There was an overwhelming sense of tension in the air of the safehouse, and Aidan could feel it weighing him down. As the room was lit by the low light from above, a kaleidoscope of shadows danced about the walls. While he paced, Aidan's thoughts were a swirl of chaos, terror, and fury. With a look that conveyed both worry and resolve, Emily glanced over the bend at him. Claire and her allies could be overheard, barely audible, as they huddled around a table to review tactical plans and drawings.
A quality that Aidan had always been proud of was his capacity to keep his cool under pressure. Throughout his years of preparation and in every strategic play he had made against Victor, he had refined this talent. However, when news of his mother's arrest spread, the composed facade began to crumble.
He gravely mistook the death of his mother for a tragic accident for a long time. He had come to terms with his loss and using it as fuel to reclaim what Victor had taken from him. More treachery than any other was committed by the guy who had imprisoned her despite his pretense of being her family—the fact that she was still alive.
As the moments ticked by, he could feel the tug of doubt at his sides. He was so enraged that he decided to track down Victor and murder the man responsible for all the pain he had endured. After years of lamenting her loss, he understood that saving his mother had to take precedence.
With his hands clenched, Aidan continued, "I can't believe he's still out there after everything he's done. "He's attempting to kill her once more after stealing everything from me."
Emily observed him closely as she rested her head on the table. Attention, Aidan: we will disconnect him. But maintaining mental clarity is of the utmost importance. Making sure your mom is safe is our first priority right now.
As soon as Aidan locked eyes with her, he stopped walking. Now I understand. Though the years he deceived me and used her for his own gain in acquiring the empire are etched in my mind.
Emily rested a soft yet resolute touch on his arm. Your wrath makes perfect sense. However, if you allow your wrath to control you, we will forfeit all we have. This is our one and only chance. It must be endowed with a function.
As Aidan attempted to calm down, he took a deep breath, which tightened his jaw. My agreement is with you. We will not tolerate errors. Let me tell you, Emily: this is not going to be fun. After what seems like an eternity of waiting, the day has arrived, and with it, a sense of starting again.
In the pitch blackness beyond, he cocked his head to peer out the window. Even though he was mired in a pit of despair and resentment, the distant city lights flashed by, serving as a continual reminder that life went on. The revelations regarding his mother had reawakened a long-repressed hurt, and now each step felt like treading on broken glass.
Because of the mounting tension in the room, they were very careful in their preparations. They needed to act quickly, Aidan knew. Recent attacks and killings by Victor made his desperation plain. He put Aidan's mother in danger by threatening to punish anybody who opposed his empire unless he took swift action.
Victor sought sanctuary in the land that Claire had planned out for him—Victory—during the height of Aidan's campaign. A complex network of guards and security gadgets was put in place to protect Victor's secrets and deter any potential attackers.
"This is our best entry point." I went to the estate's basement after Claire showed me a small service tunnel. "We can get around the security sweeps if we time it right, and it's not well-guarded."
Aidan nodded without raising his head from his map. "And after we enter?"
To advance, Emily tapped the pattern. Two factions emerged. In order to get entry to the underground facility, one group distracts the guards while the other presses ahead. Our best guess is that that is the location where your mother is being held.
Aidan was overcome with a fresh wave of excitement. He was looking forward to this opportunity to challenge Victor's dominance with great enthusiasm. However, uncertainty muddled his judgment when he examined the map.
While hushedly asking, "What if something goes wrong?" Quieter than usual, it seemed. "What if we are unable to reach her in time?"
After exchanging glances, Claire and Emily finally broke the silence. You can't put your faith in it, Aidan. But we've thought of everything. With our backup plans ready, we can handle anything that comes our way.
Nodding in reaction to pressure, Aidan could still feel his trepidation. His hands trembling, he sketched the route they would follow across Victor's property. There had never been a threat like the one he was facing. Reclaiming the Pierce empire was put on the back burner until he had to save the one he thought was lost for good.
It appeared like the gravity of the situation crushed him for a moment. He had an ongoing struggle between wanting to destroy Victor and wanting to protect his mother. Even though they overlapped, he seemed to be divided between two objectives that demanded his full attention. On top of that, he was aware that he was putting himself in risk by giving in to his feelings.
Once everyone on staff had finished getting ready for the procedure that night, Aidan went for a stroll outside to get some fresh air. The sudden gust of wind brought him tumbling back to the here and now, like a torrential shower. Moonlight filtered down from low in the sky, casting a soft glow on the peaceful street. After what seemed like hours of being alone, he eventually found some calm.
