Next Day, 9:00 a.m.
California, U.S.A
JESSICA
The rumble of the bus's engines fades as we pull into the Playground, but the shadows of my nightmare still cling to me. I shake my head, trying to banish the lingering images—dark figures chasing me, their whispers curling like smoke around my ears.
A hand on my shoulder pulls me back to the present.
"Jessica, are you okay?" Smith's voice is steady, grounding.
"Yeah," I manage, though my voice wavers. My fingers tighten on the strap of my bag. "Just a bad dream."
His eyes search mine, but he nods. "Alright. Let's get to work."
In the briefing room, the air buzzes with anticipation. The carvings we found still dominate our thoughts. As Smith pulls up a satellite image on the main screen, the team leans forward.
"We've pinpointed a match," he announces, gesturing to the screen. "Puerto Rico. The formations here align with the carvings."
Excitement ripples through the room. I feel a flicker of it myself, pushing aside the unease from my dream.
But then, Smith's phone buzzes sharply, cutting through the moment.
"Hello, this is Sam Davis," a voice crackles through the speaker.
"Sam, where are you calling from?" Smith's tone shifts, growing serious.
"Vancouver," Sam replies, his voice tight. "Benjamin and I have uncovered something…disturbing."
Smith frowns. "Go on."
"We encountered a covert operative—Agent 35. She was posing as Ava White and tried to abduct Olivia Martinez." Sam's words come in a rush, urgency spilling over. "Benjamin and I stopped her, but it was close. Too close."
Smith straightens. "Olivia—is she alright?"
"She's shaken, but safe for now. We've alerted the authorities, but Skull is getting bolder. I thought you needed to know."
Smith's expression hardens. "You were right to call. We'll handle this. Keep her safe and stay in touch."
As the call ends, silence settles over the room. It lasts only a moment before Smith speaks, his voice sharp.
"Listen up! Agent 35 attempted to abduct Olivia Martinez in Vancouver. Samuel and Benjamin prevented it, but Skull is clearly escalating. We have two priorities: protect Olivia and investigate the carvings in Puerto Rico."
"So, what's the plan?" Agent Daniel asks, arms crossed.
Smith doesn't hesitate. "We'll split the team. Jessica, Ava, Liam, and Alexander—you'll go to Vancouver to assist the Davises and ensure Olivia's safety. Sophia, Daniel, James, and I will head to Puerto Rico to locate the city."
I blink. "Why me?"
Smith's gaze is steady. "Olivia will open up to you. I need someone she can trust. Skull cannot get to her first."
A heavy responsibility settles on my shoulders, but I nod. "I understand."
"Good. Gear up. We leave immediately."
The room erupts into motion. Weapons are checked, equipment secured, and coordinates locked in. My heart pounds as I zip my bag, the weight of the mission pressing down.
As we file out, I catch a glance from Smith. His confidence steadies me, and I take a deep breath.
We have no room for error.
9:00 p.m.
Canada.
The moon casts an eerie glow through the dense canopy of Vancouver's forest, jagged shadows slicing the ground as we stalk through the darkness. The rustling leaves and distant calls of night creatures fade under the relentless pounding of my heart. Every step heightens my senses, sharpening my determination.
Ahead, the sharp crack of twigs shatters the quiet. Skull agents. I raise a hand, signaling my team to halt. We crouch low, breaths shallow, eyes locked on the flickering flashlights slicing through the dark.
Time stretches thin, each second pulling taut like a bowstring. Then, my hand drops.
We surge forward as one—a blur of motion and intent. Surprise is our weapon, and we wield it ruthlessly. My fist collides with an agent's jaw, the jolt of impact grounding me in the chaos. Around me, my team moves with precision: swift strikes, sharp dodges, and coordinated attacks.
"Liam, seismic shock!" Ava's voice cuts through the noise.
Liam raises his hand, and the ground trembles beneath the agents' feet. They stumble, disoriented, easy prey for Ava's precise strikes.
"Not today!" I snarl, deflecting a blade aimed at my chest. My body moves instinctively—a dancer in the theater of combat. My punches and kicks flow together, a symphony of defiance against the chaos.
"Jessica! On your right!" Liam's warning rings out.
I spin just in time, evading a blade that whistles past my ear. The agent's cold eyes lock onto mine, and for a breathless moment, the world narrows to the two of us.
"You won't win," he sneers, his blade slashing again.
I catch his arm mid-swing, twisting it sharply. "Feels bitter, doesn't it?" I hiss, driving him to the ground.
The forest becomes a battleground, shadows twisting and merging with the frenzied movements. The agents fight with desperate ferocity, but we have something stronger: purpose. It burns in our veins, fueling every strike, every dodge, every step.
When the dust settles, silence creeps back into the night. We stand among the fallen, breaths ragged, resolve unbroken.
"We won, but the war's not over," Liam mutters.
Ava glances at me, her eyes gleaming. "More battles ahead, more shadows to face."
She's right. The darkness holds more secrets, more danger. And we are far from done.
---
On the Plane
The stolen van brings relief to our team, but my mind races with what's to come. Olivia and I huddle near the back, away from the others.
"Olivia, we need to talk," I say, catching my breath.
