A PLAN IN MOTION...
The minutes stretched on, feeling more like hours as Ceil, Lucian, and Velena sat silently in the safehouse, the air thick with tension. The only sound was the soft beeping of the device that Alexander had provided, the one that tracked Rafael Cain's movements. Lucian had been glued to it, his eyes darting from the screen to the window, constantly checking and rechecking the signal.
Each passing second felt like a countdown, the weight of their mission pressing down on them. They knew this was it—their only chance. There would be no second shot. This was their one shot to bring down Rafael Cain.
Ceil's voice broke the silence, low and controlled, but with a sharp edge of urgency. "We've got one shot," he muttered, his gaze distant, as though already lost in the coming battle. "We don't get a second chance with him. This is it."
Velena sat across from him, her legs pulled up to her chest as she leaned against the wall, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her heart pounded in her chest. This wasn't just another mission, another fight. This was the culmination of everything they'd been through, all the pain, all the running. It was the final confrontation, the end of the line. Her breath was shallow, and a cold sweat trickled down the back of her neck as she tried to steady herself.
She glanced at Ceil, trying to read his expression. His jaw was clenched, his posture rigid with anticipation. There was no doubt in her mind—he was ready to do whatever it took. She just hoped she was, too.
Lucian's voice broke through her thoughts, a touch of doubt in his tone as he addressed Ceil. "Ceil, you're sure this is going to work? I mean, we've been tracking him for days, but…" He trailed off, clearly struggling with the weight of the situation.
Ceil didn't respond immediately. His eyes were fixed on the window, watching the shadows beyond with intense focus, as if expecting Rafael to appear at any moment. "It has to," he said finally, his voice hard and unyielding. "We've come this far. We don't have any other choice."
Lucian's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he didn't press further. Instead, he tightened his grip on the device, his fingers instinctively hovering near the trigger of his weapon. Every instinct in him screamed to act, to take control. But they needed to be patient. They needed Rafael to make the first move.
SETTING THE TRAP...
The hours stretched on, each minute slipping by slower than the last. Lucian kept a tight grip on the device, his eyes scanning the screen, looking for any signs of movement. The silence in the room was suffocating, broken only by the occasional beep of the device.
Ceil paced the room, his movements sharp and deliberate. His mind was working overtime, running through every possible scenario, calculating each potential outcome. Every second that ticked by brought them closer to Rafael, but also closer to the unknown. They had a plan, but there was no certainty in it. There was no guarantee that they would succeed.
Still, Ceil didn't falter. His resolve was absolute.
Lucian looked up, his gaze intense. "Ceil, he's close. Less than a mile away. He's coming."
Ceil's lips curled into a grim smile. It was a smile that held no warmth, only the cold determination of a man who had already accepted that there was no turning back. "Good. Let's make sure he doesn't leave."
Velena stood up from where she had been sitting, her eyes darting around the room. The walls felt like they were closing in on her. She couldn't help the nervous energy that surged through her, her heartbeat faster than it should be. But she couldn't let that stop her. This was it—the endgame. She had to focus, had to be ready.
She moved across the room, her feet light, almost as if she were walking on air. The tension was unbearable. She didn't know how much longer she could wait.
Lucian positioned himself near the door, his gun in hand, ready for whatever came next. Ceil turned toward Velena, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp, filled with a quiet intensity. "When he comes in, we take him down. No hesitation. No mercy," he instructed, his voice steady but filled with a hard edge that left no room for doubt.
Velena nodded, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat. She didn't trust herself to speak, not when her mind was racing with what could go wrong, with all the things that could slip through their fingers. But she had no choice. She had to do this.
"We're ready," she said softly, though the words felt hollow, empty in the face of the gravity of what they were about to do.
RAFAEL CAIN MAKES HIS MOVE...
The door creaked open.
The tension in the room spiked instantly. Lucian's hand shot to his gun, his fingers twitching, ready to pull the trigger at the slightest movement. His eyes locked onto the door, every muscle in his body coiled with anticipation.
Ceil didn't move. His eyes stayed fixed on the door, unblinking, waiting, calculating. His breath was steady, his entire body locked in a quiet intensity that radiated from him like a palpable force.
