Jarek sat at the edge of the rooftop, staring down at the city streets below.
The building across from him—Kael's safehouse—was three stories tall, surrounded by guards.
Lena crouched beside him, eyes sharp. "So, let me get this straight." She pointed at the safehouse. "We have to sneak into that heavily guarded building, find this stupid ledger, and get out without dying?"
Jarek nodded. "That's the plan."
Sylva, who was perched on the ledge like she belonged there, smirked. "You forgot the fun part."
Lena sighed. "What fun part?"
Sylva gestured toward the security patrols below. "We have to do it while dodging those guys."
Jarek muttered under his breath. Why was he always surrounded by maniacs?
Lena shook her head. "We should wait. Find a better opportunity."
Jarek exhaled. "No time. The boss made it clear—if we don't get that ledger now, we lose our only shot at Kael."
Sylva hummed. "Then let's get moving."
Lena shot Jarek one last look. "This is insane."
Jarek grinned. "I know."
And then they jumped.
Inside the Safehouse
The entry had been surprisingly easy. A single open window, no alarms.
Too easy.
Jarek landed first, rolling into the shadows.
Lena and Sylva followed, silent as ghosts.
The hallway was dimly lit, lined with old paintings and a single flickering lightbulb.
Lena frowned. "This place feels… weird."
Jarek agreed. It was too quiet.
Sylva moved ahead, graceful as ever. "The office should be on the second floor."
Jarek nodded. "Let's move."
They moved quickly, avoiding creaky floorboards, keeping to the shadows.
Jarek's heart pounded. If they got caught here, Kael would make sure they never left.
They reached the office door.
Lena whispered, "Locked?"
Sylva smirked and pulled out a set of thin tools. "Please. This is child's play."
Jarek glanced down the hall. Still no guards.
Sylva worked quickly. The lock clicked, and she pushed the door open.
They slipped inside.
The Office
The room was lavish. Red carpets, gold trim, bookshelves stacked with leather-bound volumes.
Lena frowned. "Rich people have the worst taste."
Sylva ignored her, heading straight for the desk. "The ledger should be here."
Jarek helped search, flipping through papers, opening drawers.
Then he saw it.
A small black book tucked beneath a stack of files.
Jarek grabbed it and flipped it open. Names. Transactions. Locations.
This was it.
Lena leaned over his shoulder. "This thing has everything. If we get this to the syndicate, Kael is done."
Jarek nodded. "Then let's get out of here."
He turned toward the door—
And froze.
A man stood there. Dressed in black, blade drawn.
His eyes locked onto the ledger in Jarek's hands.
"You should not have come here."
Jarek swallowed. "Well, that's unfortunate."
The man lunged.
A Fight in Close Quarters
Jarek barely had time to dodge. The blade sliced past his ear, embedding into the wooden desk.
Sylva moved first. Fast. Precise. Deadly.
She twisted around the assassin, her dagger flashing—but he was faster.
He caught her wrist, twisted, and threw her across the room.
Jarek had exactly one second to react.
The Heart of Ruin pulsed.
He moved.
The assassin's second strike should have cut through him.
Instead, Jarek's body twisted unnaturally, dodging the blade by an inch.
His own dagger—he had no memory of drawing it—slashed forward.
The assassin dodged, but Jarek's blade caught his arm.
The man hissed and staggered back.
Lena didn't hesitate. She kicked him square in the chest.
He crashed into a bookshelf.
Sylva was back on her feet, twirling her dagger. "I like him. He's good."
Jarek glared. "Can we save the compliments for later?"
The assassin was already rising.
But then—
A shout echoed from the hall.
More footsteps.
Lena cursed. "Reinforcements."
Jarek grabbed the ledger and bolted for the window.
Sylva grinned. "Ooh, a rooftop escape?"
Jarek didn't answer. He shoved the window open and jumped.
Rooftop Chase
Jarek hit the rooftop hard, rolling to absorb the impact.
Lena and Sylva followed.
Behind them, Kael's men poured out onto the rooftop.
Lena groaned. "I hate rooftop chases."
Jarek grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. "Then run faster."
They sprinted across the rooftops.
Footsteps thundered behind them.
Arrows whizzed past.
Jarek's breath burned in his chest. They had to lose them.
Sylva pointed ahead. "That building! Jump now!"
Jarek didn't think.
He just jumped.
The rooftop disappeared beneath his feet.
For a moment, he was weightless.
Then—
He crashed down on the next building, rolling forward.
Lena landed beside him.
Sylva, naturally, landed like a cat.
The pursuers weren't so lucky.
One miscalculated the jump and plummeted into the alley below.
Another hit the edge—and barely hung on.
Jarek didn't wait to see if they climbed up.
"Keep moving!"
They ran.
Until finally—
They were alone.
The Aftermath
Jarek's heart still pounded as they sat in a dark alley, catching their breath.
Lena wiped sweat from her forehead. "That was awful."
Sylva grinned. "That was fun."
Jarek glared. "You're insane."
She winked. "You love it."
Lena groaned. "What now?"
Jarek pulled out the ledger.
"We deliver this."
Lena hesitated. "And if the boss betrays us?"
Jarek exhaled.
"…Then we burn everything down."
Sylva clapped. "I like this plan."
Jarek sighed.
This was only the beginning.