THE SAFE HOUSE

The plan was simple—too simple for Ella's liking. Break into the safe house, locate the files, and get out before The Order realized what they were up to. But Ella had learned by now that things rarely went as planned, especially when dealing with something as dangerous as The Order.

Grace was already packing their equipment—a set of tools, flashlights, and a portable lock pick kit. Ella stood by the window, watching the streets below, her mind racing. This wasn't just about justice for her parents anymore. It was about survival. And the deeper she went, the more she realized that everything she thought she knew about the world was wrong.

"I still don't understand why you didn't tell me," Ella said, her voice quiet but filled with a mix of betrayal and hurt. "Why didn't you warn me about this sooner, Grace?"

Grace sighed, not looking up from her preparations. "I didn't want you involved, Ella. I thought if you were kept in the dark, you'd be safe. But now, I realize I was wrong. You're already in too deep. And I owe it to you to help you get out of this mess."

Ella's mind was still reeling from the revelations. The Order. A secret society that had been pulling the strings behind the scenes for centuries. Her parents had been involved, and now, she was too. But there was something else gnawing at her, something more personal. She could feel the weight of her parents' legacy, the unfinished business that she now had to carry. The sense of duty to them, to uncover the truth, was becoming a heavy burden.

"Let's just focus on getting those files," Ella said finally, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. "We can deal with everything else after."

Grace nodded. "Right. The safe house is just outside the city. It's a small, unassuming building—on the surface, it looks like nothing more than an abandoned warehouse. But underneath, it's a fortress."

Ella's stomach tightened at the thought. A fortress. That meant high security, surveillance, and armed guards. They would have to be quick and precise if they had any hope of getting in and out without being caught.

"Do you have a map of the place?" Ella asked.

Grace pulled a folded piece of paper from her bag and spread it out on the table. "I've done some research. There's an entrance on the east side, hidden behind some old crates. That's our way in. There are security cameras, but I've got a jammer that should block them for a short time."

Ella leaned over the map, studying the layout. "What about the guards?"

"There are two stationed at the main entrance, and another two on the second floor. The rest of the building is empty, but there are motion sensors in the hallways."

Ella's mind worked quickly as she took in the details. This wasn't going to be easy. But she had no choice. She had to do this for her parents, for the truth, and for her own survival.

"Alright, we'll go in through the east entrance, disable the cameras, and make our way to the basement. The files should be in a locked room down there. If we can't get in, we'll have to improvise."

Grace's eyes met hers, and for a moment, Ella saw the same determination in her friend's gaze. They were in this together. They had no other choice.

The two women gathered their gear and made their way out of the apartment. The streets were quiet at this hour, the hum of distant traffic barely audible. Ella's heart pounded in her chest as they walked toward the car. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that The Order had already caught wind of their plans.

The drive to the safe house felt like an eternity. Every turn, every shadow, every passing car seemed like a potential threat. Ella kept her eyes peeled, scanning the streets for any sign of danger. Grace, on the other hand, was focused and calm, her expression unreadable.

Finally, they arrived. The safe house was just as Grace had described—an old, dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The building looked abandoned, but Ella could feel the tension in the air. It was too quiet, too still. There was something off about the place.

"Stay close," Grace whispered, her voice barely audible. "We don't know how much time we have."

The two women slipped into the shadows, moving with quiet precision as they approached the east entrance. Grace used the lock pick kit to silently unlock the door, and they slipped inside. The building was dark and cold, the air thick with dust. Ella's flashlight illuminated the narrow hallway ahead, revealing the worn concrete walls and rusty metal doors.

They moved quickly, staying low and avoiding the cameras. Grace pulled out the jammer, activating it as they passed by the security cameras. Ella held her breath as the devices blinked out of existence. They were safe for now, but she knew they didn't have much time.

The motion sensors were next. Grace expertly bypassed them, her hands moving with practiced ease as she disarmed the alarms one by one. Ella couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for her friend. Grace was good at this—too good. It was clear she had been involved with The Order for longer than she had let on.

They reached the basement stairs without incident, but as they descended into the darkness, Ella's instincts told her something was wrong. The air felt heavy, oppressive, and the silence was deafening. She glanced at Grace, but her friend's face was unreadable.

They reached the bottom of the stairs, and that's when they heard it—the sound of footsteps, distant but growing closer.

"Someone's coming," Ella whispered, her heart pounding in her chest. "We have to hurry."

Grace's eyes flickered to the door at the far end of the basement. "That's where the files are. We'll have to take our chances."

They sprinted across the room, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the cold air. Just as Grace reached the door, a loud crash rang out from above. The motion sensors must have been triggered. The building was no longer secure. They were running out of time.

Grace kicked open the door, revealing a small, windowless room filled with filing cabinets. Ella's heart skipped a beat. This was it—the moment she had been working toward. The files.

They quickly moved to the nearest cabinet, Grace already pulling open the drawers. Ella's hands trembled as she helped, but before they could retrieve the files, the sound of running footsteps echoed through the hallway.

"They're here," Grace hissed. "We have to go—now!"

But it was too late. The door to the basement slammed open, and several armed men stormed into the room. Vincent was among them, his cold eyes locking onto Ella's with a predatory gleam.

"You should have stayed away," he sneered.