Shadow Cadet: Rising Shadows

9 {What has to be done}

TW!!! Su!cide Idealation (Shits getting real in this chapter)

The five of them sat around a very cluttered kitchen island as they stared at the schematics of the Odessa headquarters. Clint rubbed his hands over his face as Malcolm chewed on the tip of his pencil. 

"The real question is how do we get in without being noticed?" Natasha asked as Aleksandr and Anastasiya made eye contact. The two having a silent conversation with Aleksandr shaking his head vigorously as Anastasiya smirked. 

"It's only in the original floor plan of the building but..." Anastasiya paused as she grabbed a second pair of schematics. "There were secret tunnels around Odessa to make getting around a little easier for us. Once the citizens figured out about them they were pretty pissed and Adrielle had to close them up- However there was one that remained open but it's been long forgotten about." She added as she pointed to a back entrance that spanned from an alleyway near the center of the city to the edge of the city where Headquarters was. 

"How do we get out without being killed? The radius of those bombs you guys got is pretty big. Plus since she's out for our heads security is gonna be really tight." Malcolm sighed as he bit into an apple. Silence fell over the group as they pondered his question. 

Anastasiya pursed her lips as she looked at Natasha. "What if you guys rig the bombs on the lower levels-" 

"No." Aleksandr shook his head again as if he knew where she was going.

"I'll take care of the top floor. Someone needs to keep Adrielle busy." She continued, now talking over Aleksandr. 

"What about Elias? He'll kill you." Malcolm stated, piggybacking off of Aleksandr's argument. Elias was Adrielle's second in command, her older brother, and a really big pain in their asses.

"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it." Anastasiya sighed as she looked back down at the schematics. 

"I'll go up there with you." Aleksandr offered but Anastasiya shook her head. "Then how the hell are you supposed to get out of there alive?!" He raised his voice. Anastasiya stayed silent as the tension in the room rose. 

"She's not planning to." Malcolm mumbled, breaking the silence as Anastasiya pursed her lips. She didn't dare to meet anyone's gaze.

"Like hell she is!" Aleksandr hissed as he rounded the kitchen island to stand directly in front of Anastasiya. "Tell me you aren't." He grabbed her chin forcing her to look him in the eye. "Tell me!" She couldn't. It would be a lie, and she couldn't lie to him. "Are you two seriously going to just let her do this?" He looked to Natasha and Clint who just sighed.

"Trust me I'm not the hugest fan of this plan but it's her choice." Natasha explained gesturing to Anastasiya. "We can't make this decision for her." She smiled sadly before looking at Clint who was rubbing the back of his neck. Aleksandr's nostrils flared before he ripped himself away from Anastasiya and went out to the front porch for some air. 

Anastasiya swallowed thickly as her vision blurred. She tilted her head back as she cleared her throat, fighting back tears. "If we're doing this, it needs to happen tonight. The sooner, the better." Her voice trembled as she spoke. "We leave at sunset. Do what you need to do before then." She finished before stepping away. 

"You heard her." She heard Clint mumble as she rounded the corner and into the nearest bedroom, she could find before shutting the door and sliding down it, pulling her knees to her chest. A silent sob escaped her lips as she covered her mouth, the unshed tears from a few minutes ago rolled down her cheeks. Saying everything out loud, what she planned to do, made it so much more real.