The Night (2)

Oliver stood silently, the cold wind biting at his face as his men continued their work. The faint murmur of voices filled the air as the team completed their sweep of the hospital grounds. No stone had been left unturned, yet there was no trace of Peter, Vardan, or the others.

"They've vanished," his subordinate repeated, hesitant to draw Oliver's ire.

Oliver remained motionless, his cold eyes fixed on the dark horizon. He was piecing together every clue, every detail of the scene. His fist clenched at the thought of their escape, and the implications of their freedom rippled through his mind.

"Contact HQ," he ordered sharply.

"Yes, sir." The subordinate quickly moved to carry out the directive.

Oliver turned on his heel, pacing toward one of the black SUVs. Reaching inside, he retrieved a sleek communicator and pressed it to his ear. After a few moments, a voice answered.

"The doctor is dead," Oliver said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. "No evidence of who killed him. Peter has escaped, along with several others."

There was silence on the other end before a low, calculated voice responded, "Understood."

Deep within an unknown location, the boss—his face obscured by shadows—listened intently. His lips curled into a faint, dangerous smile. "They won't escape for long. Inform the Wings. Emergency meeting. I'll deal with this personally."

"Yes, sir," Oliver replied.

The call ended. Oliver's cold gaze returned to the empty streets surrounding the hospital. The stakes had risen significantly, and failure was not an option.

---

Far away, Vardan, Jay, and Leo pressed on through the silent streets. Leo remained unconscious, his weight slowing them with every step. Their breaths came in visible puffs, the chill of the night biting at their exposed skin.

"We need to keep moving," Vardan said, his voice low but firm.

Jay nodded, scanning their surroundings with a mix of paranoia and determination. Every rustle of leaves, every distant engine hum set his nerves on edge.

"I don't think we're being followed," Jay whispered, though his tone betrayed his doubt.

"For now," Vardan replied, shifting Leo's weight on his shoulder. "But they'll come. We need to find somewhere safe."

Together, they pushed forward, their thoughts heavy with the weight of what they had survived—and what was yet to come.

---

Back at the hospital, Oliver stood amidst the aftermath, his coat billowing slightly in the cold wind. His composure was unshaken, his mind already planning the next move.

As his men wrapped up their preparations, Oliver's gaze lifted to the starless sky. A storm was brewing, not in the heavens but in the undercurrents of a war that had only just begun. His resolve hardened.

"They may have escaped tonight," Oliver muttered to himself, "but this isn't over. Not by a long shot."