Code of Shadows

Chapter 18 - Rescue and Regret

The drive to the warehouse was tense, the silence between Ethan and me more telling than any words could be. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road ahead, jaw clenched in frustration. He had taken a gamble by trusting Nyah, bringing her into our circle, and now it felt like we were on the losing side. She was in Ambrose's hands, and the risk I had warned about was coming back to haunt us.

I glanced at Ethan, trying to gauge his thoughts. He was unreadable, his face a mask of determination. There was no point in saying "I told you so," no use in voicing the doubts that were eating at me. We both knew the stakes, and the time for second-guessing had passed. Now, all we could do was act.

The warehouse came into view, looming against the night sky like a ghost. It was exactly the kind of place you'd expect to find trouble—abandoned, isolated, and reeking of decay. The kind of place where things could go wrong, fast. We parked a distance away, moving silently through the shadows, our breaths shallow, every step careful. The tension was suffocating, a heavy weight pressing down on us as we approached the side entrance.

We slipped inside, the darkness swallowing us. The air was thick with the scent of dust and rust, every sound amplified in the stillness. My heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through my veins. This was what I was trained for, but that didn't make the reality any easier. Every nerve was on edge, my senses heightened, alert for any sign of danger.

Ethan signaled to me, pointing towards a set of metal stairs leading to the upper floor. I nodded, taking point, my gun drawn, ready for anything. Each step creaked underfoot, but we moved with practiced stealth, avoiding the loose spots, our movements silent. As we reached the top, I paused, listening, my ears straining for any sound.

I spotted Nyah first. She was tied to a chair, her face bruised but her eyes defiant. A guard stood over her, his back to us, unaware of our presence. I raised my gun, ready to take him out, but Ethan's hand on my arm stopped me. I shot him a questioning look, but he shook his head, signaling for silence. He had a plan, and despite my reservations, I had to trust him.

"Let me handle this," Ethan whispered, his voice barely audible. He moved past me, quick and silent, his body language radiating control. I kept my gun trained, my eyes scanning for any other threats, ready to act if needed. Ethan approached the guard from behind, his movements fluid, practiced. A chokehold, a swift motion, and the guard slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Nyah looked up as Ethan moved to untie her, relief flickering in her eyes. "Took you long enough," she muttered, trying to sound nonchalant. Her voice was shaky, though, betraying her attempt at bravado.

I stepped forward, holstering my gun, my frustration boiling over. "Next time, don't get caught," I said sharply. Her recklessness had put us all at risk, and I wasn't in the mood to play nice.

Nyah smirked, her defiance undiminished. "Next time, don't send an amateur to do a professional's job," she shot back, her tone mocking. Her words stung, but I bit back the retort that rose to my lips. Now wasn't the time for arguments. We had to get out of there, fast.

Ethan cut in, his voice steady, the peacemaker. "We need to move. Ambrose's men won't stay gone for long." He helped Nyah to her feet, his touch gentle, too gentle. I watched them, a strange twist in my gut. This was more than just professional for Ethan, and that realization unsettled me. Personal feelings could cloud judgment, and we couldn't afford mistakes.

As we made our way back to the car, Nyah glanced at me, her expression serious for the first time. "Ambrose is planning to unleash Chimera soon," she said, her voice low, urgent. "He's desperate. If he can't have the virus, he'll make sure no one can."

Her words sent a chill down my spine. We were running out of time. "We need to get to the lab," I said, my mind racing with possibilities, plans, contingencies. "We can't let him get there first."

Ethan nodded, his face grim. "We'll stop him," he said, determination in every line of his body. "We have to."

The drive to the lab was a blur, the city lights flashing by, my thoughts a whirlwind. We had a chance to stop Ambrose, to prevent the release of a virus that could devastate the world. But the window was closing fast, and one wrong move could spell disaster.

As we approached the lab, my mind replayed Nyah's words. Ambrose was desperate, and that made him dangerous. We couldn't underestimate him, couldn't let our guard down. The stakes had never been higher, the game escalating with every passing second. I glanced at Ethan, his face set, his eyes focused. We were in this together, and I had to trust that we would come out on top.

We pulled up to the lab, the building looming in the darkness, its windows like empty eyes. Inside, Ambrose was preparing, plotting, and we were about to walk into the lion's den. We had to get there first. We had to win. There was no other option. The fate of millions rested on our shoulders, and the clock was ticking down to zero.