She nods, her face pale but determined. "S.K.U.L.L has the Chronic cube," she begins, urgency lacing her voice. "Wright's after me because I'm the only one who can touch it."
I frown, trying to piece it together. "Why you?"
"My father told me about it before he... disappeared." Her voice falters. "The cube is tied to a city—one meant for the worthy. But anyone unworthy who enters..." She trails off, her eyes distant. "They don't survive."
My chest tightens. "You think this city is what Smith's looking for?"
Her gaze snaps to mine, wide with realization. "It has to be."
Before we can speak further, the plane's comms crackle, cutting through the tense air.
"This is Jackson Wright," a cold voice announces. "Quinjets have surrounded your plane. Hand over Olivia, or your team will be shot down."
My stomach drops. Around me, my team stiffens, their faces a mixture of fear and determination. Time slips through our fingers, the threat tightening around us like a noose.
"We're not giving you anything!" I shout into the comm, my voice raw with defiance.
Silence hangs in the air, heavy and suffocating. Then Olivia whispers, "We can't let them hurt the team. I'll—"
"No," I snap, gripping her arm. "We find another way. Always."
Wright's voice returns, sharper this time. "Tick-tock. The clock is running out."
We are caught in a trap, danger closing in from all sides. But one thing is clear: we won't go down without a fight.
MR SMITH
In Puerto Rico, we advance towards the old fort of San Cristobal, led by one of Sophia Anderson's contacts. The air is heavy, whispers of the fort's haunted history murmuring in the wind. Each step deepens the eerie tension, the crumbling stone walls seeming to close in around us.
Agent Daniel and Agent James Clerk scout ahead, their flashlights cutting through the dimness. They call us over to an ominous hole in the floor—a jagged chasm that seems to descend endlessly into the earth.
"This thing's unnatural," James mutters, peering down.
Sophia glances at me, her jaw tight. "What's down there?"
Dwarf robots are sent into the abyss, their mechanical whirs echoing faintly. Their cameras relay distorted images of intricate carvings and strange symbols. Then, the feed cuts abruptly, static filling our comms.
"I'm going down," Daniel says, grabbing his gear.
"Wait—" I start, but he's already lowering himself into the chasm.
The air grows colder as he descends. "I see the bots," his voice crackles through the comm. Then a sharp cry.
"Daniel!" Sophia shouts.
We pull him up, but his face is twisted in agony, his left hand scorched and blackened as if branded. His eyes, wild and unrecognizable, snap to Sophia. Without warning, he lunges, his grip tightening around her throat.
"Daniel, stop!" I yell, but he doesn't hear me.
James tosses me an I.C.E.R. I fire, but the tranquilizer darts bounce harmlessly off his skin. Panic surges as Daniel's rage grows, his strength inhuman.
"Daniel, fight it!" James pleads, a gun shaking in his hands. His finger hovers over the trigger, hesitation clouding his eyes.
Sophia gasps, struggling in Daniel's grip. She twists her staves, activating the electrified ends. With a desperate thrust, she shocks him. His body spasms, releasing her, and he stumbles back—right into the chasm.
"No!" James yells, rushing forward, but it's too late. Daniel's scream fades as he falls into the void.
Silence descends, heavy and suffocating.
"We have to seal it," I say, my voice hollow.
Sophia hesitates, her face pale. "There's no way to save him?"
I shake my head. "He's gone. Whatever's down there… it's taken him."
We cover the chasm, stone by stone, the weight of our actions pressing on us. Sophia leans against the wall, her breath shaky.
"We lost him," she whispers.
I nod, the bitter truth cutting deep. "And we'll lose more if we don't stop what's coming."
---
JESSICA
The Bus is alive with tension, every corner of the nerve center buzzing with activity. On the screen, Matthew Lee's face stares back, cold and calculating.
"Hand over Jessica," he demands, his voice chilling, "or face the consequences."
The air feels heavy, every gaze in the room snapping to me. I swallow hard, fear clawing at my chest.
Olivia grabs my arm, her eyes sharp. "Take the tablet," she says firmly. "It has the map to the city. You'll need it."
"What if I don't come back?" I whisper, my voice barely audible.
"You will," she says, gripping my arm tighter. "You have to."
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "I'll go with you," I say, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.
On another screen, Agent 35 relays the unfolding events to Jackson Wright. "Lee has Olivia and Jessica," she reports, her tone urgent. "But he hasn't shot down the plane yet."
Wright's face darkens, fury radiating from him. He slams his fist on the table, the sound sharp over the comms.
"Lee's defying orders?" His voice is low and dangerous. "Unacceptable." He turns to Agent 35. "Mobilize the team. If Lee wants to act on his own, he'll learn the cost of betrayal."
I glance at the others as the comms cut off. "It's the only way," I say quietly. "I can buy us time."
Olivia's hand lingers on my arm for a moment longer before she steps back, her face set with determination.
The Bus door opens, and I step into the unknown, the tablet clutched tightly in my hand. Fear pulses through me, but I push it aside. My team is counting on me.
From the shadows, Lee waits, his gaze cold and unforgiving. The game is only just beginning, and the stakes have never been higher.