Chapter 14

Chapter 14: The Gilded Cage

The opulent facade of The Golden Cage glittered under the Budapest night sky, a stark contrast to the grim determination etched on Marco's face. He followed Novak and Lena, his senses on high alert. The information gleaned from the eavesdropping device felt too easy, too convenient. His gut screamed that they were being led into a trap, but the lure of the Crimson Cipher, the potential to avert a global catastrophe, kept him moving forward.

"The facility is located in the outskirts of the city," Novak said, his voice clipped and professional. "It's a private compound, heavily guarded. We'll need a plan to get inside."

"What's the plan?" Lena asked, her eyes mirroring Marco's suspicion.

"We'll infiltrate the compound," Novak replied. "We'll use the information we got from The Broker. We know the security protocols, the access codes. We'll use them to our advantage."

Marco scoffed. "And what about the guards? They won't just let us walk in."

"We'll deal with them," Novak said, a hint of steel in his voice. "We have the element of surprise. We'll move quickly, efficiently. We'll be in and out before they know what hit them."

Marco remained unconvinced. He'd been in enough firefights to know that plans rarely survived first contact. He suspected Novak was withholding information, that he had his own agenda.

They arrived at the compound, a sprawling complex surrounded by a high wall and patrolled by armed guards. It looked like a fortress, impenetrable.

"This is it," Novak said. "The Crimson Cipher is inside."

He pulled out a small device from his pocket, a keycard. "This will get us through the main gate," he said. "But we'll still have to deal with the guards."

They approached the gate, Novak leading the way. He swiped the keycard, and the gate clicked open. They slipped inside, moving quickly and silently.

The compound was eerily quiet, the silence broken only by the sound of their footsteps. Marco felt a sense of unease. It was too quiet, too easy.

They reached the main building, a large, imposing structure. Novak pulled out another keycard, opening the door.

They entered the building, finding themselves in a long, empty hallway. The air was cold and sterile, the atmosphere tense.

"The Crimson Cipher is being stored in the vault at the end of the hall," Novak said. "We need to get there quickly."

They moved down the hall, their footsteps echoing in the silence. They reached the vault door, a massive steel barrier.

"This is it," Novak said. "The Crimson Cipher is behind this door."

He pulled out another device, a code breaker. He attached it to the vault door, trying to disable the lock.

"It's taking too long," Marco said, his impatience growing. "We need to find another way in."

"Just a little longer," Novak said, his focus on the code breaker.

Suddenly, the lights flickered on, revealing a group of armed guards surrounding them. They'd walked into another trap.

"You're too late," a voice said. It was the leader of the Serpent's Hand, standing at the end of the hall, his face now clearly visible. He was a man in his late forties, with a sharp, intelligent face and cold, calculating eyes.

"I knew you'd come," he said. "You're predictable, Vulture. You always take the bait."

Marco felt a surge of anger. He'd been played again, manipulated by Novak, just like he'd been manipulated by Lena.

"You set us up," he said to Novak, his voice hard.

Novak shrugged. "It was necessary," he said. "The Crimson Cipher is too important to be left in your hands."

"Whose hands should it be in?" Lena asked, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Yours?"

"It belongs to Interpol," Novak replied. "We'll use it to protect the world."

"Protect the world?" Marco scoffed. "Or use it for your own purposes?"

"That's none of your concern," Novak said. "You've served your purpose. Now, it's time for you to disappear."

He gestured to the guards, who moved in to apprehend Marco and Lena. They were trapped, surrounded, outgunned. But they weren't going to give up without a fight. They'd come too far, risked too much. They were going to fight their way out, no matter the cost. The gilded cage had closed around them, but they were ready to break free.