And then, he walked in.
Rafael Cain
The moment he stepped into the room, he exuded an aura of control, of dominance. He didn't rush, didn't make any sudden movements. Instead, he walked in like he had all the time in the world, like this place belonged to him already. His cold, calculating gaze swept over them all—first to Ceil, then to Velena, before landing on Lucian. A mocking smile spread across his face, like he was somehow amused by their efforts.
"I was wondering when you'd stop hiding," Rafael's voice slid out, smooth and condescending. He spoke as if they were nothing more than an inconvenience, a nuisance to be dealt with.
Ceil's expression remained frozen, emotionless. He didn't flinch, didn't move a muscle. His voice, when it came, was just as cold, devoid of any trace of fear or hesitation. "We're not hiding anymore, Cain. It's your turn."
Rafael's lips curled into a smile that could only be described as cruel, the amusement in his eyes growing. "You think you can stop me?" he asked, his voice laced with mockery. "You're running out of time."
Velena stepped forward, her body rigid, her eyes flashing with defiance. She was done with being hunted, done with being the prey. "We're done running, Cain," she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. "You've made one mistake after another."
Rafael's laugh was cold and devoid of any real humor, more of a snarl than anything else. "You still don't understand, do you? You're just pawns in my game," he said, his eyes narrowing as if the very idea of them challenging him was beneath him.
THE FINAL CONFRONTATION...
Without warning, Rafael made his move.
His speed was unimaginable. In the blink of an eye, he was gone, his form a blur as he darted to the side, avoiding Ceil's lunging attack with a terrifying precision. It was as if he had anticipated every move before it happened.
Lucian fired his gun, but Rafael had already vanished, dodging the bullet with a fluidity that seemed almost supernatural. Ceil and Lucian had trained for years to become fast, efficient, to read their opponents. But Rafael Cain was something else entirely.
He was faster than they could follow.
Rafael's eyes gleamed with cruel amusement as he turned to face them. His grin was wide, predatory. "You're not fast enough," he taunted, his voice dripping with malice.
Ceil didn't stop. He didn't falter. His knife was in his hand before Rafael had finished speaking, and this time, the blade found its mark. It grazed Rafael's side, leaving a shallow cut across his coat.
Rafael's eyes flickered with anger, but the smile never left his face. "You think a knife will stop me?" he growled, stepping back as he brushed his hand against the bloodstain on his coat. His gaze darkened, but there was no fear. Only rage.
Lucian didn't wait for Rafael to make the next move. He fired again, aiming for Rafael's chest, but once again, Rafael was already gone. His movements were too fast, too precise.
"You're playing my game now," Rafael sneered, moving closer to Velena.
THE FINAL PLAY...
Velena's heart was in her throat. She couldn't let him get any closer. Not now, not when they were this close to finishing it.
The device beeped again, louder this time, showing them exactly where Rafael was. He had moved into the middle of the room, too close for comfort, but they had him cornered.
"Now!" Ceil barked
Lucian fired again, this time hitting Rafael in the shoulder. The shot was clean, and it sent Rafael staggering back, a look of genuine pain flashing across his face. But he didn't fall. He didn't give up. His eyes burned with fury.
Ceil moved forward, his eyes ice-cold, his expression hardening. He was done with this. Done with the fear, done with the running. This time, he was in control.
"You're not getting away this time," Ceil declared, his voice like steel.
Velena's pulse surged as she watched the moment unfold. This was it. The plan was working. Rafael Cain was cornered.
THE FINAL STAND...
Rafael's eyes narrowed, his posture shifting. He wasn't used to losing control. It was clear now that he had underestimated them. But he wasn't done yet.
"You think this is over?" Rafael hissed, his voice venomous, but his confidence was wavering. "You think you've won?"
Ceil didn't hesitate. His eyes were as cold as ever, unwavering. "It is now."
Lucian and Ceil moved in, closing the gap between them and Rafael. In a final, fluid motion, Lucian fired one last shot. This time, it was clean, precise, and it struck Rafael directly in the chest.
Rafael's eyes widened in shock as he staggered back. The room fell deathly silent.
And then he collapsed.
Velena's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. It was over.