The Hunters' Fate: Overcoming

Deceived (Z)

Our plan worked perfectly.

Maybe too perfectly.

Right after the attack, we got reports that the Hunters were scrambling to figure out what happened and who was responsible, as well as trying to rebuild the frontline and add an insane amount of troops there.

Now they're focus was off the things that were important, but my question is, why was it so easy?

Why did they do exactly what we thought they would? Why, out of all the people on IDHS's side, there were only twelve soldiers stationed there, protecting everything important?

What's really going on?

I have a feeling we're going to find out soon.

It's been about a week since the frontline attack and it's now the time to implement what They told us to do. We're going to go get some files.

We don't have the elements to freeze time and we don't have the forces for a full-on attack, so we're going to have to resort to stealth. It's a good thing their radars are down, otherwise we would be in deep trouble.

I'm standing in the spot we agreed to leave at, the spot we usually leave at. Everyone is here.

"It's just going to be you four and Luc today," Lilith says. "Aelia and Callum are attending some kind of Spider Wolves meeting, so they couldn't make it. Anyway, the plan for today could very well be the end of us, so I want you guys to listen carefully.

"The portal is going to go to the Launch Pad. From there you can get to the Councilors' room. If you aren't careful, they'll spot you, and they'll kill you. Get the files and contract and get out of there, okay?"

Instead of waiting for a response, she opens up a portal. Luc goes in first, then I step forward.

This could be the last day I'm down here again. I look around and take in the surroundings of the ominous place I used to be so scared of that turned into home. Then, I step through the portal.

* * *

The Launch Pad isn't as nice as I remember it being. Now it looks run down, like it was abandoned. It probably was after the rebellion. The world can change really fast, I guess. Jeeze, I'm starting to sound like Rain.

I shake the sad thoughts from my head when I see Luc approaching the doors. I hurry forward, my friends a few steps ahead of me.

Luc puts his hand on the door knob. "I'm not sure if the alarms will go off if we open this door, so stick close, okay?"

Once we nod, he faces the door again. He takes a deep breath, and on the exhale he pushes the door open.

I hold my breath.

No alarms.

Luc nods and goes down in a crouch. He holds up his hand for us to wait for him and he sneaks toward the end of the hallway. He turns back and ushers us forward.

I decide to take after him and crouch low to the floor too. When we get to him he steps out of the hallway and hurries across the weapons room. He pushes the door open a crack and peeks through to the outside.

While he's checking I look around the weapons room. A lot more of the weapons are missing and the room has somehow lost its spark. The whole Academy has lost its spark. It's like returning to your childhood home and finding that nothing and everything has changed at the same time.

Luc turns back to us and beckons us forward. We hurry behind him as he sprints toward the staircase. He takes a quick glance up and takes the steps two at a time up, silent the whole time. We're right behind him, not so silent, but quiet enough that nobody stops us. Surprisingly.