GENESIS: THE CATALYST

CHAPTER THREE

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." — John Milton, Paradise Lost.

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The sterile lights of the underground facility cast a harsh glow on Krane as he watched the security footage. His fingers drummed rhythmically on the cold, steel surface of the table. He had studied the Rossi-Smith family for weeks—analyzing every movement, every routine. From breakfast to school to work, etcetera. He already had an idea before since he had worked with Clara, that was a long time ago. Yet, Maya remained elusive, well-protected behind layers of privilege and wealth. Krane's eyes narrowed as the door slid open.

Elena walked in with her signature confidence. At first glance, her sharp features and piercing green eyes could give off an air of elegance, but there was an underlying sense of danger to her. Her jet-black hair was slicked back into a tight ponytail, revealing a jagged scar along her left cheek—a memento from a mission that hadn’t gone quite as planned. Dressed in tactical gear hidden beneath a long trench coat, she was as much a weapon as the blade she kept concealed on her thigh.

Krane studied her as she approached the monitors, her tall frame moving with precision. Her presence alone spoke volumes—no words needed.

“Are you prepared for this?” Krane asked, his voice low as he turned back to the screens.

Elena stood beside him, her gaze scanning the surveillance feeds. “Of course. Their security is extensive, but nothing we haven’t handled before.”

Krane tapped the side of the monitor, zooming in on the Rossi-Smith penthouse. “Maya is essential. We can’t afford another mistake like Kendall.”

A flicker of something crossed Elena's face. She hated being reminded of past failures, but Krane was right. Kendall's abduction had been sloppy. They couldn’t repeat that error, not with Maya. “It won’t be like Kendall,” Elena said coldly. “We’ve got the right team in place this time.”

Krane raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Elena had her orders, and she knew the stakes.

Later that afternoon, outside the Rossi-Smith Penthouse. The sun was still hanging low in the sky, casting long shadows over the high-end neighborhood. The Rossi-Smith penthouse stood tall, a fortress of wealth and status. Security had tightened significantly since Kendall’s disappearance, and the estate now buzzed with guards and surveillance systems.

Elena stood across the street, leaning against an inconspicuous black SUV. Her trench coat fluttered slightly in the breeze. She wasn’t alone. Behind the tinted windows of the SUV, her team sat in silence, monitoring various feeds on laptops. They were a mix of former military personnel and tech experts, each one handpicked by Elena herself. This was more than a one-woman job—it required finesse, coordination, and careful planning.

Her earpiece crackled to life. “We’ve disabled their external perimeter alarms,” a voice said quietly. It was Malek, her tech specialist, seated in the back of the van with several screens in front of him. “I’ve also overridden their motion sensors on the west side for the next fifteen minutes.”

“Copy that,” Elena whispered, pulling a baseball cap lower over her eyes as she stepped away from the SUV.

Dressed as a technician from the family's security provider, she approached the estate with confidence. Her forged credentials were flawless, and her cover was airtight. The guards at the gate barely gave her a second glance when she flashed her ID.

"Routine check for the external cameras," she said, her tone professional but unassuming.

One of the guards gave a brief nod. "Go ahead. They've been acting up lately."