Chapter 12: Into the Lion’s Den
1315 Words
The plan came together in silence.
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Not because it was easy.
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But because there was no room for error.
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Julian spread the rough layout across the table—hand-drawn, messy, but detailed enough to matter.
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“This is everything we saw,” he said. “Entry points, guard rotations—well… not guards.”
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“Vampires,” Lena corrected quietly.
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Julian nodded.
“Fast. Feral. Coordinated.”
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Akira stood over the map, arms crossed.
“They won’t be the same as last time,” she said. “After we slipped through? They’ll tighten everything.”
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Nyx added, “And they’ll be watching for *him*.”
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Her eyes flicked to Elian.
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He didn’t react.
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“Good,” he said.
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Marcus looked at him.
“That’s not good.”
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“It means they’re focused,” Elian replied.
“A distraction.”
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Akira’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“Now you’re thinking.”
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She tapped the map.
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“We split into two teams.”
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Immediate tension.
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“No,” Nyx said.
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“Yes,” Akira replied.
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Elian stepped forward.
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“Explain.”
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Akira pointed to the outer structure.
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“Team one creates pressure here,” she said. “Noise. Movement. Something they can’t ignore.”
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Her finger shifted inward.
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“Team two goes in through this corridor. Quiet. Fast.”
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Lena leaned in.
“That path leads close to the chamber we saw.”
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Julian nodded.
“Yeah… but it’s tight. If we’re spotted in there, we’re boxed in.”
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Akira didn’t blink.
“Then don’t get spotted.”
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Silence.
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Marcus crossed his arms.
“Who’s going where?”
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Akira didn’t hesitate.
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“I take the distraction.”
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Nyx frowned.
“That’s risky.”
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Akira smirked faintly.
“That’s the point.”
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Elian shook his head.
“No.”
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All eyes turned to him.
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“I go in,” he said.
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“That was already the plan,” Nyx replied.
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“With me,” Elian added.
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Akira studied him.
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“You’re not ready to face what’s in there alone.”
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“I won’t be alone.”
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His eyes shifted—to Nyx.
Then Marcus.
Then briefly—
Lena and Julian.
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Nyx sighed softly.
“You’re not leaving me behind.”
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“Wasn’t planning to.”
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Marcus nodded once.
“I’m in.”
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Julian hesitated—
Then stepped forward.
“We know the layout better than anyone.”
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Lena added, “And the symbol patterns—we can guide you through faster.”
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Akira watched them all.
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Then gave a small nod.
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“Fine.”
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She pointed again.
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“I’ll pull their attention.”
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A pause.
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“You get in. You get him. You get out.”
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Elian’s voice was steady.
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“And if we run into Vesper?”
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The room went quiet.
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Akira’s answer didn’t come immediately.
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“…You don’t fight her,” she said finally.
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Elian didn’t like that.
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“You survive her.”
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That was worse.
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Nyx looked at him.
“Listen to her.”
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Elian exhaled slowly.
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“…Fine.”
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But his eyes said something else.
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Night came fast.
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Too fast.
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The forest near Umbra was darker than before.
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Not natural.
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Watching.
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Waiting.
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Akira stood at the edge of the tree line.
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“Once I move,” she said, “you have five minutes.”
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Marcus checked his weapon.
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Julian adjusted the map in his mind.
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Lena took a steady breath.
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Nyx glanced at Elian.
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“You ready?”
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Elian looked ahead.
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At the place that almost broke him.
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“…No.”
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A beat.
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“Let’s go anyway.”
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Akira smiled slightly.
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Then—
She vanished.
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Seconds passed.
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Then—
Chaos.
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A distant explosion of movement.
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Screams.
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Snarls.
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Fast.
Violent.
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“They’re reacting,” Nyx said.
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Elian nodded.
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“Move.”
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They slipped through the outer perimeter like shadows.
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No hesitation.
No noise.
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The entrance was exactly where Julian said it would be.
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Hidden.
Barely visible.
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Marcus forced it open slowly.
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Darkness greeted them.
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Cold.
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“Stay close,” Nyx whispered.
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They moved.
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The corridors felt alive.
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Not physically—
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But something beneath it all.
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Like the place itself was aware.
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Lena slowed slightly.
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“The symbols…” she whispered.
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They lined the walls.
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Faint.
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Pulsing.
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Julian frowned.
“They weren’t this active before.”
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Nyx’s voice dropped.
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“That’s because the system is running.”
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Elian’s grip tightened.
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Mike.
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They moved faster.
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Left.
Right.
Down a narrow passage.
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Every step deeper felt heavier.
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More dangerous.
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Then—
They heard it.
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A low hum.
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Mechanical.
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Wrong.
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Elian froze.
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“That’s it.”
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No one questioned him.
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They moved toward it.
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Careful.
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Slow.
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Until—
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They reached the door.
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The same one.
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The one from before.
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Elian stepped closer.
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His hand hovered over it.
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For a second—
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He hesitated.
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Not from fear.
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But from knowing.
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Whatever was inside—
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Would change everything.
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Nyx placed a hand on his arm.
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“Whatever we see…”
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She didn’t finish.
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She didn’t have to.
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Elian nodded once.
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Then—
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He opened the door.
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The room was worse.
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Much worse.
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The machines were louder.
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Brighter.
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More aggressive.
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And Mike—
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Elian’s breath caught.
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He looked… less human.
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Skin pale—almost translucent.
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Veins dark.
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Body trembling under the strain of whatever they were forcing into him.
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More tubes.
More wires.
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More control.
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Lena covered her mouth.
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Julian swore under his breath.
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“…We’re too late,” he muttered.
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“No,” Elian said instantly.
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His voice shook—
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But only slightly.
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“He’s still here.”
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As if proving it—
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Mike’s fingers twitched.
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Just barely.
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Nyx stepped forward.
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“Elian…”
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But he was already moving.
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Toward him.
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Step by step.
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Slow.
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Careful.
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Like approaching something fragile.
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Something that could break completely if he rushed it.
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“Mike…” he said quietly.
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No response.
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Elian reached out—
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And grabbed his hand.
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Cold.
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Too cold.
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Then—
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Mike’s eyes snapped open.
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Violently.
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Not normal.
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Not human.
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Dark.
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Empty.
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Locked onto Elian.
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And then—
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The alarms started.
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Red lights flooded the room.
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Sharp.
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Blinding.
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“WE’VE BEEN MADE,” Julian snapped.
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Nyx’s head turned instantly.
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“They’re coming.”
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Fast.
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Too fast.
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Elian didn’t move.
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He was still staring at Mike.
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“…I’m getting you out,” he said.
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But Mike’s grip—
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Tightened.
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Too strong.
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Unnatural.
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Then—
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A voice echoed through the room.
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Calm.
Cold.
Familiar.
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“I was wondering…”
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Everything went still.
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“…when you’d come back.”
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Elian turned slowly.
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Standing at the entrance—
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Vesper.
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Watching.
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Smiling.
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End of Chapter 12
- Writer
