Chapter 16: First Mission pt.3

The next morning came far too quickly for my liking. The first pale rays of sunlight peeked through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room, but I couldn't say I'd noticed much. Sleep had been a stranger to me that night, and judging by the tired slump of Kaito's shoulders as he leaned against the doorframe, I wasn't the only one. We hadn't meant to stay up all night—our conversation by the cliff had simply stretched on, spilling into hours without us even realizing it.

Now, we had no choice but to press on. Our mission demanded it.

Sora had assigned us to track and observe two key members of the faction targeting the Elites: siblings Desmond and Catalina Cartridge. Desmond, the elder of the two, was said to be three years older than his sister, but the duo had more in common than their shared bloodline. Both had deep-seated grudges against the Elites, and their motivations weren't hard to piece together. Their father had been captured and executed by the organization for murder, a fact that likely fueled their quest for revenge.

Their trail led us to the edge of the city, where abandoned warehouses stood as decaying monuments to a time when this area had thrived. The air here was heavy with dust and mildew, the silence broken only by the faint rustle of rats scurrying through forgotten corners.

We found them there, slipping into a derelict building under the cover of early morning shadows. My pulse quickened as we followed them, careful to maintain our distance.

"Everyone, stay sharp," I whispered, my voice barely audible through the comms.

Desmond and Catalina weren't alone. They moved with purpose, meeting with three other individuals deep in the forest behind the warehouse. The thick canopy of trees provided cover, but it also made staying undetected a challenge. My heart pounded in my chest as we crept closer, every snapped twig beneath my boots sounding impossibly loud.

"Can you hear what they're saying?" I asked Kaito, crouching beside him behind a cluster of bushes.

Kaito nodded, his eyes glowing faintly as he activated his ability. One of the perks of his power was being able to amplify not only his own senses but those of others, allowing all of us to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Through the enhanced hearing, Desmond's voice came through clearly.

"The weapon is nearly complete," he said, his tone filled with anticipation. "When it's ready, the Elites will fall. Every last one of them. Finally, we'll get the revenge we deserve."

A shiver ran down my spine at his words. This wasn't just a minor rebellion. They were planning something catastrophic, and if their weapon was as dangerous as they claimed, it could be the end of everything we stood for.

But then something happened that made my blood run cold. One of the group members, a wiry man with sharp features, suddenly glanced in our direction. His narrowed eyes scanned the forest, and I could feel my body tense. Had he spotted us?

"Stay low," Kaito hissed under his breath, his hand instinctively brushing against the hilt of his weapon.

The man started moving toward us. My breath hitched as his footsteps grew louder, and I realized we had seconds to act.

Without hesitation, I signaled for the others to stay put. When the man came close enough, I sprang from the shadows, moving swiftly and silently. My hand clamped over his mouth as I dragged him back into the bushes, my other hand pressing my blade against his throat.

He struggled, but I quickly subdued him, rendering him unconscious before he could alert the others. My hands trembled slightly as I bound his wrists and hoisted him over my shoulder.

"We've got what we need," I said quietly. "Let's get out of here."

The others nodded, and we retreated into the forest, careful to avoid detection. Once we were a safe distance away, we found a secluded spot to question our captive.

---

The man was tied securely to a tree, his mask removed to reveal a face that couldn't have been older than twenty. He stirred groggily, his eyes fluttering open before widening in panic.

"W-What's going on?" he stammered, his voice shaky. "Who are you? Let me go!"

"Not happening," I said, my tone firm. "We're the ones asking the questions here."

He glared at me, his jaw clenched. "I'm not telling you anything."

I sighed, pulling my handgun from its holster. The sight of it made him flinch, his bravado faltering. "Listen," I said, leveling the weapon at him. "I don't want to hurt you, but I need answers. What's your group's plan? What is this weapon you're building?"

He hesitated, his gaze flickering between the gun and my face. I could see the internal struggle playing out in his mind, but eventually, fear won out.

"Fine," he muttered. "I'll talk."

He told us everything. The group, he explained, was made up of individuals who all shared a common hatred for the Elites. Every member had a personal story of loss or pain caused by the organization, and their weapon was their way of fighting back.

"It's Desmond and Catalina," he said. "They're the real power behind this. They're… stronger than you can imagine. You think you Elites are untouchable, but they'll prove you wrong."

I raised an eyebrow at his words, skepticism evident in my expression. "And how exactly do you plan to destroy the Elites with so little manpower?"

"You'll see," he said, his voice almost smug. "When that weapon goes off, there won't be anything left of you or your headquarters."

His confidence sent a chill down my spine, but I forced myself to stay composed. "Thanks for the information," I said, lowering my gun. Then, with a swift strike, I knocked him out again.

---

Back at Elite headquarters, we handed him over to the authorities. He was placed in a secure cell for further interrogation by the higher-ups, but I couldn't shake the unease his words had left behind.

"There's no time to waste," Sora said when we briefed him. "The weapon is set to go off within the next few hours. We need to move quickly."

Despite my exhaustion, I felt a surge of determination. We couldn't afford to fail. Lives were at stake—not just ours, but everyone who depended on the Elites to keep order.

As we prepared to leave, I found myself glancing at Kaito. He gave me a small nod, his expression steady despite the tension in the air.

"We've got this," he said quietly, his voice filled with certainty.

I nodded back, drawing strength from his confidence. No matter what lay ahead, I knew we'd face it together.