Chapter 15 Bloody Halloween II

"What makes you so sure she's the one ?" Dax asked.

"The way she looked at me just now, something about it wasn't right, plus it's not every woman who happens to know when they're being watched from a rooftop".

"Who ? Who is it ?" Damien asked his curiosity piqued.

Immediately the woman walked into the ballroom, her aura exuded the entire atmosphere, all eyes fixed firmly on her as she made her way to a luxurious, elevated seat reserved for esteemed guests.

No one actually knew who she was, due to the mask she wore but after walking in like she owned the place no one bothered to make inquiries.

"She's the one ?" Damien asked in disbelief.

"What makes you so sure ?" Ryder added. The coms they wore allowed everyone to hear what each person was saying.

"I don't have any solid proof, but from what I can see she has to be the mole" Freya said.

"Alright then" Ryder said slowly standing to his feet, "Let's burn her to ashes!". His voice is as intense as usual.

"Calm down Ryder, do not be impulsive every thing we do at this moment counts we don't know how many more are hiding here, you attack now and you're turning this ballroom filled with over 700 people and counting into a war zone which is exactly what we're trying to avoid" Damien urged.

"I'm tired of sitting around, the more time we waste the more disadvantage we're at!" Ryder shouted. "If we know she's the mole then I'll walk over there and burn her to death it'll happen so fast no one would even know it was me and even if they did there's nothing they could do about it !" Ryder urged.

"Ryder wait !" Freya cautioned.

"Ryder calm down !" Damien warned.

Ryder turned a deaf ear to all their voices, walking towards where the Alumni and other dignitaries were seated, the woman they were after sat on the highest seat, with her escorts standing around her except in her front.

"I'll fire a concentrated blast to avoid hurting those around her" Ryder said to himself.

As he approached the front row where the Alumni were seated, his fingers were jerking ready to fire away, just as he was about to proceed.

"Ryder" Aiden called out smoothly.

"I really don't like the idea of sitting around waiting either, especially knowing that a person capable of causing so many deaths of these innocent people is seated comfortably in here, my hands can't stop shaking my heart won't stop pounding the pressure of the mission is slowly getting to me.

 That being said failure is not an option, the slightest of mistakes is also not an option there's going to be a war tonight I can sense it deep down in my gut, but for all we know we could be playing right into the enemies trap.

 If she could easily sight Freya who was on top of a building what makes you think she hasn't seen us that are in the same room with her, if you're gonna take her out that's your call but if hundreds or even thousands die due to the fact you couldn't control your temper you're never gonna be able to live with yourself, so I strongly advise you take your seat." Aiden said his voice laced with his calm demeanor leaving no room for argument.

Ryder stood there unable to move knowing full well everything Aiden said was the simple truth, he tightened his fists, let out a deep sigh, he slowly turned around and headed back to his seat.

****

30 minutes later 

The ballroom was already packed, with everyone seated as the lights dimmed. The only illumination came from the massive screen at the front, displaying nostalgic photos of past and present students. Soft murmurs of excitement filled the room, accompanied by delighted smiles and occasional laughter as attendees reminisced over the cherished memories flashing before them.

Ryder abruptly rose from his feet annoyance evident in his movements "I'm headed to the bathroom, let me know if there's any new intel" Ryder said his tone firm as he turned to leave.

Aiden's feet tapped the floor continuously in distress, his eyebrows furrowed, his eyes widened as he continued his inner monologue.

"It's already been thirty minutes now, I don't get it, what are they planning, how do they plan to unleash a legion of monsters right here in this party without us knowing I don't get it Freya and Dax hasn't seen anything and they've been watching for the past thirty minutes so where are they planning on attacking from I've had my eyes on her the whole time and she hasn't made a single...".

Aiden's eyes narrowed a hint of disbelief mixed with resignation and crossed his face as if the answer had come in an unwelcome truth he did not want to face his answer blurted out of his mouth unknowingly.

"Shapeshifters" He said with disbelief.

The entire team on hearing what he said paused with disbelief knowing fully well it could be the only possible explanation.

One of the escorts following the woman had gone to the bathroom earlier before Ryder did.

Ryder pushed the door to the bathroom open, the white tiles gleaming under the bright overhead light, a row of stalls stood at the end each door slightly ajar, he slowly walked towards one of the stalls but something stopped him.

A strange unsettling echoes from behind the close stall door a series of cracking pops like bones shifted unnaturally, beneath the door shadows shifted erratically the shadows inside seeming to expand and contract in ways that didn't belong to human form.

After a while it quieted, replaced by the soft hollow clack from shoe striking against the tile the sound sharp and clear with each step from the door a young man emerged dressed in black and black.

The first thing he saw on coming out was Ryder's indiscriminate stare.

"Hey, you don't happen to be a shape shifting monster do you ?" Ryder asked eyeing him with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.

An awkward smile slowly crept up his face "What are you talking about ?".

"Nevermind" Ryder said, he slowly turned around walking slowly out of the bathroom, he exited while closing the door behind his back.

After he watched the door close he felt a sense of relief and as he took a deep breath.

The door creaked open slowly. Ryder's palm shot out his hands spread wide, eyes fixed on the ground not daring to look at the monster he sought to destroy. Before the man could react a searing inferno erupted from Ryder's hand engulfing the bathroom in an instant. The flames roared consuming the space and immolating the man where he stood. 

The explosion was followed with a thunderous blast and a sharp cracking sound that those in the ballroom heard, they all focused their attention towards the ceiling.

"Hey guys I think I just found one of those shape shifters" Ryder's voice echoed through each of their coms.