Chapter 7: Out in the Field

Edith adjusted the earpiece nestled in her ear as she surveyed the exterior of Eden Specter's headquarters. Dressed in black tactical gear, she felt the weight of the mission pressing down on her shoulders. But she couldn't afford to let the nerves get the best of her.

"Markus, do you copy?" she whispered into the mic, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"Copy that, Edith. I'm here," Markus's voice crackled through the earpiece.

Taking a deep breath, Edith recalled the plan she and Markus had meticulously devised. She crept along the shadows, her movements silent as she approached the west side loading dock. Markus fed her real-time intel, guiding her through the labyrinth of security measures.

As she disabled the security cameras and bypassed the alarm system, Edith's heart pounded in her chest. Every second counted, and she couldn't afford to make a mistake. She moved with precision, her senses heightened as she focused on the task at hand.

"Almost there, Edith. The device should be in the R&D wing, second floor," Markus's voice urged her on.

Edith nodded, her determination unwavering. She slipped through the corridors, her steps light as a feather. Finally, she reached her destination, the door to the R&D wing looming before her.

With a flick of her lockpick, the door swung open, revealing rows of gleaming lab equipment. Edith's pulse quickened as she scanned the room, her eyes searching for the prototype device.

"Got it, Markus. I've found the device," she whispered triumphantly, her fingers hovering over the sleek, futuristic-looking object.

But just as she reached out to grab it, a voice cut through the silence.

—

Zain crouched in the shadows, his eyes trained on Eden Specter's headquarters. He reviewed the plan Kasey had outlined, his mind sharp and focused.

"Cian, you still with me?" he murmured, glancing over his shoulder at his teammate.

But Cian was nowhere to be seen. Zain's brow furrowed in confusion as he realized he was alone.

"Cian, where are you?" he called out, his voice tinged with frustration.

Before he could receive a response, a commotion erupted from the direction of the building. Zain's instincts kicked in as he sprinted toward the source of the disturbance.

As he rounded the corner, he froze in his tracks at the sight before him.

Edith stood in the middle of the R&D wing, her hand outstretched towards the prototype device. Her heart raced as she sensed someone's presence behind her.

Zain stepped into view, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Edith. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as they regarded each other, the tension crackling between them.

"You?" Zain's voice was laced with disbelief, his mind struggling to comprehend the sight before him.

Edith's lips curved into a smirk as she met Zain's gaze head-on. "Looks like we're after the same thing," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

They circled each other like predators, each assessing the other's strengths and weaknesses. But before either of them could make a move, a loud alarm blared through the building.

The sudden sound startled them both, breaking the spell of their standoff. Edith's eyes widened as she realized the gravity of the situation.

"Dammit, they're onto us!" she cursed, her mind racing as she searched for an escape route.

Zain's jaw clenched as he surveyed the chaos unfolding around them. "We need to get out of here, now," he declared, his voice urgent.

But as they turned to leave, Edith felt a sharp pain shoot through her leg. She stumbled, her vision swimming as she fought to stay upright.

“Oh, oops,” he said, smirking down at her.

Edith looked down at her leg and saw his dagger sticking out of her thigh.

K.M Strunk