The Black Silk

CHAPTER 13🖤✨️

As she sheathed her sword, she noticed Issac, her senior, watching her from a distance. There was something in his eyes—something that made her uneasy. He approached her, a forced smile on his lips.

"Cellina," Issac called out, his voice calm, almost too calm. "You’ve proven yourself to be quite capable."

Cellina nodded, feeling the tension in the air. "Grazie, Issac. I’ve trained hard for this."

Issac's smile widened, but it didn't reach his eyes. "There’s a mission that requires someone with your... specific set of skills. It's dangerous, but I believe you’re the only one who can handle it."

She raised an eyebrow, curious and cautious. "What’s the mission?"

"You'll be infiltrating a rival organization’s stronghold. It's heavily guarded, and the intel we need is stored deep within. It won’t be easy, but I trust you can do it," Issac explained, his tone smooth.

Cellina felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a hint of suspicion. "Why me? Surely there are others who could—"

Issac cut her off, his voice firm. "This is an opportunity to prove yourself further, Cellina. Do you doubt your abilities?"

She shook her head, determined. "No, I don’t. I’ll get it done."

Nightfall came quickly as Cellina made her way to the enemy stronghold. The mission was indeed dangerous, but she was ready. She moved through the shadows like a phantom, avoiding the guards with ease. Her mind was focused, her heart steady. As she reached the inner sanctum, she found the documents she needed.

But as she turned to leave, she sensed something wrong. A trap? The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Before she could react, a group of armed men surrounded her, their weapons gleaming in the dim light.

"Looks like Issac sent us a gift," one of the men sneered.

Cellina’s eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

The man laughed. "He paid us extra to make sure you didn’t leave here alive."

Rage and betrayal flared within her, but she suppressed it. Now was not the time for anger; now was the time to survive. She drew her weapons, ready to fight.

The battle was fierce. Cellina fought with every ounce of her strength and skill. She was a whirlwind of blades, fists, and feet, taking down one opponent after another. But the odds were against her, and in the chaos, a blade found its mark, cutting deep into her side.

She staggered but didn't fall. "Is that all you’ve got?" she taunted, her voice edged with defiance.

The remaining men hesitated, seeing her determination. She took advantage of their uncertainty, finishing them off swiftly. But the wound in her side was serious, and she knew she needed to get out before more came.

Cellina stumbled into the safe house, her vision blurry. She managed to contact Adrian’s team before collapsing onto the cold floor. The last thing she remembered was the sound of voices and the feeling of strong arms lifting her.

When she woke, she was in a hospital room, bandaged and sore. Adrian stood by her bed, his expression unreadable.

"Cellina," he said, his voice low but full of concern. "You should have told me about the mission."

She blinked, confused. "Issac... He said it was sanctioned."

Adrian’s eyes darkened. "It wasn’t. He sent you there to get rid of you."

The truth hit her like a punch to the gut. "Issac... He wanted me dead."

Adrian nodded, his anger barely contained. "I trusted him, but he betrayed us. Betrayed you."