By RDJ Armstrong
NICHOLAS HAD BARELY managed to slip through the tightening noose of his pursuers. The night was supposed to be his ally, cloaking his movements as he navigated the maze of back alleys leading to the storage facility. But something had gone wrong—terribly wrong. Just as he reached the perimeter, the quiet of the night shattered with the crack of gunfire. Bullets whizzed past him, ricocheting off the concrete walls, forcing him to dive for cover behind a stack of rusty barrels.
His heart hammered in his chest as he pressed himself against the cold metal, the sharp scent of gunpowder filling his nostrils. He could hear the rapid footsteps of Strakov's men, closing in on his position. Time was running out. In a desperate bid, Nicholas had flung a smoke grenade, using the billowing cover to slip into the shadows and disappear into the labyrinthine streets. The shots fired had been too close, too precise—they knew he was coming.
Now, he slumped in his rickety chair, breathing heavily, the weight of relentless pursuit heavy on his shoulders. His worn fingers trembled as he reached for the cigarettes in his shirt pocket, fumbling with the matchbox. With a sputter, the match flared to life, casting a dim glow in the dingy room, barely chasing away the shadows. As he inhaled deeply, the acrid smoke mingled with the stale sweat that permeated the air, forming a pungent haze that clung to the corners like a ghostly shroud.
Before him sprawled maps and plans, meticulously laid out on the scarred wooden table. Nicholas stared at them with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. Every route, every rendezvous point—they had all been compromised. The shots fired earlier had been too close for comfort; he had narrowly escaped with his life once again.
But as the adrenaline faded, a new emotion began to creep into his thoughts—paranoia. How had they known where to find him? How had they anticipated his every move so precisely? Nicholas’s mind began to race, sifting through every detail of the past few weeks. Was there a mole among them? Someone feeding information to the enemy? The thought gnawed at him, its insidious whispers growing louder with each passing second.
The door creaked open, as Elena entered the room, her steps cautious yet purposeful. Her eyes swept over Nicholas, taking in the weariness etched into his features and the lingering smoke that hung heavily in the air.
‘Nicky,’ she said softly, her voice tinged with concern. ‘What happened out there? Are you okay?’
Nicholas looked up, his gaze meeting hers. ‘They're always one step ahead, Elena. I've been trying to reach Rook... but every lead, every attempt, it's like they know.’ His voice wavered, laced with the bitter edge of suspicion.
Elena's brow furrowed in worry. ‘How is that possible? Could they have intercepted your communications?’
He shook his head wearily, ‘No, I used our new encryptions. Those idiots wouldn’t have the capability to break it. Unless...’ He paused, his eyes narrowing as the dark thought solidified. ‘We need to question everyone. Make sure there’s no one feeding them information.’
Elena’s expression hardened. ‘Nicky, these are our people. We've fought alongside them for years. They wouldn’t betray us.’
Nicholas stared at her, the seed of doubt growing within him. ‘Wouldn't they? What if one of them was turned? What if they had no choice?’
Without another word, Nicholas pushed himself up from the chair, the legs scraping harshly against the wooden floor. He moved with a newfound urgency, determination replacing the exhaustion in his stride.
Nicholas’s thoughts were clouded with doubt as he made his way to the supply room, where Marta was meticulously inventorying the latest shipment of rations and ammunition. The room was dimly lit, the scent of metal and oil hanging heavy in the air—a stark reminder of the tools they relied on for survival. Marta was the backbone of their operations, ensuring the resistance fighters were always well-equipped and prepared. If there was a leak, it would have to involve her somehow. But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he felt a pang of guilt.
‘Marta,’ Nicholas began, stepping into the cramped space. His voice was rough, the exhaustion of the night evident in his tone.
Marta looked up from her clipboard, her sharp eyes narrowing at the sight of him. ‘Nicholas, what’s going on? You look like hell. Haven’t you been sleeping?’
‘I haven’t,’ he admitted, his voice low. ‘But that’s not important right now. I need to ask you something, and I need you to be straight with me.’
Marta set down her clipboard, her gaze locking onto his. ‘I’m always straight with you, Nick. What’s this about?’
