Episode 2: Into the Fire

The sound of continuous gunfire echoed through the lobby. The scent of gunpowder mixed with dust hung in the air.

Mike took cover behind a half-burnt column, reloading his magazine with frustration.

Before he could say anything more, the sound of enemy footsteps grew louder in the hallway. He raised his rifle, ready to fire. But… something was strange.

One of the enemy soldiers who emerged from behind the wall hesitated for a brief moment. A fleeting pause—perhaps out of fear or doubt. Mike didn't give it a second thought. He pulled the trigger and ended it.

Silent as ever, Reznov walked past the corpse with a look that suggested he was watching something unfold in his mind.

"Move towards the stairs. We need to get to the upper floors," he ordered.

Moving backward while firing, Mike and his team were forced to take cover behind a partially collapsed wall. To reach the stairs, they had to cross to the other side of the hotel, but the heavy fire pinned them down.

Grabbing a smoke grenade, he pulled the pin and instructed his team:

"Get ready."

The grenade landed in the center of the hotel, and as thick smoke filled the air, he shouted:

"Go, go! Reznov, hurry up!"

When they reached the emergency staircase, Reznov took the lead.

The next fight happened in the stairwell. Three enemies were lying in wait above them.

Mike aimed his weapon, prepared to shoot, but one of the attackers hesitated. Just for a fraction of a second. As if uncertain whether to fire or not.

With precise and effortless movements, Reznov shot two of them. The third turned and ran.

He then pushed open the rooftop door.

"Get outside," he ordered, dropping a smoke grenade onto the roof.

As Mike moved across the rooftop under the cover of thick smoke, his foot slipped on the rain-soaked surface, sending him crashing down. That split-second mistake nearly cost him his life a bullet barely missed him, whizzing past his ear.

Reznov quickly approached from behind, grabbed his arms, pulled him up, and pushed him behind a large air chiller for cover. Then, in a firm voice, he growled:

"Stay focused."

Glancing at the line of enemy snipers, Mike turned to him.

"We're trapped... Got any ideas?"

He spoke calmly.

"Just stay still. Don't rush. They're making a mistake. Just wait."

And that's exactly what happened. The enemy's first shot missed.

Reznov seized the opportunity, taking down the sniper with a single shot.

"Descend using the ropes from the south side," he ordered, continuing to fire at the remaining snipers to keep them pinned down, buying time for the rest of the team.

One by one, they descended. Once everyone was down, he followed.

Smoke and fire billowed behind them. The hotel was no longer safe. With a swift hand signal, Mike directed his team to escape through a side alley. Gunfire still echoed in the streets. Narrow alleys were littered with burnt-out vehicles and remnants of past battles.

Reznov walked ahead, his steps steady, silent, and eerily unshaken.

Mike thought to himself:

"This guy is too calm... like he's not even in the middle of a warzone."

But there was no time to dwell on that. A loud explosion erupted from the left.

Carlina, moving slightly behind, called out:

"Two armed trucks approaching!"

Mike raised his rifle.

"Cover us! We need to move!"

Everyone took cover behind a wall as bullets whizzed overhead.

"Conserve your ammo! We still have another objective!" he ordered.

Crouching, Reznov slipped past one of the team members and peeked around the edge of the wall, scanning the approaching vehicles with a single glance.

"Two in the front. Four in the back of the truck. Take out the driver on the left first," he instructed.

Mike frowned but said nothing. He didn't like how Reznov was taking command of the situation.

One of the team members fired, hitting the driver of the first truck. The vehicle swerved and crashed into the curb. The return fire intensified.

Quickly maneuvering through side alleys, they headed toward the main street where the facility was located. Reznov gestured forward.

"This area is too exposed. Your route is bad. We should go south."

Breathing heavily, Mike stopped beside him.

"How the hell do you know this place so well?!"

Reznov glanced at him briefly.

"It's my job to know. You ask too many questions—especially in the middle of a firefight."

There was no time for arguments.

Carlina's voice came through from behind:

"Move! Ten hostiles approaching from the eastern alley!"

They broke into a run again. The air was filled with the sounds of gunfire, explosions, and desperate shouts.

Mike was too focused on keeping his team alive to realize he hadn't checked in with the backup squad.

A few streets later, the group stopped behind a collapsed wall to catch their breath. Reznov sat down beside him, his tone calm and composed as always.

"The facility is heavily fortified. We'll need to split into two teams upon entry. I'll go in from the west; you take the east. Inside, there's only one exit."

Mike hesitated.

"Thanks for the help, but this is where you leave. My team will handle it from here. Go find Jake. If he's alive, tell him to prepare for extraction."

Reznov didn't budge.

"No. I'm coming with you. Destroying that facility is too important—I need to make sure it happens."

Mike frowned.

"And why is it so important to you?"

Leaning his head against the wall, Reznov replied:

"Sometimes, the fall of one building... prevents the fall of an entire city."

Mike studied him.

"I'm not a fan of poetic speeches."

Reznov chuckled—short and bitter.

"Don't worry. Soon enough, you'll understand why I'm here. And besides, I have a team that can help."

Carlina signaled that the path was clear.

Mike stood, checked his weapon, and said:

"Fine... But if we're doing this together, I'm staying behind you. I don't trust people I don't know at my back."

Reznov gave a faint smirk.

"Smart choice."

The massive steel doors of the facility groaned as they slid open. Heavy air mixed with the scent of burnt metal seeped out. The dim red emergency lights painted the long corridors, making them look like a graveyard.

The second phase of the mission had begun.

Before stepping inside, Mike held up a hand to stop Reznov.

"Before we go in… Where's the rest of your team?"

Reznov, his voice as calm as ever, subtly tilted his head towards the shadows behind him.

"Right here."