The night felt wrong. Not the usual wrong that came with the weight of a high-stakes mission, but the kind that prickled under Alex's skin like tiny shards of glass. The air was too still, the sea too calm. It was the kind of wrong he'd learned to trust.The submarine loomed ahead, its silhouette sharp against the dim glow of the moon.
Alex adjusted the strap of his gear, his fingers brushing over the cold steel of his knife handle. He'd always preferred it to a gun—quieter, deadlier, personal.Ian lit a cigarette, the glow illuminating the lines on his face. "You ever wonder," he began, his tone light but with an edge that wasn't, "why we even need her for this mission?"Charlotte was a few paces ahead, crouched near the control panel of the submarine's hatch. She was new—too new.
A recruit Ian had vouched for, which already set Alex's nerves on edge. She was fiddling with the panel, but her hands moved slower than they should."I don't trust anyone I haven't seen take a bullet and keep moving," Alex said bluntly, his voice a low growl. His eyes didn't leave Charlotte.Ian smirked, exhaling smoke through his nose. "Relax. She's fine. Besides, didn't you read her file? Model soldier, top marks, all that shit. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean she's hiding something.""Paranoia keeps you alive," Alex shot back.
Charlotte glanced over her shoulder, her face neutral but her eyes sharp. "You know I can hear you, right?" she said, her voice clipped."Good," Alex replied. "Then you'll know to move faster."She didn't respond, but her lips pressed into a thin line. Alex caught the faintest flicker of something in her expression—a mix of annoyance and... hesitation?
He couldn't tell, but it didn't sit right with him.Ian stepped closer, his boots crunching against the gravelly dock. "You're too uptight, man. If she screws up, we'll deal with it.""She screws up," Alex said coldly, "and we're all dead."Ian laughed, a low, humorless sound. "You've been reading too many thrillers, Alex. Not everyone's out to stab you in the back."Alex didn't reply, but the weight in his chest grew heavier.Charlotte finally stood, brushing her hands on her thighs. "Hatch alarm's disabled. You're clear.""About damn time," Alex muttered, motioning for them to move.
They entered the submarine, the air inside stale and heavy. Alex took point, his senses sharp. The corridors were narrow, dimly lit, and the faint hum of machinery vibrated under his boots.Behind him, Ian and Charlotte exchanged low murmurs, too soft for him to catch. It pissed him off."Stay focused," Alex barked over his shoulder."Relax, boss," Ian replied, his tone too casual. "We're just admiring the décor."
Alex clenched his jaw, pushing the unease aside.As they moved deeper, Alex noticed Charlotte lagging behind, her steps hesitant. When she thought he wasn't looking, her eyes darted to Ian, and they exchanged quick glances.
"What the fuck are you two doing?" Alex snapped, spinning around.Charlotte blinked, feigning confusion. "What do you mean?""I mean stop looking at each other like you're sharing a goddamn secret," Alex growled.Ian raised his hands in mock surrender, the cigarette still dangling from his lips.
"Calm down, man. You're wound tighter than a drum.""Keep talking," Alex warned, "and I'll break your fucking jaw."Ian's smirk faltered for a moment before he shrugged. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with."They reached the control room, the centerpiece of the operation. Alex signaled for them to hold position as he scanned the area. It was too quiet."Charlotte," he said, his voice low but commanding. "Set the charges."She nodded and stepped forward, but her hands trembled as she pulled the device from her pack."Stop,"
Alex said sharply. "Why are you shaking?"Charlotte froze, her eyes wide. "I'm not—""Bullshit," Alex interrupted, his voice rising. "You've been off since we started. Spill it."Ian stepped between them. "Hey, man, back off. She's just nervous. First big mission, remember?"Alex's eyes narrowed. "You vouched for her. You better pray she doesn't fuck this up."
As he turned back toward the console, a cold, sharp pain exploded in his chest.He looked down. Blood. His blood, pooling beneath a knife embedded in his side."Wha…" His voice came out as a strangled gasp. He stumbled, his vision blurring.Behind him, Ian was grinning, his cigarette finally gone. "Told you, Alex. Not everyone's out to stab you in the back.
Just me."Charlotte's face was pale, but her eyes were cold. "Sorry, Alex," she said softly. "Orders are orders."Alex fell to his knees, his breath hitching. His mind raced, fragments of memories flashing before his eyes—his first kill, the nights spent drowning in novels, the hollow ache that never left him."Why?" he choked, blood spilling from his lips.Ian crouched beside him, his grin widening.
"Because you were too good at your job, and someone with deep pockets wanted you gone. Business, Alex. Nothing personal."As the darkness closed in, Alex's last thought wasn't of revenge or hatred. It was regret. Regret for a life wasted, for never finding meaning beyond the blood and shadows.And then, nothing.