"𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐀 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥"

XII/The Hidden Room

Three tense days passed as they meticulously studied the guards' shift changes, hoping to identify the tunnels' location. Every movement, every shift change was noted down meticulously, and the anticipation among them grew with each passing hour in the cold, sterile environment of the fortress.

Then, one fateful night, chaos erupted. Flames erupted from an unknown source within the fortress, licking hungrily up the walls and casting a foreboding orange glow across the corridors. Alarms blared their urgent cries, punctuating the panicked shouts of guards and staff as they scrambled to contain the blaze.

"This is our chance," Amelia whispered urgently, her voice barely audible over the clamor. Her heart raced with adrenaline as she led the way through the chaos, the others close behind her. Vin, Scott, Lyra, and Jax moved with practiced stealth, their years of training kicking in as they navigated the maze-like corridors.

As they approached the concealed room, the heat intensified, mingling with the acrid smell of smoke. Amelia turned to Jax, a sense of urgency in her eyes. "Can you get this door open?" she asked, scanning the area for any signs of pursuit.

Jax nodded, his expression focused as he retrieved a makeshift tool from his pocket. "Give me a moment," he replied calmly, his hands steady despite the chaos around them. With practiced efficiency, he manipulated the lock, and the door yielded with a soft click.

They slipped into the dimly lit room and shut the door behind them, muffling the chaos outside. The room was a stark contrast to the rest of the fortress—filled with antiquated equipment, dusty documents, and detailed maps of the facility. A large table dominated the center, strewn with gadgets and tools that spoke of clandestine operations.

Scott wasted no time in spreading out the maps, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Let's find those tunnels," he urged, his voice carrying a note of urgency.

Vin, Jax,Lyra, and Scott huddled over the maps, tracing routes and arguing over the best path. "This place is a maze," Vin grumbled, his brow furrowed in frustration. "How are we supposed to figure this out in time?"

Lyra pointed to a section of the map. "Look, this seems like it could be an entrance. But then it leads nowhere," she said, her finger tracing the convoluted pathways.

Jax frowned, his eyes scanning the map intently. "Maybe it's hidden. We need to think outside the box," he suggested, his mind racing.

Amelia, meanwhile, scanned the room, her eyes darting from one item to the next. The room was filled with an assortment of gadgets, tools, and old, dusty papers. She had glanced at the map when they first entered, but something else caught her eye. Among the piles of papers, a particular sheet stood out. It looked like a map, but there was something off about it.

She picked up the paper and examined it closely. Her eyes widened as she realized what it was. "These aren't maps," she muttered to herself, her mind racing. "They're sketches."

Amelia turned back to the group, holding up the paper. "Guys, these aren't maps of tunnels. They're construction sketches. They're plans for the fortress," she explained, her voice urgent.

The group fell silent, looking at her in confusion. "What do you mean?" Vin asked, his brow furrowed.

"These documents are blueprints. They show how the fortress was built, not how to get out of it," Amelia said, her voice firm.

Scott's expression hardened as he reviewed the papers again. "We've been approaching this all wrong," he admitted, frustration lacing his tone.

Before they could delve deeper into their discovery, distant voices echoed down the passageway—a signal to leave before they were discovered. "We need to move," Lyra urged, her eyes wide with concern.

Scott hastily gathered the papers, tucking them away beneath his clothes. "Let's go, Amelia," Vin urged, his voice urgent.

Amelia hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the maps and blueprints scattered across the table. She grabbed the sketch that had caught her attention earlier and carefully concealed it on her person. With one last look around the room, they slipped back into the corridors, blending seamlessly into the chaos of the fire.

Two minutes later, Dina and Liam, two of the older recruits, arrived and addressed the crowd. "It was just a small fire," Dina announced, her voice carrying over the din. "Everyone, back to training."

As the group dispersed, Amelia noticed Dina looking suspiciously at Jax and Lana. She made a mental note of it, her inner thoughts racing. Why was Dina watching them? Is she onto us?

In the training arena, Lyra noticed Amelia's distraction. "What's on your mind?" she asked softly, concern evident in her voice.

Amelia glanced at Dina briefly before replying. "Did you see the way Dina looked at Jax and Lana?" she whispered, keeping her voice low.

Lyra frowned, her brow furrowing in thought. "I did," she admitted quietly. "It seemed... suspicious."

Amelia nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. Why are Jax and Lana being watched so closely?

As they prepared for their training exercises, Justin approached them, his smirk sending a wave of disgust through the group. He was a fellow trainee, but unlike them, he had earned the group's ire for his constant snitching and loyalty to the organization. Many children had died or been punished because of his treachery.

Justin's eyes roved over Lyra in a manner that made Scott's blood boil. "Well, well, if it isn't the escape artists," Justin sneered, his eyes lingering on Lyra. "Didn't think I'd notice you sneaking off during the fire?"

Scott stepped protectively in front of Lyra, his voice low and dangerous. "Fuck off, Justin. Stop looking at her like that before I take your eyes out."

Lyra placed a hand on Scott's arm, trying to calm him. "Scott, don't," she pleaded softly.

Justin's laugh was a grating sound. "I saw you all. Leaving during the fire. I've waited years for a slip-up like this. Be careful, I'm watching you."

Vin's cheerful demeanor darkened. "Why don't you go find a new hobby, Justin? Like falling off a cliff."

Jax, who had been silent, stepped forward, his tone cold. "You're just a dog for the organization, Justin. Always sniffing around for scraps."

Justin's smirk faded slightly, but he didn't back down. "Laugh all you want. But one slip, and you're all done for. Remember that."

Scott's fists clenched at his sides. "I hate that guy," he muttered.

Amelia's eyes were thoughtful as she watched Justin go. "We need to be more careful. Justin's a snake, and he won't hesitate to strike if he thinks it'll earn him favor," she said, her voice low with concern.

Lyra nodded in agreement, her expression serious. "I know, Amelia. He's dangerous, especially now that he's seen us leaving during the fire. We can't afford any slip-ups," she replied, her eyes scanning their surroundings warily.

Vin, sensing the tension, decided to lighten the mood. "Hey, lover boy," he said, nudging Scott playfully. "Let's get back to training before you start a brawl."

Scott rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small smile. "Yeah, yeah. Let's go."

They returned to the training area, but the encounter with Justin lingered in their minds. Their bond felt stronger than ever, a small solace amidst the chaos, a reminder that even in the darkest times, they had each other. Amelia's thoughts, however, kept drifting back to the hidden room, the blueprints, and the ominous feeling that something much bigger was at play. Why were those blueprints hidden? And what does this fortress truly conceal?

As they resumed their training, Amelia's thoughts remained fixed on their discovery in the hidden room. There were more mysteries to uncover, and she was determined to unravel them—no matter the risks.
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Sending love <3,
-M