Souls Through Time (EzioxOC/DesmondxOC)

Chapter 36 - Claire

The hallway opened into the Animus Project laboratory, the stark white lights casting an eerie glow over the rows of abandoned equipment and towering machinery. Desmond, Claire, and Aiden moved in cautiously, their steps muffled by the thick carpeting. The room was silent, too silent, each of them hyper-aware of the tension thickening in the air. Claire's grip tightened on her pistol, her eyes scanning the shadows for any hint of movement.

Then, a voice cut through the silence—a cold, mocking tone that sent a chill down her spine.

"Give me the Apple."

Daniel Cross stepped out from behind one of the Animus stations, his gun raised and aimed directly at Desmond. The smug smile on his face twisted with dark amusement as he took another step closer, his gaze focused solely on his target. Without hesitation, he fired. Desmond reacted in an instant, diving behind an Animus station, pulling Claire down with him, his arm wrapping protectively around her waist as they dropped out of the line of fire. Aiden, quick as ever, ducked behind a nearby pillar, his own gun drawn as he kept an eye on their enemy.

Daniel's voice echoed through the lab, his tone laced with derision. "Let's not draw this out. You've got nowhere to go, and I've got a gun. Speaking of which..." He chuckled, the sound cold and biting. "It's the 21st century, and you're still running around with only a tiny knife for protection? It's stupid. Alright, Desmond. Game's over."

Desmond pressed his back against the Animus, his breathing steady but intense. Claire felt his hand still on her waist, a steadying presence, grounding her in the midst of the tension. She glanced up, peering over the edge of the machine, and found herself staring down the barrel of Daniel's gun, pointed directly at her. Her pulse spiked, but she kept her expression calm, determined not to show fear.

Just as Daniel's finger tightened on the trigger, his body jerked, his face contorting in sudden pain. He stumbled back, his hand going to his head as if to ward off something invisible. His voice broke, a pained, furious snarl. "Not now... Not... now..." He stumbled further, his eyes wild, his expression twisted in agony as he struggled against whatever was clawing at his mind. "There is still work to be done. Niet!" he spat, slipping into Russian, his voice a guttural growl. "Get out!"

Desmond watched, his face a mix of confusion and guarded curiosity. "What the hell was that?"

Claire didn't waste a moment, her gaze snapping to Desmond. "Go find your dad. Aiden and I will handle him."

Desmond shook his head, his voice low and resolute. "No. We stick together."

Before Claire could argue further, Daniel's pained expression shifted into something more predatory, a dark glint in his eyes as he looked back at them, clearly struggling to keep control. But in a split second, he spun around and bolted, weaving his way through the maze of equipment, disappearing down a side corridor.

"Damn it!" Desmond hissed, pushing himself up from behind the Animus. Without hesitation, he took off after Daniel, and Claire and Aiden followed close behind, their footfalls muffled by the thick carpet. They reached a window overlooking the vast Animus training facility just as Daniel leapt through it, shattering the glass in a spray of sharp shards. He landed on a network of metal girders suspended high above the facility floor, his footing nimble and sure.

Desmond didn't hesitate, vaulting through the window after him. He landed on the metal beams, barely taking a second to steady himself before sprinting after Daniel, his balance honed from years of training. Claire and Aiden exchanged a brief, determined look before climbing through the shattered window themselves, their movements quick and coordinated as they balanced on the narrow metal, the drop below a dizzying reminder of the stakes.