Lena

Chapter 10: The Calm Before the Storm

The night seemed to grow thicker as they approached the "Cave," the abandoned warehouse whose name had taken on a sinister meaning in underground circles. The city lights faded behind them, replaced by the oppressive darkness of the deserted industrial district. Lena, sitting in the back seat of the car, tried to steady her breathing, but the anxiety inside her was rising with each passing second.

Julien and Samuel were just as focused, their eyes fixed ahead. The plan was set, but there were no guarantees it would go as expected. Claire had managed to send a cryptic message just before her disappearance, but was it a real chance to save her, or a trap laid by their enemies? No one was certain, but they couldn't afford to doubt.

"We're here," Julien announced, slowing the car.

In front of them, the "Cave" looked like a giant abandoned carcass, its walls weathered and covered in graffiti. The place seemed utterly deserted, but Lena knew this calm was just a façade. If Claire had been taken here, they certainly weren't alone.

Julien killed the engine, and for a moment, they were enveloped by silence. He turned to Lena and Samuel, his face hard under the faint glow of the dashboard.

"Remember," he murmured. "We go in quietly. Lena, wait for my signal before you move. If it's a trap, we get out immediately."

Lena nodded, though every fiber of her being screamed to rush inside. Claire's life was at stake, and the thought of staying passive was eating her alive. But she knew Julien was right. Charging in unprepared would be suicide.

Samuel adjusted the strap of his bag in silence, his expression resolute. He had the same nervousness as Lena, but he had learned to trust Julien's methodical strategies. Everything had to happen in a specific order, and any misstep could cost them more than just this battle.

Julien was the first to step out, his movements quick and quiet. Samuel followed without a sound. Lena stayed behind, her senses on high alert. She scanned the surroundings, trying to detect any suspicious movement in the darkness.

The minutes dragged on in silence, each second feeling like an eternity. Lena hated waiting. She had never liked being on the sidelines, watching while others acted. But it was necessary. She had to trust Julien for this mission.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She needed to stay focused. She knew that even the slightest distraction could be fatal. Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket. The signal. Julien had let her know it was clear so far. Lena got out of the car, her movements calculated to avoid making any noise. She crept toward the warehouse, feeling the night's cold seep into her skin.

Inside, the warehouse was vast, with towering rusty metal structures that cast eerie shadows in the dim light. Lena moved slowly through the darkness, her senses sharp for any sound. She spotted Julien and Samuel a few meters ahead, slipping between the metal columns like shadows. The tension in the air was palpable.

"This way," Julien whispered, pointing to a small door at the back of the warehouse.

This was where everything would be decided. Claire was supposed to be inside, but Lena didn't know how many men were waiting for them or what condition they'd find Claire in. Doubt hammered at her mind, but she forced herself to stay calm.

Julien approached the door, his eyes scanning for any sign of an alarm or trap. Nothing. He exchanged a glance with Samuel, then nodded at Lena to reassure her before slowly opening the door.

The interior was dimly lit by a flickering bulb hanging from the ceiling. The room was small, filled with stacked crates and abandoned equipment. And there, at the back, tied to a chair, was Claire.

Lena's heart clenched. Claire looked exhausted, her face marked by fear and fatigue. But she was alive. That was all that mattered.

"Claire," Lena whispered as she approached cautiously.

Claire's eyes fluttered open, and when she recognized Lena, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. "You... came..."

Julien and Samuel moved closer, immediately starting to untie the ropes binding her. Claire was weak, but she held on. Lena could feel the weight of the fear that hung over her, but she stayed strong, refusing to give in to panic.

"They... they'll be back soon," Claire murmured, her voice weak but urgent. "You have to leave... before they return."

Julien nodded as he continued to free her. "We're leaving now. We're taking you far from here."

But just as he said those words, a loud sound echoed behind them. Lena whipped around, her stomach knotting in terror. The door they had entered through had slammed shut with a sharp click. And before she could react, figures emerged from the shadows.

"I knew you'd come," a calm, cold voice declared.

Lena immediately recognized the voice. It was him. The man from the private club, the one she had confronted, the one pulling the strings behind this entire network. He slowly stepped out of the darkness, a cold smile on his lips, flanked by two imposing men.

"You came all this way to save Claire... how touching," he said as he walked slowly toward them, his eyes locking on Lena with an almost amused glint. "But you should have known you were expected."

Lena's throat tightened. It was a trap. This whole thing had been orchestrated to lure them here, and they had walked right into it. She exchanged a quick glance with Julien and Samuel. They were outnumbered, and they all knew fighting would be suicide.

"Why all of this?" Lena asked, her voice tinged with anger despite the fear gripping her stomach. "Why set a trap if you could have just killed her?"

The man chuckled softly, but there was no warmth in his laughter. "Oh, Lena... killing Claire would have been the easy solution. But I wanted to see how far you'd go. I wanted to see just how much you'd cling to this illusion of justice."

Lena clenched her fists, feeling rage bubbling up inside her. This man had been toying with them from the start, like a cat playing with its prey.

"So, what do you want?" Samuel asked, his eyes fixed on the man, desperately searching for an escape.

"What I want is simple," the man replied, stepping closer and closer. "I want you to stop. To give up this little investigation of yours. Because if you don't... next time, it won't just be a warning."

Lena locked eyes with him, refusing to be intimidated. But she knew the situation was dire. They were trapped. Yet, something inside her refused to give in. She couldn't let this man win.

"Do you really think we'll stop?" she shot back, her voice full of defiance.

The man looked at her for a moment, his smile widening. "I expect you to think carefully about your next move. But I'm not giving you much of a choice." He nodded to his men, who began advancing toward them.

Time seemed to slow as Lena, Samuel, and Julien stood their ground, aware that every second mattered. They were cornered, but deep down, Lena knew they still had a chance. They had to act, and fast.