Shattered Innocence

Shadows and Secrets

I watch the cameras until morning. All I see is a hooded man leaving the front door and slipping into an idling car before it pulls away. No one comes back, and no one else goes in. It's been hours, and still nothing. "It's time," Zack finally says. "Get ready, we're going in. We need to find the research there and destroy it."

"And if there's a kid there?" Ivan reminds him softly.

"Then we save them and get them somewhere safe, far from their reach," Zack commands, giving us all a pointed look. Without any further conversation, we all jump up and get ready. We're going in as soon as the sun sets, and we need to be prepared to uncover what my father was hiding around the world. Is it another kid? More torture in the name of research? If so, who was the man who came out of the house, and why hasn't he returned? I guess wondering won't change anything. Instead, I dress in my usual black jeans, tank top, and zip-up bomber.

I braid my hair back and grab the cap on the table, tugging it down. Then I add some knives, avoiding guns. I could use them, but I'd just rather not. I lean back and watch the guys get ready. They're all wearing black, and seeing them like this makes my mouth dry. Tight black T-shirts cling to their muscles, black cargo pants are tucked into boots, and their holsters are hidden under their jackets. Seriously, they look sexy as hell.

Zack is perfectly dressed, while Yuri is mussed, and his shirt gapes slightly to show his pecs. Ivan's outfit has more pockets for first-aid supplies, Nikolay has more weapons strapped to his body, and Mikhail is carrying a laptop. When they all check themselves over, I can't help but smile. It's an important mission, but jeez, they look cute, like toy soldiers but oh so damn sexy. Shaking my head, I clear my throat. "Let's go."

We wait until the sun sets to make our move, watching from bushes both in the front and rear of the house. No one comes or goes, and there's no movement at all. A bad feeling starts building in my stomach, but I keep it to myself as the instructions come through my earpiece from Zack, who's in the front with Ivan and Mikhail. I'm with Yuri and Nikolay in the back.

"Five minutes, and then we move. Set watches." I hear Nikolay doing it and trust him to alert us. Yuri is busy drawing dirty stick figures in the mud, and when I glance over, he wiggles his eyebrow, pointing at an elaborate sexual position.

"This is for us to try later," he teases. "

Yuri, you perv—wait, is that even possible?" I tilt my head, looking over the diagram as I feel Nikolay's eyes on me.

"Yes," he grunts, and we both swing our heads to him, wearing twin expressions of shock. His face is cool and collected as he watches us back.

"Well shit, you dirty dog, Nikolay. I didn't know you had it in you." Yuri almost whoops as Nikolay rolls his eyes, but when I wink at him, a grin tugs at his lips as his watch counts down.

"Remember your position and check the corners. Mikhail has disarmed all alarms and cameras. The main focus in the house is the mainframe and command center. Get any research or data before it's wiped. Our job is to check every other room in case there is a... subject being held here. Understood?"

"Yes, boss," I saluted, making Yuri grin. "As long as I get to be behind Nova, I'll behave." I realized that was precisely why they paired Yuri with me. I was like a psycho's babysitter, except the baby was an almost seven-foot, built, weapons expert with enhanced senses and intelligence. "Zack, am I with Yuri to make him behave?" I muttered, glancing back at the darkened house.

"Yes," he answered shamelessly, causing my eyes to narrow. "And Nikolay?" I prodded further.

"To make you behave," he chuckled. "Sorry, baby, but we all know that if anything goes down, you and Yuri are firing first."

"Touché," I muttered, feeling both annoyed and, I admit, slightly turned on by the fact that Zack thought about me that much. Grinning at Nikolay, I wiggled my eyebrows. "I guess that means you get to punish me if I misbehave."

"Oh, fuck, me! Me, let me!" Yuri shot his hand up, but Nikolay swiftly knocked it down without even looking. "No, that's my job as the mission's commander," he declared, giving me a heated look that sent shivers down my spine. He moved closer in his crouched position, his hand wrapping around my neck, gently twisting my head back until it hurt, forcing me to meet his gaze. "But if you're a good girl, you'll get a reward too. And trust me, baby girl, the reward is better," he promised, his lips almost brushing against mine.

"Fuck, you two would make beautiful babies," Yuri randomly remarked, his eyes wide and confused. We both turned to face him, our cheeks touching, and stared at him before glancing back at each other and bursting into laughter. However, the lighthearted moment abruptly ended when Zack's watch beeped, signaling it was time to move.

"Thirty seconds until we move. Stay low, silent, and keep your faces hidden just in case. Watch for traps and be aware of what's within," Zack instructed, assuming his role as the leader. With that, he positioned himself at the edge of the bush, gun in hand, silently counting down. I slipped behind him, gripping a blade, while Yuri playfully patted my ass from behind, sighing dreamily. "If I'm good, do I get to eat your ass later?" he whispered in my ear.

"We both know you'd prefer the punishment," I murmured, and as Nikolay started moving, Yuri quieted down. We hurriedly made our way in a crouched run to the back door of the seemingly ordinary house in a rural area. But we all knew it was a façade. The windows on both the first and second floors were darkened. Earlier, I had peeked through the window next to the back door, catching a glimpse of the kitchen and a hallway. Dmitry had found some blueprints, but we suspected they had already been modified. However, the blueprints revealed the existence of a basement, where we believed everything was taking place.

I moved past Nikolay to position myself at the door, quickly picking the lock and grabbing the handle as he silently counted down on his fingers. On three, I forcefully swung the door open, and he rolled in, sweeping the room before whispering, "Clear." I could hear Zack and the others entering through the front door in my earpiece, but my focus remained on ensuring their safety. It was different now that it wasn't just my life at stake. I refused to let them down.

Nikolay and I moved swiftly, our eyes scanning every inch of the house, every shadow, every corner. We cleared the ground floor in minutes, finding nothing but a few pictures of a seemingly happy family. There were no signs of life, no personal belongings. The place was sterile, abandoned. We cautiously made our way to the staircase, Nikolay taking the lead this time. As we ascended, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching us, monitoring our every move.

Reaching the second floor, Nikolay signaled for me to stay close behind him, and we began our systematic sweep of the area. Each room was meticulously checked, closets opened and searched, but we found nothing but empty spaces and dust-covered furniture. It was as if the residents had vanished into thin air.

Finally, we reached the door that led to the basement. Nikolay shot me a glance, his eyes reflecting a mix of caution and determination. I nodded, understanding the weight of the mission and the risks we were about to face. We had come this far, and there was no turning back now.

With a deep breath, Nikolay pushed the door open, and we descended into the darkness below. The air grew colder, the sounds of the house fading away as we delved into the unknown. The glow of our flashlights illuminated the narrow passageways, revealing concrete walls and metal doors that gave off an eerie vibe.

As we continued our descent, the sense of foreboding grew stronger. The faint sound of whispers echoed through the corridors, sending shivers down my spine. This place was not what it seemed. It was a labyrinth of secrets, and we were about to uncover them.

I tightened my grip on my weapon, my heart pounding in my chest, and reminded myself of our purpose. We were here to expose the truth, no matter how dark and sinister it might be. I looked at Nikolay, his steely gaze reflecting the determination I felt within myself.

"Let's find out what they've been hiding," I whispered, and together, we pressed forward into the uncharted territory of the underground facility.