Nicholas took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. ‘Tonight, Strakov’s men ambushed me. They knew exactly where I’d be. Every rendezvous point was compromised. I need to know if there’s any chance—any chance at all—that something got leaked through our logistics. Have you noticed anything off? Anyone acting suspiciously? Any shipments delayed or rerouted?’
Marta’s expression darkened, and her posture stiffened. She crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes narrowing with a mix of hurt and anger. ‘Nick, how could you even think that? You know what Strakov did to my family. My daughter... she was only eight. They took her from me five years ago. Do you really believe I’d ever do anything to help them? After what they did to her?’
Her words hit Nicholas like a blow to the chest. He had known Marta for years, had fought beside her in the darkest of times, and he knew the pain she carried every day. The memory of her daughter, her only child, was etched into the very core of her being. To question her loyalty was to question everything she stood for, everything she had sacrificed.
‘Marta, I—’ he began, his voice faltering as he tried to find the right words to explain himself.
But Marta wasn’t finished. ‘I’ve given everything to this cause, Nick. Everything. I check and double-check every route, every shipment. I’ve vetted every person who works under me. If there was a leak, I’d know. And if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I’d never betray what we’re fighting for—not after what Strakov took from me.’
Nicholas swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his own doubts pressing down on him. ‘I’m sorry, Marta. You’re right. I shouldn’t have questioned you. It’s just—tonight, it was too close. They were waiting for me, and I can’t figure out how they knew. I’m grasping at straws, trying to find an answer.’
Marta’s expression softened slightly, though the pain in her eyes remained. ‘I get it, Nick. We’re all on edge. But we need to trust each other, now more than ever. If there’s a leak, it’s not coming from me or my people. I’d bet my life on it.’
Nicholas nodded, his shoulders sagging as the tension eased slightly. ‘I believe you, Marta. I’m sorry I doubted you. But if you notice anything—even the smallest thing—I need to know immediately.’
Marta gave him a firm nod. ‘You’ll be the first to hear. And Nick... take care of yourself. We need you sharp. We can’t afford to lose anyone else.’
He offered her a small, weary smile. ‘I’ll try, Marta. Thanks.’
Nicholas stood in the dimly lit supply room, his mind still reeling from the narrow escape and the gnawing suspicions that had taken root in his thoughts. He had come to Marta seeking answers, but now he found himself confronted with the guilt of questioning someone so deeply wounded by the same enemy they were fighting.
Marta’s face, etched with the lines of grief and resolve, softened slightly as she saw the turmoil in Nicholas’s eyes. She knew what he was going through; she had seen that look too many times in the mirror over the past five years.
‘Nicky,’ Marta began, her voice steadier now, though still tinged with the pain that never truly left her. ‘If you’re looking for answers, maybe you should talk to Leo. He’s been monitoring our communications and security channels even more closely since... since we lost her. If there’s anything off, he’ll know.’
Nicholas paused, processing her words. Marta and Leo had been through hell together. The loss of their daughter had nearly torn them apart, but it had also forged an unbreakable bond between them. If anyone had a reason to be cautious, it was Leo.
‘Marta, I’m sorry,’ Nicholas said again, his voice low. ‘I shouldn’t have doubted you.’
Marta shook her head, a sad smile tugging at her lips. ‘We’re all fighting our own battles, Nick. Just... trust me when I say we’re all on the same side here. Go talk to Leo. He’s been working day and night to keep us safe. He might see something you’ve missed.’
Nicholas nodded, appreciating the understanding in her words. ‘I’ll do that. Thanks, Marta.’
He turned and left the supply room, his mind now focused on finding Leo. He needed to know if there was something—anything—that could explain how Strakov had been one step ahead of him.
The journey to Leo’s makeshift office was short, but it felt longer, as Nicholas’s thoughts churned. Leo and Marta had always been a formidable team, their strengths complementing each other. While Marta handled the logistics, ensuring the resistance had what they needed, Leo was the brains behind their communications and security. If anyone could help him make sense of what had happened tonight, it was Leo.
