The silence in the abandoned warehouse was deafening as Celina and Darius moved through the dimly lit halls. Her breath came in short, shallow bursts, the weight of the mission pressing down on her chest. Every step felt heavier than the last as the clock ticked relentlessly.
Darius moved ahead, his eyes scanning every corner with the precision of a predator, his hand on the grip of his gun, ready for anything. Celina followed closely, her pulse quickening with each step. The chill in the air had nothing to do with the temperature; it was the sense of looming danger, of the darkness that seemed to bleed from every crevice of the place.
"This is where they're holding her," Darius said, his voice a low murmur, barely audible over the sounds of their footsteps. His gaze was hard, unyielding. "We're getting her back."
Celina nodded, though her stomach twisted with anxiety. Ivy had been their ally, their guide in this treacherous world. Without her, they were flying blind, and the fear that she might already be lost, or worse, gnawed at her insides.
"Darius…" she started, her voice barely a whisper, but he turned toward her immediately, his intense gaze locking onto hers. "What if we're too late? What if—"
"We won't be," he interrupted, his tone more forceful than she'd expected. "I'll make sure of it."
Celina swallowed hard, the knot in her throat tightening. The intensity of his words wasn't lost on her. There was something in his eyes, something that burned with a resolve so fierce it could scorch everything in its path. Darius didn't just want to save Ivy. He needed to. This wasn't just about a mission. This was personal.
She wanted to ask him about his past, about what had happened to him that made him so determined, so uncompromising in his pursuit of what he thought was right. But now wasn't the time.
They reached the end of the hallway, where a large steel door stood, a heavy padlock securing it in place. Darius paused, studying the door for a moment, then turned to Celina, his expression grim.
"This is it," he said. "Ready?"
Celina nodded, her breath shaky but steady. "Ready."
With a swift motion, Darius moved to the lock, his hands working quickly. It didn't take long for the mechanism to snap open with a satisfying click. He pushed the door, the hinges creaking with the weight of the centuries-old wood and metal, revealing the room beyond.
The room was a stark contrast to the decrepit exterior. Inside, dim fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting harsh shadows across the floor. The smell of dust and stale air hung in the space, along with something far more sinister. Celina's stomach twisted as she scanned the room, her eyes searching for any sign of Ivy.
They moved inside cautiously, the quiet hum of the lights the only sound in the otherwise still room. And then, in the far corner, she saw her.
Ivy was sitting on the ground, her hands bound with heavy ropes, her head slumped forward, a faint bruise marking her cheek. Her clothes were torn, her face pale, but she was alive.
Celina's heart skipped a beat.
"Ivy!" Celina rushed forward, kneeling beside her. "Ivy, are you okay?"
Ivy's eyes flickered open, and for a moment, the old spark of defiance shone in them. "I'm fine," she murmured, her voice hoarse. "But we don't have much time."
Darius was already working to cut the ropes that bound Ivy's wrists, his hands steady and precise. Celina's eyes never left her friend, watching for any signs of further injury.
"I should've been more careful," Ivy continued, wincing as Darius freed her. "I didn't think they'd catch me. But they did. And Cale… he's planning something big. Something that involves you, Celina."
Celina's stomach tightened. "What is he planning?"
Ivy struggled to sit up, her eyes shifting toward Darius before locking with Celina's. "He wants the Protocol. But he doesn't just want to control it. He wants to own it. And he knows you're the key to unlocking its full potential."
Celina's breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean, 'own it'?"
"I mean," Ivy said slowly, "that Cale isn't just after power. He's after control. If he gets his hands on the full Protocol, he'll have the ability to reprogram the system, to twist it to his will. He could turn the Protocol into a weapon. And you… you're the one who can make that happen."
"No," Celina said, shaking her head violently. "I won't be a part of that. I won't let him use me like that."
"You don't have a choice," Ivy replied softly, her voice heavy with regret. "Not anymore. The Protocol is inside you, Celina. It's too late to turn back."
Darius stood abruptly, his jaw clenched tight. "We won't let him control her. I won't let him."
"Darius…" Celina began, but Ivy's voice cut her off.
"It's true," Ivy said quietly. "He's already taken too much. He's using you, Celina, and you don't even know it."
A chill ran down Celina's spine as the weight of Ivy's words settled in. She had never been entirely certain about the full scope of the Protocol, but now, hearing Ivy's confirmation, the gravity of the situation crashed over her. She had always known she was different. But to be the key to something so dangerous…
"We need to get out of here," Darius said, his voice sharp with urgency. "Now."
Without waiting for any further response, Darius helped Ivy to her feet, his movements quick but gentle. Celina stayed close, her mind racing with everything she had learned, everything she still didn't understand. Cale's plans were far worse than she had ever imagined. He wasn't just after her. He was after everything.
As they made their way back toward the exit, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. Darius froze, his hand immediately going to his weapon. "Stay close," he murmured.
The three of them moved toward the exit, but as they reached the door, a sharp voice rang out.
"Leaving so soon?"
Celina's heart stopped as she turned toward the voice. There, standing at the end of the hallway, was Cale.
His smile was cold, calculating, his eyes glinting with malice. The very air seemed to freeze around him, his presence oppressive.
"You didn't think it would be this easy, did you?" Cale asked, his voice silky, mocking. "You should know by now, Celina. There's always a price."
Celina's pulse raced as Darius stepped in front of her, his body blocking her view of Cale. "Get out of our way, Cale," Darius growled, his hand tightening around his weapon.
Cale stepped forward, unfazed. "You think you can stop me? You think you can save her? You're too late. She's already mine. And so is the Protocol."
His gaze flicked toward Celina, the smirk never leaving his lips. "You can't escape your destiny. No matter how hard you try."
A cold shiver ran down Celina's spine as she took a step back. But there was no escaping now. No running.
The fight had begun.