The dawn broke quietly over the city, the soft hues of morning light painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. Serena sat by the window, watching as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the glass. The city was waking up, but her thoughts were far from peaceful. Viktor's silence weighed heavily on her mind, a constant reminder that they were walking a razor's edge.
Alexander emerged from the bedroom, his hair still tousled from sleep. He rubbed his eyes, glancing at Serena before moving to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. The familiar sound of the machine was oddly comforting, a small semblance of normalcy in their chaotic world.
As the coffee brewed, Alexander walked over to Serena, leaning against the window frame. "Did you sleep at all?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.
Serena shook her head, tearing her gaze away from the window to meet his eyes. "Not much. I couldn't stop thinking about Viktor. What if something happened to him? What if Nicholas found out?"
Alexander sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We don't know that for sure. Viktor could be laying low, trying to avoid drawing attention to himself. But I agree—we can't ignore the possibility that something's gone wrong."
"We need to find him," Serena said firmly, her hands clenched in her lap. "If Nicholas got to him, Viktor could be in serious danger."
"I know," Alexander replied, his tone matching her seriousness. "But we need to be smart about how we approach this. Rushing in without a plan could put us—and Viktor—in even more danger."
Serena bit her lip, her mind racing. They had been careful, methodical in their actions so far. But this was different. Viktor was their only ally on the inside, their only link to the information they needed to bring Nicholas down. Losing him wasn't an option.
"What do you suggest?" Serena asked, her voice tinged with urgency.
"We need to cover our tracks first," Alexander said, thinking aloud. "If Viktor is in trouble, Nicholas might be tracking his movements. If we go after him directly, we could walk right into a trap."
Serena nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We can't afford to make a mistake now. So, what's the plan?"
"We'll start by checking Viktor's usual haunts—places where he might go if he's in trouble," Alexander explained. "But we'll do it discreetly. No direct contact until we know it's safe."
Serena agreed, feeling a sense of purpose settle over her. They would find Viktor and figure out what was going on. But first, they needed to ensure their own safety.
---
A few hours later, Serena and Alexander were on the move. They had changed into inconspicuous clothing, blending into the city's bustling crowds as they made their way through the streets. Their first stop was a small, nondescript café on the outskirts of town—a place Viktor had mentioned in passing during one of their earlier meetings.
The café was quiet, with only a few patrons scattered among the tables. Serena scanned the room, looking for any sign of Viktor, but he was nowhere to be found. She and Alexander took a seat near the back, ordering coffee to avoid drawing attention.
"He's not here," Serena murmured, her eyes still darting around the room.
"I didn't expect him to be," Alexander replied, taking a sip of his coffee. "This was just our first stop. We have a few more places to check."
Serena nodded, but the knot of worry in her chest tightened. Every moment that passed without finding Viktor felt like a step closer to disaster. They finished their coffee quickly, paying the bill and leaving the café with a sense of urgency.
Their next stop was a small, run-down motel on the edge of the city. Viktor had used it as a safe house in the past, a place to lay low when things got too hot. The motel was as shabby as Serena remembered, the faded sign barely legible in the daylight.
They approached the front desk, where a bored-looking clerk sat reading a magazine. Alexander stepped forward, adopting a casual tone. "We're looking for a friend of ours who might be staying here. Name's Viktor."
The clerk barely glanced up. "Don't know anyone by that name," he muttered, flipping a page in his magazine.
Alexander leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a more persuasive tone. "Are you sure? He's a tall guy, usually keeps to himself. Might have checked in recently."
The clerk looked up this time, frowning as he considered the description. After a moment, he shrugged. "Could be. We don't keep strict records here. If he's here, he's keeping a low profile."
Serena felt a surge of hope. "Can we check? Just to see if he's around?"
The clerk hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But you didn't hear it from me." He handed them a key with a number etched into the metal. "Room 12. If he's there, it's on you."
"Thanks," Alexander said, taking the key and slipping the clerk a few bills as a tip.
They made their way down the dimly lit hallway to room 12, their footsteps echoing on the worn carpet. Alexander knocked softly on the door, holding his breath as they waited. There was no response. He knocked again, a little louder this time.
Still nothing.
"Maybe he's not here," Serena whispered, her heart sinking.
"Or maybe he's just not answering," Alexander replied, his expression tense.
He slid the key into the lock and turned it slowly, pushing the door open with caution. The room was dark, the curtains drawn tightly shut. Alexander stepped inside first, his hand hovering near the small of his back where he kept a concealed weapon.
Serena followed him inside, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. The room was small and sparsely furnished, with a bed, a chair, and a small table. It looked empty at first glance, but then Serena noticed something on the table—a piece of paper folded neatly in half.
"Alexander," she said, pointing to the note.
He picked it up carefully, unfolding it to reveal a short message scrawled in hastily written script:
*Too dangerous. Had to go underground. Don't contact me. Finish the mission.*
Serena's heart sank as she read the words. Viktor was gone, and he didn't want to be found. The reality of their situation hit her like a punch to the gut. They were on their own.
"What do we do now?" Serena asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alexander crumpled the note in his hand, his jaw set in determination. "We keep going. We finish what we started."
"But without Viktor—"
"We can do this," Alexander interrupted, his voice firm. "We have the evidence. We know Nicholas's operations. It's time to take the next step."
Serena looked at him, seeing the resolve in his eyes. He was right. They had come too far to turn back now. Viktor might be out of the picture, but their mission wasn't over.
"Then let's finish it," she said, her voice steady with newfound resolve.
They left the motel, stepping back into the daylight. The shadows were growing longer, and Serena knew they were running out of time. But as long as they had each other, she believed they could find a way to bring Nicholas down.
The calm before the storm had passed. Now, the storm was about to break, and Serena and Alexander were ready to face it—together.