Chapter 14: The Breaking Point
Here'sforward:
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📍 Location: Raven Collective Base – Holding Cells, Unknown
🕒 Time: 10:45 AM
(The team, still locked in their high-tech cells, hears a commotion coming from the hall outside. It's faint at first, but the sounds of loud thuds and the unmistakable sound of flesh hitting flesh grow clearer. Their hearts race, dreading the worst.)
Samantha: (straining against the restraints) "What's going on out there?"
Uche: (his eyes darting nervously) "I don't like the sound of that."
Jason: (gritting his teeth) "Viper..."
(The Raven's voice crackles over the intercom, calm and methodical.)
The Raven: (mockingly) "Your little friend tried to be a hero. And now, she will pay the price."
(Heavy footsteps approach, and the sound of Viper's labored breathing fills the air. The team listens helplessly as they hear her struggling, unable to break free from the grip of her captors.)
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📍 Location: Raven Collective Base – Inner Perimeter
🕒 Time: 10:50 AM
(Viper is dragged into the holding area, her body battered and bloodied. She's been beaten mercilessly, her clothes torn and soaked in crimson. Her once sharp, calculating gaze is now clouded with pain as she's shoved into the middle of the holding cells where the team can see her. Blood drips from her mouth, and her limbs shake from the severity of the beating. The guards step back, leaving her alone in front of the team.)
Ghost: (eyes widening in shock) "Viper... no..."
Samantha: (tearing at the restraints) "What did they do to her?"
Lola: (her voice breaking) "No... not Viper..."
Jason: (his fists clenched) "You bastards..."
(Viper struggles to her feet, barely able to stand. Her breaths come in shallow gasps, but her defiance remains. She stares at the team, her eyes still burning with determination despite the physical toll.)
Viper: (with difficulty, her voice hoarse) "Don't... don't let them win. You have to get out... stop him..."
The Raven: (stepping into view, his smile cold and triumphant) "It's too late for that. You should have stayed out of my way."
(He raises his hand, signaling the guards to move forward.)
Viper: (weakly) "You think... you've won? This isn't over."
(The Raven's smile falters for just a second, but then he gestures to the guards to continue. They drag Viper down, and her cries echo throughout the hall. The team, unable to do anything, can only watch in horror.)
The Raven: (calmly, as Viper is beaten again) "You'll all break eventually. It's just a matter of time."
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📍 Location: Raven Collective Base – Control Room
🕒 Time: 10:55 AM
(The Raven watches from his control room, satisfaction in his eyes as he observes the capture and torture of Viper. His fingers hover above a red button. He pauses, then picks up a secure phone from his desk.)
The Raven: (into the phone, his tone cold and businesslike) "It's done. The team is captured. Viper's resistance is broken. We can move forward with the plan."
(The voice on the other end crackles, low and smooth.)
Black Mamba: (his voice cool, yet laced with danger) "Excellent. You've done well, Raven. Now, let's make sure they don't stand in our way. Finish the plan."
The Raven: (smiling darkly) "Don't worry. I have everything under control. The next phase begins immediately."
(He hangs up the phone, turning back to the monitors where he watches the broken team. His fingers hover over the red button once more.)
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📍 Location: Outside the Base – Hidden Perimeter
🕒 Time: 10:55 AM
(Kingsley is frantically working, hacking into the Raven Collective's security system. Sweat drips down his face as he tries to find a way to track the team and disable the facility's lockdown protocols. He knows time is running out.)
Kingsley: (muttering to himself, his fingers flying over the keyboard) "Come on... come on... just give me something!"
(The system flickers for a moment, and Kingsley breathes a sigh of relief when he gains access to the security feed. He scans through the cameras, finding the holding cells, but the sight that greets him freezes his blood.)
(He watches in horror as Viper is brutally beaten in front of the captured team, her blood staining the floor. Her body trembles with each strike, and Kingsley can see her barely conscious state.)
Kingsley: (his voice trembling with rage) "No..."
(He slams his fist against the control panel, frustration boiling inside him. He can't afford to waste time. If he doesn't act now, it'll be too late for everyone.)
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📍 Location: Raven Collective Base – Holding Cells, Unknown
🕒 Time: 11:00 AM
(The team watches helplessly as Viper's body is thrown to the ground. Her face is covered in blood, and her breathing is ragged. But she refuses to cry out. She continues to glare up at the Raven, her eyes filled with pure defiance.)
Viper: (her voice barely audible) "Keep fighting... don't... let them win..."
The Raven: (stepping forward, looking down at her) "You're stronger than I thought. But not strong enough."
(He raises his foot and places it on her chest, pinning her down. Her body jerks with the impact, but she doesn't scream. She continues to glare up at him, her eyes filled with defiance.)
The Raven: (mockingly) "You fought bravely, but now it's over."
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📍 Location: Raven Collective Base – Control Room
🕒 Time: 11:05 AM
(The Raven stands in front of the large red button again, his hand hovering above it. He knows the end is near for the team, and he's savoring every second of their pain.)
The Raven: (smiling to himself) "You fought well, but I'll be the one to end this."
(With one final, cruel chuckle, he presses the button. The countdown to his final plan begins, but the fate of the team—and the city—still hangs in the balance.)
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To be Continued...