Mikey, Gregor, and Sarah stood huddled in the shadows of the warehouse, the faint glow of streetlights filtering through the grimy windows. They were dressed in black tactical gear, the kind that made them feel like they were in a movie—except this was real, and the stakes were high. Mikey could hear his heartbeat thumping in his ears, a mix of excitement and anxiety.
"Remember the plan," Gregor whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of the city outside. "We need to stick together and get the intel on that shipment. No distractions."
Mikey nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He glanced at the stack of crates nearby, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu that pulled him away from the mission. Had he seen that stack before? The thought nagged at him, distracting him just enough to lose focus.
Sarah noticed his distraction. "Mikey, you good?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, just… thinking," he replied, trying to shake it off. But the more he tried to focus, the more the nagging feeling crept back in.
"Focus, man," Gregor urged, putting a hand on Mikey's shoulder. "We're in the middle of a mission. Let's not screw this up."
Mikey forced a smile, pushing the feeling aside. "Right, right. Let's do this."
They moved deeper into the warehouse, sticking close to the shadows. The air was thick with dust, and the smell of oil and metal lingered heavily. Mikey glanced around, taking in the various crates marked with strange symbols. He took a moment longer than he should have, his mind wandering to thoughts of Lila and their recent awkward interactions. He felt guilty for being distracted, but the weight of his feelings was hard to ignore.
"Come on, Mikey!" Gregor hissed, urgency creeping into his tone.
Snapping back to reality, Mikey hurried to catch up. They reached a large open area filled with crates and boxes, the flickering light of a single bulb illuminating the scene. Mikey felt a thrill of anticipation—this was where they'd find the intel.
"Okay, let's split up and check the crates," Sarah suggested, her eyes scanning the area. "We'll meet back here in five minutes."
Mikey nodded, but as they moved away from each other, he felt the weight of his absent-mindedness. He could almost hear Lila's laughter in his head, see the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about something she loved. It was infuriating how he couldn't stop thinking about her when he should have been focused on the mission.
As he approached one of the crates, he absentmindedly kicked a small rock on the ground, sending it clattering loudly across the floor. The sound echoed in the silence, and for a split second, everything froze. Mikey's heart dropped.
"Who's there?" a voice called from the far side of the warehouse.
Panic surged through him. He quickly ducked behind the crate, heart racing. He could hear footsteps approaching, the sound of heavy boots echoing ominously. Gregor and Sarah were too far away to help, and it was all his fault.
Mikey held his breath, trying to quiet the pounding in his chest. The footsteps grew closer, and he peeked around the crate, trying to spot the source. A group of guards, dressed in dark uniforms, was making their way toward him, flashlights cutting through the shadows.
"Search the area!" one of them ordered, and Mikey's stomach dropped.
He cursed under his breath, the realization hitting him hard. His distraction had put them all in danger. He needed to act fast before they were discovered.