In an effort to regain his composure, he leaned against the brick wall and closed his eyes. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting feelings, including wrath, grief, fear, and determination. He felt overwhelmed by the situation's emotional toll, but he knew he couldn't let himself become distracted.
The thought of his mom kept popping into his head as he stood there. He thought back on the sleepless nights consumed by the question of what his life would have been like had she remained, as he mourned the years he had wasted to sadness. After realizing she had been alive, confined, and used all those years, she felt a hollowness in every moment.
He couldn't bring himself to leave her again. Not right now.
He gazed at the faraway horizon with wide open eyes. He had gone too far when his emotions got the best of him. If he could defeat Victor while keeping his mind on the task at hand, he would be able to rescue his mother.
Reentering the building, he inhaled deeply. The team was waiting impatiently for him to show up, their faces betraying their unwavering resolve. Looking at each other gave him a fresh feeling of urgency.
He spoke with an air of authority, asking, "Are we ready?"
A nod from Emily indicated that she agreed. "We are as prepared as we will ever be."
Aidan felt the typical rush of adrenaline that comes with surgery as they packed up their belongings and got ready to go. On this specific day, though, there was an undercurrent of unease. There was zero room for mistake because the stakes were so high.
With the weight of their mission on their shoulders, they advanced stealthily. As they anxiously made their way to Victor's house, it appeared as though they were inching closer to an altercation that had simmered for years. As they searched the shadowy streets for danger, the gang maintained their concentration.
Once they arrived at Victor's property border, they parked the cars a safe distance away and began to walk. As he guided the way, Aidan's senses were heightened by the lush woodland that encircled the facility. Only the sound of their footsteps could be heard, despite the wind rustling the leaves.
After quickly making her way to the perimeter gate, Claire wasted no time in disabling the security system. As they cautiously entered the service tunnel, Aidan's heart raced with excitement. Out in the distance stood the ghastly entrance.
Quickly muttering, "We're in." Claire then made her surprise revelation. "No alarms."
To tell everyone to go on, Aidan gave a little nod. Squeezing into the tunnel through the narrow opening, they were surrounded by shadows. In the stiflingly chilly air, it felt like every move could make or break us.
A feeling of uneasiness was evident as they descended into the mansion's underground floors. They marched along the halls, their footsteps reverberating off the walls. With great caution and secrecy, Aidan and his companions made their way through the labyrinth of tunnels.
They approached two guards simultaneously twice. As an instinct, Aidan slammed the other one with a fist, and Claire dispatched one of them. After bringing the corpse to a designated area for preservation, the group continued their work.
Eventually, they reached the chamber where Aidan's mother was supposedly detained. A small hissing sound escaped when Claire pushed open the control panel. Knowing full well how dire the situation was, Aidan strode in with his heart pounding.
That being said, nobody was in the room.
"What—?" Whispering softly, Aidan peered around the immaculate white walls. "Where is she?"
In a state of panic, Emily moved her fingers over the keyboard as she checked the terminal. Somehow, she ended up right here. However, that was the reason they relocated her.
Anger erupted, and Aidan clenched his hands. "Oh my!" What is the point?
Reading the screen caused Emily's cheeks to flush. Sorry, but I think you mean the first floor. All signs point to Victor as the catalyst for her life-altering decision.
A storm of thoughts overwhelmed Aidan. Their whereabouts would have been known to Victor had he moved her. Because of how crucial time was, they had to act swiftly.
Having a firm "We went our separate ways," he revealed. The crew is leaving quickly, so be sure to bring Emily and Claire along. I intend to pursue her.
Emily sensed a narrowing of her pupils. "You can't go alone, Aidan—"
"I have no other option," he said with an air of seriousness that belied his emotions. "The progress we have made is just remarkable. I must put a stop to this right now.
Her expression changed from bewildered to understanding after a short while, and she nodded her head in accord. "Take caution."
Without wasting a second, Aidan crept out of the chamber and made his way to the main level via the corridors. His focus sharpened as the adrenaline surged through his body. Finding and rescuing his mother was his one and only goal in life.
The closer he came to the main wing, the more anxious he became. The guards' radios were blaring as they marched through the halls. Standing in the shadows, Aidan stared at the door at the end of the hall. Despite the tight security, this appeared to be his final opportunity.
He prepared for the encounter by taking a long breath. This is it.