons."

Her eyes scanned the room as she moved toward another box. Just then, she hesitated. "I don't think we should open another box," she whispered. "It will make it suspicious when they come and check. We should leave—"

"Kai…" she began, but there was no response.

She froze mid-sentence, a creeping thought invading her mind. Kai has been acting weird since we came in here.

Suddenly, Kai's voice broke through her thoughts. "Bring the light over here," he ordered.

Lila stood up and walked toward him, pointing her torch with trembling fingers. Her eyes widened in shock as she scanned one of the crates. "A single one of those crates will be enough to blow up a good part of this factory," she exclaimed.

Her voice trembled as she continued, "So you're telling me that all of this is nitroglycerin?"

Before Kai could answer, a sharp "Ding" rang out as the elevator doors opened. The guards re-entered the area and began discussing the new orders.

"We have to move everything downstairs, tonight! The boss is crazy!" one guard barked.

The other guard, cool and unshaken, replied, "Stop whining. At least we will get what we want earlier than expected."

After a brief pause, the first guard's expression softened as he realized something. "You're right. The date has been moved up. It was about time for this revolution to start."

Lila's eyes met Kai's, and the urgency in her gaze spoke volumes. " we need to alert the police, Kai... Now!"