Adam moved like a shadow through the ruined safehouse, his steps careful and deliberate. The air was thick with the lingering scent of gunpowder and blood, remnants of the battle that had torn through his base just hours ago. The attack had been swift and precise, far too well-coordinated to be a mere coincidence. Whoever had sent those operatives wanted him dead, and they had nearly succeeded.
But nearly wasn't good enough.
He stood in the center of the wreckage, eyes scanning the debris for anything salvageable. Ammo, tech, encrypted drives—anything that could still be of use. The safehouse was compromised, but the war was far from over. If anything, this was just the beginning.
Evelyn stepped into the room, wiping blood from her forehead. "We lost three people," she said, her voice tight with frustration. "Two more are injured. Marcus is stabilizing them, but…" She trailed off, knowing Adam already understood the implication. They were running out of resources.
Adam exhaled sharply. "We need to relocate. The others?"
"Scattered. Most made it to the secondary locations, but some are still unaccounted for."
Adam clenched his fists. Losing even one ally was unacceptable. He had seen the future, lived through the downfall of humanity, and he knew every life they lost now would cost them dearly when the Age of Eternity arrived.
He turned to Evelyn. "Get in contact with Lilith. Tell her I need a secure meeting point. We're gathering everyone still loyal to us."
Evelyn hesitated. "You think someone betrayed us?"
Adam's jaw tightened. "I think someone will."
The Divided Council
The meeting took place in an abandoned subway station beneath the city. It was one of their fallback locations—off the grid, stocked with supplies, and warded against supernatural interference. At least, as much as anything could be in this world.
Adam stood at the head of the table, staring at the faces of those who remained. Evelyn, Marcus, Lilith, Kara, and half a dozen other key operatives. But some were missing. Some were dead. And others… others had chosen not to come at all.
Lilith leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "You called us here. We're listening."
Adam's gaze swept over them. "The attack wasn't random. It was precise. Tactical. Someone leaked our location."
Murmurs spread through the group. Marcus frowned. "You have proof?"
"No, but I don't need it." Adam's voice was cold, unwavering. "I know how these things work. We're being watched. Studied. And someone here is feeding them information."
Silence hung heavy in the air. Evelyn's grip tightened on the table, her eyes scanning the room. "So what do we do?"
"We cut the weak links," Adam said simply. "We go dark. No more unsecured communications, no more open meetings. If anyone even thinks about turning, they're gone."
Kara, the hacker who had warned them of the attack, shook her head. "That's dangerous. Paranoia can break us faster than the enemy can."
Adam's eyes locked onto hers. "And hesitation can kill us faster than paranoia."
Lilith chuckled softly, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "You always were ruthless. But tell me, Adam—how do you propose we find the traitor?"
Adam didn't blink. "We set a trap."
The Baited Hook
The plan was simple. A false lead, carefully placed, designed to lure the traitor into revealing themselves. Adam leaked information about a new supply route, one supposedly critical to their operations. If the enemy moved against it, they'd know someone within their ranks had sold them out.
Two nights later, the trap was sprung.
Adam and his team waited in the darkness of a deserted highway, watching as an ambush unfolded just as expected. A convoy of their supposed "supplies"—empty trucks, in reality—was intercepted by an unknown force. Hidden snipers took positions. Shadows moved in the tree line.
Adam's earpiece buzzed. "Three teams," Marcus reported. "Armed, professional. Not standard mercenaries."
Evelyn, watching through binoculars, exhaled sharply. "Someone sold us out."
Adam's grip tightened on his rifle. He had expected as much. The real question was—who?
They didn't have to wait long for an answer.
As the ambush unfolded, a figure emerged from the opposing side. A familiar face. One of their own.
Kara.
The Consequence of Betrayal
The moment Kara stepped forward, Adam felt something inside him go cold. He had suspected someone, but seeing her standing there, speaking with the enemy, made it real.
"She's confirming the location," Evelyn whispered, disbelief in her voice. "She's the leak."
Marcus' grip tightened on his weapon. "We take her out. Now."
Adam raised a hand. "Not yet."
He had to know why.
With practiced stealth, Adam and his team moved closer, their figures blending into the night. The conversation between Kara and the enemy commander was brief, but it told him everything he needed to know.
"They don't trust me yet," Kara was saying. "But they're planning something bigger. If I stay in, I can give you everything."
The enemy commander—a tall, hooded figure—nodded. "Good. You serve well, Seer."
Adam's heart pounded. Seer?
Then it clicked. Kara had been given a glimpse of the future. Just like him.
And she had chosen the other side.
Adam's voice was barely a whisper over the comms. "Capture her. Alive."
The trap reversed in an instant. His team struck from the shadows, moving with lethal precision. The enemy barely had time to react before the ambush turned on them. Gunfire echoed across the highway. The hooded figure disappeared in a flash of energy, vanishing before Adam could engage.
But Kara was not so lucky.
She tried to run, but Evelyn caught her first, slamming her to the ground. The hacker struggled, but Adam was already there, pressing a knee into her back, pinning her.
"You saw it, didn't you?" Adam's voice was calm, dangerous. "The future."
Kara spat blood, glaring up at him. "And I saw you lose."
Adam's grip tightened. "You should've chosen a different side."
She smirked, even as blood dripped from her lip. "You don't understand, Adam. I did."
For the first time, doubt crept into Adam's mind.
What had she seen?
What did she know that he didn't?
The Road Ahead
With Kara in their custody and the enemy momentarily stalled, Adam knew they had bought themselves time—but not much. The war was escalating faster than he anticipated. The gods were already moving their pieces. And now, even those with the power to see the future were divided on who would win.
Adam turned to Evelyn and Marcus. "Interrogate her. Find out what she knows."
Evelyn hesitated. "And if she won't talk?"
Adam's eyes darkened. "Then we make her."
The Age of Eternity was coming. And Adam had no intention of losing.