Nicholas knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open. Inside, Leo sat hunched over a console, the soft glow of multiple screens casting shadows across his tired face. He looked up as Nicholas entered, concern immediately flashing in his eyes.
‘Nicholas,’ Leo greeted, setting down the headset he’d been wearing. ‘Marta told me you might come by. She said things went sideways tonight.’
Nicholas nodded, taking a seat across from Leo. ‘They knew, Leo. Those bastards knew exactly where I’d be. It was too precise. I barely got out of there alive.’
Leo leaned back, running a hand through his greying hair. ‘Damn it. I’ve been scanning the channels, checking for any sign of interception or breach, but everything’s clean on my end.’
Nicholas sighed, the frustration bubbling up again. ‘Marta said to check with you. She thinks if there’s anything off, you’d be the one to find it.’
Leo nodded, a deep furrow forming between his brows as he turned back to his screens. ‘Let’s take a closer look then. If they’re somehow predicting our moves, there’s got to be something here. Something subtle.’
For the next hour, Nicholas watched as Leo combed through the data. Every transmission, every encrypted message, every log entry—they dissected it all, searching for even the slightest anomaly. Leo was methodical, his grief channelled into a relentless pursuit of answers.
Finally, Leo froze, his eyes narrowing as something caught his attention. ‘Wait a second... This isn’t right.’
Nicholas leaned in, his pulse quickening. ‘What is it?’
Leo’s fingers danced over the keyboard, isolating a fragment of a transmission. ‘There’s a hidden layer here, buried beneath the normal background noise. It’s so subtle, I almost missed it. But someone with knowledge of our systems—intimate knowledge—could’ve embedded it.’
Nicholas’s heart sank. ‘Are you saying there’s a mole? Someone on the inside?’
Leo shook his head, still focused on the screen. ‘No, not a mole. This... this is different. This isn’t outgoing data, it’s incoming. It’s not a leak—it’s a message. One that was meant to stay hidden from everyone but us.’
Nicholas frowned. ‘A message? Who from?’
Leo’s expression tightened as he decrypted the signal, revealing a short, encoded message. As he deciphered it, his eyes widened in shock. ‘It’s from Rook.’
Nicholas’s breath caught in his throat. Rook was a government defector, one of the few who had managed to slip through Strakov’s grasp and join the resistance. But Rook had gone dark months ago, and they had feared the worst.
‘What does it say?’ Nicholas asked urgently.
Leo read aloud, his voice heavy with disbelief. ‘Strakov has a secret weapon. A child... born with the ability to see the future. That’s how they’ve been one step ahead of us, Nicholas. It’s not luck or strategy—it’s foresight.’
Nicholas felt the room spin for a moment, the weight of the revelation crashing down on him. ‘A child who can see the future? That’s... impossible.’
Leo shook his head, grim determination settling in his eyes. ‘It explains everything, Nick. Every ambush, every compromised plan. They’ve been seeing our moves before we even make them.’
Nicholas’s mind raced, trying to grasp the implications. ‘Then how do we fight against that? How do we counter something that can see the future?’
Leo's expression was grim as he sat back in his chair, the glow of the screens reflecting off his furrowed brow. ‘We don't counter it, Nick. We adapt.’
Nicholas leaned forward, his thoughts a chaotic whirl. ‘Adapt? How do you adapt to someone predicting your every move? This... this changes everything.’
Leo nodded slowly. ‘It does. But think about it—if this child can see the future, it means they’re reacting to the paths we take, the decisions we make. What if we started making decisions that even we can’t predict? We need to be unpredictable, create chaos in our own ranks if necessary. It might be the only way to throw them off.’
Nicholas’s mind flashed back to the countless missions they’d planned with meticulous precision, the calculated risks they’d taken. He realised now that their strength had also been their greatest weakness—predictability.
Nicholas gave a small, approving nod. ‘We need to keep this information tight—between you, me, Elena, and Marta. No one else can know, not until we’re sure who we can trust. And we go on the offensive. If they think they can see everything, we make them second-guess themselves. We hit them where they least expect it, strike fast and hard.’
