The hostage situation had spiraled into chaos. Panic and confusion echoed through the event hall as Ava and her team maneuvered through the crowd, eyes locked on the Phantom's operatives. Each second felt like an hour as they approached the heart of the fray.
"Ava, over there!" Lucas pointed towards a cluster of frightened civilians huddled near the stage. The Phantom stood among them, masked and menacing, holding a detonator in one hand.
Ava's heart raced. "We need to disarm them and get the hostages out safely," she instructed, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.
Lucas nodded, signaling the others. "Cover me. I'm going in."
Ava's mind flashed back to the years of training, the endless drills. Now, it was all on the line. She swallowed hard, focusing on the mission. As Lucas moved forward, Ava followed, her eyes scanning for any movement from the operatives.
