Melton and Jemmy felt a strong tension between them as they made their way down an empty street towards their next destination, an abandoned warehouse where Erebus was believed to be working. The cracked pavement was illuminated by the moonlight, causing long shadows to be cast as their footsteps echoed in the quietness.
Melton fixed his eyes forward, his thoughts filled with computations. Despite having a plan in place, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that was slowly creeping over him. Relying on Jemmy was a risk - one he doubted would yield results.
Jemmy walked next to him, sometimes looking at him, her face impossible to decipher. Knowing Melton had doubts about her, she aimed to earn his trust this evening. It was necessary for her to do so. The betrayal she experienced from Julian deeply impacted her, and she was committed to setting things straight.
Finally, Melton broke the silence. "So, how much do you know about this place? Any traps I should be aware of?"
Jemmy glanced at him, her voice steady as she responded. "It's one of their smaller outposts. Nothing too elaborate. They mostly store contraband and information here. But don't be fooled—they always have someone watching."
Melton nodded, his jaw clenched. "Good. We'll move in, disable the guards, and take what we need. But if you're wrong..."
"Don't…..I'm not wrong," Jemmy cut him off, her tone sharper than she intended. She sighed, softening her voice a little. "Look, I understand you're still doubting whether I'm really on your side, but I wouldn't have come this far only to mess it all up. I'm done with Erebus, Melton. I want to help you."
Melton remained silent for a moment, his eyes scanning the dark alleyways around them. "We'll see about that."
They got to the entrance to the warehouse, well hidden behind a stack of rusted shipping containers. Jemmy pulled out a small device and started working on the door's security panel.
As she worked, Melton kept watch, his eyes darting around, Nexus feeding him information in his mind. The air felt heavy with anticipation.
"So... what made you change your mind?" Melton asked, his tone more curious than accusatory. "Why turn against Erebus now?"
Jemmy paused for a second before answering, her fingers still moving on the panel. "Julian. He showed me that Erebus doesn't care about anyone but themselves. They used me, just like they used you. When he betrayed me, it opened my eyes."
Melton tilted his head, studying her. "And what about your feelings for Julian? Are they still there?"
Jemmy's hands wavered briefly before she regained her control. She looked at him, her eyes showing a blend of feelings. "That's No longer the case. The emotions I had for him have disappeared. He controlled me. Deceived me. I will ensure that does not occur once more."
Melton squinted his eyes. "Ensure you're not treating me in a similar manner."
Prior to her being able to reply, the security panel beeped, and the door unlocked. Jemmy rose to his feet and gave a nod to Melton. "We are inside."
They entered silently, inhaling the musty scent of aged wood and metal in the air. The warehouse had low lighting, and walls filled with stacks of crates. Far off, they could make out faint whispers of sentries conversing.
Melton signaled for Jemmy to proceed as they quietly made their way through the darkness, heading towards the storage room where Jemmy had indicated the confidential information was stored. While they were walking, Melton couldn't get rid of the sensation of being observed, even though Nexus didn't find any immediate dangers.
They arrived at the entrance of the storage room, and Melton motioned for Jemmy to watch out while he dealt with the lock. The seconds seemed to lengthen, with tension building.
"Why is this taking such a long time?" Jemmy murmured quietly, looking anxiously behind her.
Melton let out a frustrated grunt. "It's a lock more advanced than what I had anticipated." I need a minute.
Right before he was going to succeed, the sound of footsteps drew near. Jemmy's eyes widened as she swiftly retrieved a small, altered weapon from her belt in anticipation of the approaching danger.
"Get ready," Melton muttered, working faster.
Two guards rounded the corner, their conversation abruptly ending when they saw Melton and Jemmy. They reached for their weapons, but Jemmy was quicker, firing a silent shot that took one of them down instantly. Melton lunged at the second guard, his fist connecting with the man's jaw before he could react.
The guard crumpled to the floor, and Melton wiped his hands on his jacket, his expression grim. "Let's move. We don't have much time."
Jemmy nodded, her heart still racing from the quick takedown. She watched as Melton finally cracked the lock and opened the door to the storage room. Inside, shelves lined the walls, filled with data drives and documents.
"There it is," Jemmy whispered, pointing to a terminal in the center of the room. "That's what we need."
Melton moved quickly, plugging in a device to extract the data. As he worked, Jemmy stood guard by the door, her mind swirling with thoughts. She had betrayed him once, but now... now she had to prove herself. There was no going back.
After a few tense moments, Melton finished downloading the information. He disconnected the device and stood up. "Got it. Let's go."
They moved swiftly through the warehouse, avoiding detection as they retraced their steps back to the entrance. But just as they reached the door, a voice called out from the shadows.
"Leaving so soon?"
Melton and Jemmy froze, turning to see a figure step into the light. It was one of Erebus' higher-ranking operatives, a man named Silas who had been overseeing their operations in this area.
Silas smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You really think you can outsmart Erebus, Melton? You're just as predictable as we thought."
Melton clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "You're making a mistake."
"Am I?" Silas chuckled darkly. "You're in over your head. Erebus has been watching your every move. And now... you're going to pay for your defiance."
Jemmy stepped forward, her voice steady. "He's not alone. And Erebus doesn't control me anymore."
Silas raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Ah, Jemmy. Still trying to redeem yourself, I see. How quaint. But loyalty doesn't come easy, does it? You're a traitor—nothing more."
Jemmy's jaw tightened, but she didn't respond. She knew better than to let Silas get under her skin.
Melton stepped forward, his eyes blazing with determination. "You talk too much."
Without another word, he lunged at Silas, catching him off guard with a powerful punch. Silas staggered back, but quickly regained his footing, drawing a blade from his side.
The fight was on.
Silas moved with speed and precision, but Melton was relentless, using his enhanced reflexes and strength to keep the upper hand. Meanwhile, Jemmy dealt with the reinforcements that arrived, her weapon firing with deadly accuracy.
The warehouse echoed with the sounds of battle, the clash of metal and the sharp crack of gunfire filling the air.
Finally, Melton landed a devastating blow, knocking Silas to the ground. The man groaned, blood trickling from his lip as he glared up at Melton.
"This... isn't over," Silas spat. "Erebus... will crush you."
Melton looked down at him, his expression cold. "We'll see."
With that, he turned and motioned for Jemmy to follow. They hurried out of the warehouse, leaving Silas and the fallen guards behind.
As they moved through the streets, Melton could feel the weight of everything bearing down on him. Erebus was stronger than he had anticipated, and now they knew he was coming for them.
Beside him, Jemmy glanced at him, her voice hesitant. "Do you trust me now?"
Melton didn't answer immediately. He was still wary, still unsure if he could fully trust her. But she had proven herself tonight. For now, that would have to be enough.
"We'll see," he said finally, his voice low.
And with that, they walked into the night, the shadows of trust hanging over them like a storm cloud on the horizon.