Leo’s eyes met Nicholas’s, the exhaustion in them momentarily eclipsed by a shared resolve. ‘It’s a gamble, Nick. But it might be our only shot.’
Nicholas stood, but as he turned to leave, Leo called out, ‘One more thing, Nick.’
Nicholas paused at the door, glancing back.
‘If this kid is real,’ Leo said carefully, his voice tinged with a sorrow that Nicholas had rarely heard, ‘we need to think about what happens if we get our hands on them. We’re not just dealing with Strakov’s weapon—we’re dealing with a child.’
Nicholas felt the words hit him like a cold wind, but he saw something in Leo’s eyes that chilled him even more—an old, familiar pain. The loss of Leo's daughter had left a scar that never healed, and in that moment, Nicholas understood the weight of what Leo was really saying. This wasn’t just about tactics or survival; it was about the ghost of a child who should have been safe but wasn’t.
‘It’s a child, Nick,’ Leo continued, his voice wavering slightly. ‘One who’s been dragged into this war—one who might be just like her.’
Nicholas swallowed hard and nodded back solemnly, the implication sending a shiver down his spine. He hadn’t considered the human element behind this new threat. It wasn’t just a tool they were up against—it was a person, a young one at that. A child, like the one Leo had lost, forced into a nightmare they couldn’t possibly understand.
As he left Leo’s makeshift office, Nicholas’ mind buzzed with the implications of what they had just learned. The existence of a child precog, a weapon in Strakov’s hand, made all their plans feel like sand slipping through their fingers.
The next morning, Nicholas gathered his core team in the cramped, dimly lit briefing room. Marta, Leo, and Elena waited patiently, the tension palpable. Maps and blueprints cluttered the table, but their usual strategies would be useless now.
‘Listen up,’ Nicholas began, his voice cutting through the silence. ‘We’ve just learned why Strakov has been one step ahead of us. He’s using a child—a precog who can see the future.’
‘Nicholas, are you sure about this? It sounds... impossible,’ she said, her voice tinged with scepticism. ‘How could a child like that even exist, let alone be under Strakov's control?’
Nicholas nodded grimly. ‘I wouldn't believe it either if we didn't have solid intel. But it makes sense now—how Strakov has been so precise, always anticipating our moves. We can't ignore this, no matter how unbelievable it seems.’
Elena shook her head slowly, trying to wrap her mind around the concept. ‘But how do we fight against something like that? If this child can see everything we’re going to do, how do we even stand a chance?’
‘We need to move quickly,’ Nicholas began, his voice steady but laced with urgency. ‘It’s possible that this child has limitations regarding how accurate their visions are over short time spans. We need to exploit this and act quickly, so Strakov has no time to receive and react to any visions.’
Leo leaned forward, his mind already churning. ‘We also need misdirection. If the child can see the future, we give them a future so chaotic, so full of possibilities, that they can’t tell what’s real.’
‘So we make plans within plans,’ Nicholas murmured, the kernel of an idea forming. ‘We create layers of misdirection, multiple paths converging and diverging. We act on impulse, split-second decisions that even we don’t see coming until the moment they happen.’
Marta nodded, catching on. ‘We make them chase false leads, set up decoys, and layer the real plan beneath so much noise that it’s impossible to find.’
Leo started sketching out ideas on a scrap of paper. ‘We split the information across different teams, no one gets the full picture. We use multiple communication channels, fake missions, misleading supply drops—everything to create a web of lies and half-truths.’
Marta leaned over the table, pointing to different locations on the map. ‘We’ll need decoy teams, making it look like they’re gearing up for operations that don’t exist. We sacrifice some equipment, make them think it’s the real deal while the actual mission happens somewhere else.’
Elena spoke up again, her tone thoughtful. ‘But we can’t just focus on the misdirection. We need to think about the child too. They’ve been manipulated, yes, but they’re still a child. What happens when we find them? How do we protect them from Strakov’s influence—and from the damage that’s already been done?’
Nicholas paused, considering her words. ‘Our first priority is to reach the child. Then, if we can, we need to show them that we’re not the enemy. If that fails… we have to be prepared for the worst. This isn’t just about strategy; it’s about survival.’
