ESPION [English]

#1

The raven-haired man with a full-sleeve tattoo took a drag from his cigarette, blowing a thick cloud of smoke into the musty air. He flicked the smoldering butt onto the floor, crushing it under his boot as he stared coldly at the bald man in the room.

"They're f***ing with us. We need to change the goddamn plan," he growled, turning toward the darkened corner of the grimy room.

From the shadows, Razor, still wiping the blood from his blade, scoffed. "Change the f***ing plan? Are you out of your goddamn mind? We don’t have time for that s**t."

The tattooed man, who the others called Blade, shot him a deadly look. "You wanna die here like a f***ing dog, Razor?"

Razor hesitated, gritting his teeth. "They’ve got her, Blade. What if—"

Blade cut him off, his voice low but vicious. "Who the f*** said we ain’t saving her? Either follow me, or crawl back into the hole you came from, you coward."

The room went silent for a beat, thick with tension. The rest of the gang, grizzled and skeptical, exchanged glances. Up till now, they hadn’t trusted Blade, the young bastard their boss threw in to lead this operation. Too green. Too unpredictable.

But now, doubt started creeping in their eyes. Maybe this kid had more fight in him than they thought. Maybe they could trust him to get them out of this mess alive.

"What's the call, boss?" one of them asked, the distrust in their voices fading, replaced with something new—reluctant trust.

"As I engage with Ivan at the west gate, Razor will infiltrate from the east. They may be holding her captive there. If we hand over the ledger, they’ll kill her immediately. Can’t you see the way they’ve positioned their men? They never intended to trade her. We’ve been pawns in their game from the start."

Blade spoke in a measured tone, his voice betraying no trace of emotion.

"Then let’s give them a game they won’t forget," he added, his lips curling into a wicked grin.

The night was inky black, the clock nearing midnight, as the group arrived at their destination—a decrepit warehouse nestled within the dark forest by the sea. The west gate was barely visible, dimly illuminated by two faint lights, casting long shadows across the entrance but offering little aid in surveying the area.

Blade exited the car, followed by Shiv and the rest of their crew. They were at a disadvantage because the enemy held their most valuable hostage—the daughter of their former boss, the only connection to the man who had mysteriously vanished two months prior.

But apart from that, Blade’s gang held the upper hand. They had the best sharpshooters, swordsmen, and most critically, the keenest strategist leading them.

"Well, well, Blade, how’s life treating you?" sneered Ivan, his voice laced with mockery.

But Blade remained silent, his sharp eyes surreptitiously scanning the perimeter. The situation wasn’t dire. Two-to-one odds? Manageable. He had faced worse.

"Let’s not waste time, eh? Ha ha ha..." Ivan's laughter grated on Blade’s nerves, as artificial and ugly as his demeanor.

Blade stepped forward, one hand clutching the folded ledger. He was close now, mere inches from Ivan’s face. As one of Ivan’s lackeys approached, whispering something in his ear, Blade observed the flicker of rage distorting Ivan’s already twisted expression.

That was the cue.

In a swift, fluid motion, Blade withdrew the pistol from his belt and fired. The shot rang out like thunder in the still night, striking Ivan dead. Chaos erupted.

Razor emerged from the shadows at the east gate, his blade gleaming as he slashed through the guards, moving like a wraith. Shiv, ever the volatile force, rushed into the fray, unleashing fury with a storm of bullets. The enemy scrambled, caught off-guard by the sudden onslaught.

Blade darted between foes, his movements precise and deadly. He took down one man, then another, his pistol barking with lethal efficiency. Razor, with his characteristic grim focus, fought like a demon possessed, cutting down any who dared stand in his way.

Swords clashed, gunfire echoed, and screams filled the air as the warehouse became a battleground. Blade's crew moved like a well-oiled machine, outmaneuvering Ivan's disorganized men.

As the dust settled, the enemy lay scattered, broken, and defeated. Ivan’s gang had been decimated. Blade stood amidst the carnage, his gaze cold and unflinching. Victory was theirs, but the game was far from over.

________________

Characters:

1. Blade (The raven-haired, tattooed leader) – A young but hardened man, unpredictable, but with a sharp mind. He commands respect, even if it's begrudging.

2. Razor (The man cleaning the blade) – Older, and battle-hardened, he's skeptical of Blade but still a loyal gang member. Doubts Blade’s leadership but knows the stakes are high.

3. Shiv (The bald man) – A quiet but volatile member of the crew, good at following orders but not great at thinking on his feet. Trusts Blade reluctantly.

More characters are to be introduced in coming chapters.