The next morning in Zurich dawned cold and gray, the kind of chill that seeped through coats and clung to the bones. Cassie felt the weight of the day pressing down on her as she surveyed their temporary base, an abandoned room above the bookstore where Lukas had reluctantly agreed to let them plan. Boxes of outdated ledgers and forgotten trinkets were shoved aside, and a map of Europe now lay spread across an old wooden table, marked with red circles and hastily drawn arrows.
Emil traced a line with his finger, stopping at Vienna. "This is where Marko's main operation runs now. It's our first target, a logistical hub for his assets and encrypted communications."
Anya studied the map with narrowed eyes. "Taking Vienna will send a message, but it will also draw his eyes directly on us."
"Good," Lukas said from the corner, where he sat sharpening a knife. His voice carried a strange calmness that hinted at a mind long past caution. "Let him come. We need him to be desperate."
Cassie suppressed a shiver at Lukas's words, the rawness in his tone unsettling even her. "We need to be smart about this. One wrong step, and we'll be handing ourselves over on a silver platter."
Lukas stood, slipping the knife back into its sheath. "The only way to win this is by making the first strike count. We hit hard, leave him reeling, and then we show the world what he's hidden."
Cassie's eyes met Emil's, a shared understanding passing between them. They were stepping into the lion's den, but there was no room for doubt now.
---
The small team split up to prepare. Varga and Emil worked on securing an escape route and gathering intel, their voices low as they discussed details near the window. Cassie sat across from Lukas, who examined the files and photographs from the archive with an intensity that made the room feel even smaller.
"This one," Lukas muttered, pointing at a grainy photograph of a man with a thick mustache and shrewd eyes. "Anton Grieg. He's Marko's primary enforcer, known for making problems disappear. If we're going to hit Vienna, he'll be there."
Cassie studied the photo, committing every detail to memory. "What's his weakness?"
Lukas's mouth twitched in what might have been amusement. "Ambition. He's loyal to Marko, but only as long as it benefits him. If he thinks the ship is sinking, he'll jump."
Anya joined them, placing a hand on Cassie's shoulder. "We need leverage, something that'll make Grieg question his loyalty."
Cassie's mind worked rapidly. "If we can plant evidence that makes it look like Marko is preparing to turn on Grieg, it could create chaos from within."
Lukas nodded, a dark light sparking in his eyes. "I have access to the channels we need to make that happen. It'll buy us time, at the very least."
As night fell, they moved through Zurich's streets, silent shadows in a city that was oblivious to the war about to unfold. Cassie felt the cold bite at her cheeks, but the adrenaline kept her steps sure. The plan was audacious, a blend of calculated risk and sheer audacity. The target was a secure network relay station used by Marko's operatives—if they could plant the false evidence there, Grieg would see it and begin to question everything.
They reached the building, an inconspicuous office sandwiched between a bakery and a tailor's shop. Emil motioned them forward, disabling the rudimentary security system with practiced ease. Inside, the room was stark, filled with whirring servers and blinking lights. The low hum was the only sound as Lukas moved to one of the terminals, fingers flying across the keys.
"Hurry," Anya whispered, eyes darting to the street through the cracked blinds.
Cassie stood guard at the door, the weight of her pistol reassuring in her hand. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, each second stretching into eternity. The plan felt fragile, as if a single misstep would shatter it into chaos.
"I'm in," Lukas said, breaking the tension. "Uploading the file now."
Cassie exhaled a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Emil moved to Lukas's side, double-checking the process. The seconds ticked by painfully slow until Lukas pressed the final key and stepped back.
"It's done," he said. "Let's move."
They filed out into the night, slipping into the shadows before the city noticed their intrusion. The cold air wrapped around them, biting and sharp, but it was the least of their worries.
---
The following morning, reports from Vienna were already filtering through their secure channels. Anton Grieg's name surfaced in encrypted messages that spoke of suspicion, unrest, and Marko's possible betrayal. The first seeds of doubt had been planted, and they watched as the ripples spread.
Varga, returning from a brief recon, slammed the door behind him. "It's working," he said, breathless. "Grieg's mobilizing some of his men. He's suspicious, but he's not sure who to trust."
Cassie's chest tightened with hope. They were one step closer, but the most dangerous part was yet to come. They had provoked Marko's wrath, and retaliation was inevitable.
Lukas leaned against the wall, eyes distant but satisfied. "We need to keep pushing. If Grieg pulls back, Marko's power fractures. But if we hesitate, we're dead."
Cassie nodded, her pulse quickening. "Then we stay ahead of him. This is only the beginning."
The small team fell into a tense silence, knowing that the line they had crossed was now behind them. There was no return, only the path forward—through the storm, into the heart of darkness where Marko waited.
And for Cassie, that was the only place left to go.