Chapter Seven: War of Shadows
336 Words
Explosions did not start the war.
There was silence at first.
The kind of quiet that permeates the streets before something breaks.
⸻
Kade didn't hold off.
He spent weeks without making any plans.
He didn't plan ahead ten steps.
For the first time—
He acted instinctively. ⸻
He gave the command, "Burn their routes."
Juno didn't doubt it.
"Every single one?"
Kade had icy eyes.
"Make them experience it."
⸻
The city changed in a matter of hours.
Warehouses caught fire.
Shipments disappeared.
Contacts vanished.
The flawless machine of the Syndicate started to falter.
However, the Chairman?
He remained silent.
Not in public. ⸻
"Why doesn't he strike back?" Juno enquired.
With screens monitoring movement throughout the city, they stood in a dimly lit control room.
Kade observed the data scroll.
"Because he has already done so."
That's when the message arrived.❻
A video. ❻
Juno hesitated before pushing play.
But Kade did not.
⸻
Amara appeared onscreen.
Alive.
Unharmed.
However, restraint is necessary. ❻
The Chairman's voice followed.
Calm. Measured.
Deadly. ❻
"You've done well," he said.
"Impressive, even."
A pause.
"But you made one mistake."
⸻
The camera moved slightly.
Amara's face became clearer.
The Chairman went on, "You forgot that everything you build can be used against you."
⸻
Kade remained still.
⸻
The Chairman responded, "Come to me."
"By myself."
A rhythm.
"Or she slowly passes away."
⸻
The screen darkened.
⸻
The room was silent.
⸻
Juno let out a quick breath. "It's a trap."
Kade remained silent.
⸻
"It's clear," she went on. "You enter, but you don't leave."
Nothing yet.
⸻
Juno moved ahead of him.
"Speak up."
⸻
At last, Kade turned to face her.
And what she observed—
caused her to hesitate.
Survival was not on his mind.
He had already decided. ⸻
He declared, "I'm going."
Juno instantly shook her head. "No. We do this cleverly. We make plans. We—
⸻ "No."
His voice pierced hers. ⸻
"We call it quits."
- Writer
