The Safehouse was tense when Alina and Jarek returned. The others sensed the urgency in their movements, the unspoken weight of a new mission. Alina could feel their gazes on her as she moved through the room, some curious, others wary. They all knew the stakes. They understood that whatever she was about to do would ripple through their lives, challenging the regime in ways few dared to imagine.
Jarek pulled her aside, his voice low. “We’ll need a team. We can’t just waltz into the Central District without backup.”
Alina nodded. She had expected this, but the thought of involving others—risking their lives for her own mission—sat heavy on her heart. She didn’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s fate, but if they were to stand a chance against the regime, she couldn’t do it alone.
As if reading her hesitation, Jarek placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. “They’re willing to fight, Alina. Each of us has lost something to the regime. They’re here because they want to make a difference, just like you.”
She took a deep breath, letting his words sink in. “Then let’s find who’s willing to come.”
They gathered a small group in the back room, those who had shown the most interest in the mission or who had their own reasons to despise the regime. A few familiar faces stared back at her: Rowan, a wiry man with a background in sabotage; Lila, a tech specialist who had defected from the regime’s surveillance unit; and Kade, a quiet but formidable fighter with a scar that ran down his cheek, a reminder of a brutal past encounter with the authorities.
Alina met each of their gazes, feeling the gravity of what she was about to ask. “You’ve all heard the rumors,” she began. “The regime has developed a device that can interfere with visions, something that can neutralize people like me. They’re planning to use it to control—or worse, eliminate—anyone with abilities they don’t understand.”
A murmur went through the group, a mix of disbelief and anger.
Rowan spoke up, his voice edged with bitterness. “They’ve always feared what they can’t control. If they succeed, they’ll use it to crush anyone who stands in their way.”
Lila’s eyes narrowed. “So, what’s the plan?”
“We need to get into their research facility in the Central District,” Alina replied. “If we can find out where this device is and destroy it, we’ll be buying ourselves—and others—more time. It’s a long shot, but it’s the best chance we have to protect ourselves.”
Kade crossed his arms, his gaze intense. “How do we get past security? Central District is crawling with guards, cameras… they’ll see us coming from a mile away.”
Jarek stepped in, a slight grin on his face. “That’s where I come in. I know a few back doors, hidden routes that aren’t on any official map. It won’t be easy, but if we move carefully, we can slip in undetected.”
Alina nodded, the plan solidifying in her mind. “Once we’re inside, we split up. Jarek and I will locate the research wing. Rowan, Lila, and Kade, you’ll handle any obstacles we run into—disable security, distract guards, whatever it takes.”
Lila’s eyes sparkled with a hint of excitement. “About time I put my skills to good use.”
Kade gave a curt nod. “I’m in.”
Rowan smirked, a glint of defiance in his eyes. “Let’s tear down their precious little project.”
A sense of unity filled the room, a shared purpose that transcended their individual fears. Alina felt a flicker of hope, a warmth that she hadn’t experienced in a long time. They were in this together, each one bringing their own strengths and resolve to the table.
The hours slipped by as they refined their plan, pouring over maps Jarek had smuggled in, memorizing patrol routes, guard schedules, and hidden entry points. They worked in hushed voices, their movements careful, every detail scrutinized. By the time they were ready, dawn was creeping over the horizon, casting a faint glow through the windows.
Alina took a deep breath, her body both exhausted and charged with adrenaline. She caught Jarek’s eye, and he gave her a reassuring nod.
“It’s going to work,” he murmured. “We’ve planned for everything.”
She forced a smile, but deep down, doubts lingered. There were too many unknowns, too many ways for things to go wrong. Yet, despite her fear, she felt a fierce determination hardening within her. She couldn’t let the regime win. Not now. Not when they were so close to striking back.
They set out at dusk, the group moving through the city like shadows, blending into the fading light. The journey to the Central District was tense, every sound magnified, every flicker of movement drawing wary glances. Alina could feel her heart pounding, each step carrying her closer to a confrontation that could define her fate.
When they reached the edges of the Central District, Jarek motioned for them to stop. “This is it,” he whispered. “The facility is just beyond that fence. There’s a maintenance entrance around the back that should be our best entry point.”
They moved quickly, scaling the fence and slipping into the alley behind the facility. Lila was the first to reach the door, her nimble fingers working deftly to disable the security panel. After a tense moment, the lock clicked open, and they filed inside, the air thick with the scent of sterilized metal and stale air.
Inside, the facility was dimly lit, the sterile corridors stretching out in every direction. Alina felt a shiver run down her spine as they moved forward, the silence oppressive. Each step echoed, a reminder of the danger they faced.
They split into their groups, with Jarek leading Alina down a narrow hallway toward the research wing. Lila, Rowan, and Kade took up positions at key points, ready to intervene if any guards appeared.
As they neared the research lab, Alina’s vision blurred, and a faint, familiar ache spread through her skull. She pressed a hand to her forehead, her breath catching as images flickered before her eyes.
In her vision, she saw herself and Jarek entering a room filled with machines and monitors. She watched as her hands reached for a device in the center, an object humming with an ominous energy. But just as she touched it, a group of guards stormed in, weapons raised, their faces twisted with grim determination.
The vision faded, and she staggered, clutching Jarek’s arm to steady herself.
“What did you see?” he asked, concern etched on his face.
“There’s a device in the lab… something powerful,” she whispered. “But guards are coming. We need to be quick.”
He nodded, his expression tightening. “Let’s move.”
They reached the lab door, and Jarek pulled a tool from his pocket, working quickly to override the lock. The door slid open with a soft hiss, and they slipped inside.
The lab was bathed in an eerie blue light, machines humming softly. In the center of the room stood a cylindrical device, wires snaking from its base, pulsing with a faint, unsettling glow.
Alina approached it, her hand trembling as she reached out. The device seemed to resonate with her presence, a low hum that vibrated in her bones. This was it—the regime’s answer to the oracles, their weapon against her kind.
“Destroy it,” Jarek whispered urgently, glancing back toward the door.
She hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. Destroying this device would set them back, disrupt their plans… but it would also mean revealing herself, making her a direct target.
Before she could make a decision, the door slammed open, and a group of guards flooded in, weapons raised.
“Freeze!” one of them barked, his voice cold and unyielding.
Alina’s heart raced, her mind calculating. They were trapped, outnumbered, but she refused to give up now. She met Jarek’s gaze, a silent understanding passing between them.
In one swift movement, she grabbed the device, ripping it from its base. The machines sparked, lights flashing as an alarm blared, but she held tight, feeling the strange energy surge through her.
Jarek lunged forward, grabbing a weapon from one of the guards, creating a momentary distraction. Alina focused, channeling every ounce of strength into the device, letting her vision take over. In that moment, she felt a pulse, a connection, and an understanding of the power she held.
The guards advanced, their faces hard with intent, but Alina stood her ground, her resolve unbreakable. She knew they were outnumbered, but she also knew one thing:
This fight had only just begun.