The fall

Chapter 43

Blake

My thoughts were stuck back in the shadows of the black market, looping over the same bitter truth, while I trudged up the dirt road toward the training ground. The place was alive around me, people greeting me along the way. Yet, all of this was background noise. All I could think about was her.

Penelope.

Valort had her locked away in their stronghold like a bargaining chip—like bird in a cage. I clenched my fists at the memory of her pale face—the way she was sobbing, begging for my forgiveness. I could never hate her, after all, this all is because of me. I have to get her out of there.

The only problem was, that this mission could be the end of sylvan—if we infiltrate Valort and stop the Valortorian council, we could lose so many lives. But if it meant I could get Penelope back to me, then so be it. I'll kill the commander of Valort myself if I have to.

I soon spotted Gabriella near the edge of the training field, she was reading through some files for her upp coming mission I had assigned her too. But times have changed, Instead of spying—I'll have her destroy the entire extra camp of Valort. I walk over to her.

"Blake," she greeted, not even glancing up. "Took you long enough."

"Had to make sure I wasn't followed," I say, stepping closer as I take the files of her hands. "The black market sure was interesting."

"And?"

I met he sharp gaze. "And I found Penelope."

She blinks a few times, processing before I see her clenching her fists. "What—where?"

"A few hours before an auction for an illegal weapon," I kept my voice low. "They are holding her captive. She's alive, but who knows for how long."

Gabriella swore under her breath. "Those bastards."

I nodded grimly. "We're not sitting around waiting for them to make a move. We're taking them out—one by one."

Her eyes gleamed with determination.
"You have a plan?"

"Yeah. You're going to hit the second building—the record hall. That's where they keep surveillance logs and security codes. If you disable the grid, it'll give me a clear path to storm the main compound." I paused, locking eyes with her. "I'll bring soldiers from district four, find Penelope, and kill their commander."

Her reaction was subtle, but I caught it—her eyes flickered, and she looked down sharply. There was a tension in her jaw, something she wasn't saying.

"What's wrong, Gabs?" I ask, frowning.

"Nothing." She said quickly. Too quickly. "Just thinking."

I didn't believe her, but I knew better than to push. Gabriella was like that, avoiding questions whenever she wants to.

"All right," I said reluctantly. "But if there's something I need to know—"

"There isn't," she cut me off, her voice firmer now. "Let's stay focused."

I let it drop, even though I knew it was something important. "We move tomorrow at nightfall," I continued. "I'll get the squad. And when I signal, you hit the records hall. I breach the main gate."

"And if it goes south?"

"It won't."

She arched a brow.

"But if it does," I conceded, "we stick to the plan. No hesitation. No second-guessing. We trust each other, no matter what."

Gabriella's expression hardened before sighing. "No matter the cost." She vowed.

Silence stretched between us, the weight heavy about what we are about to do. This wasn't just a mission—it was a declaration of war. And if we failed, we wouldn't live to see the consequences.
After our conversation, we spent the next hour mapping out every detail, down to the timing of each move and fallback contingencies. There was no room for error, our lives depended on this. By the time we finished, our fate was sealed.