Elena’s gaze hardened, but she nodded in agreement. ‘We’ll do what we have to. But if there’s a way to save that child from all of this, we need to try.’
Leo glanced up from his notes. ‘Rook’s the one who tipped us off about the child. If anyone knows how to reach them, it’s him. But we have to be careful. If the child sees us trying to contact Rook, Strakov will be ready.’
‘We’ll split the communication across multiple channels,’ Nicholas replied. ‘We’ll use outdated codes, some of which we know Strakov’s team has already broken. They’ll think they’re getting something valuable, but it’ll lead them in circles. Meanwhile, we’ll send the real message through a secure line that Rook will recognise.’
Marta brought them back to the logistics. ‘And when we do find the child? What then? We can’t just walk in and take them. Strakov will have them heavily guarded, not to mention the psychological barriers they’ll have built up.’
‘We’ll split his forces to improve our chances,’ Nicholas said, his voice firm. ‘Right now, we focus on getting to the child without Strakov seeing us coming. If we can turn the child to our side, it could change everything. But if we can’t...’ He didn’t finish the sentence, but the implication hung heavy in the air.
Elena didn’t let the silence linger. ‘We’ll find a way. We have to. We’re fighting for more than just ourselves—we’re fighting to save that child from a life of being used as a weapon.’
Nicholas nodded, feeling the weight of the task ahead. They would need to become unpredictable, a force of chaos that even a precog couldn’t predict. ‘Let’s get to work. We’re going to turn Strakov’s greatest asset into his downfall—and in the process, we might just save a life.’
The team dispersed, each member diving into their tasks with grim determination. Time was their enemy, and they couldn’t afford a single misstep.
Over the next few days, the resistance camp buzzed with activity. Messages flew back and forth, some encrypted and coded, others deliberately less so, each one carefully crafted to add to the layers of deception. Teams were dispatched to various locations, each believing they were part of the critical mission to take down Strakov. Supply drops were arranged in remote areas, false intelligence planted in the hopes of drawing Strakov’s forces away from their true objective.
Leo worked tirelessly, monitoring the chatter on the airwaves. As expected, Strakov’s men picked up the false leads, their movements shifting in response to the fake operations. It was working—Strakov’s forces were spread thin, chasing phantoms across the region.
But as the days passed, the strain began to show. Nicholas knew they were playing a dangerous game. The child's ability to foresee their moves meant they constantly had to stay one step ahead, confusing even themselves to keep the enemy guessing.
Tension gripped the resistance as they wove a web of lies, and half-truths, all while the clock ticked down. They were betting everything on their ability to create enough unpredictable chaos and as each day passed, the burden weighed heavier on Nicholas’s shoulders. Every move they made felt like balancing on a knife’s edge—one wrong step, and everything would come crashing down.
Despite their efforts, a gnawing doubt lingered in the back of Nicholas’s mind. They were relying on a single message from Rook, trusting that the information was accurate. The idea of a child with such power was unsettling enough, but the thought of using a child as a weapon—even to save their cause—left Nicholas uneasy. He tried to push the thought aside, focusing instead on the tasks at hand, but the question persisted: What would they do when they found the child?
On the fourth day, Nicholas received word from Leo that Rook had responded. The message was brief, encrypted in a way that only Leo could decipher.
‘The child is held in a facility outside the city—heavily guarded, but the defences are not invulnerable. There's a small window of time when security shifts, and the child is left with minimal protection. You must act quickly and decisively. Trust no one outside your core team.’
Nicholas shared the message with Elena and Marta. They gathered in the briefing room, the air thick with anticipation and the weight of what was to come.
‘This is it,’ Nicholas said, pointing to a map of the city and the surrounding areas. ‘We strike tomorrow night, during the window Rook mentioned. We need to be fast, and we need to be quiet. This child, despite our best efforts, may well be anticipating our arrival. We have to try to move in a way that even they can’t predict.’
Elena’s brow furrowed in thought. ‘How do we approach without tipping them off? If the child senses us coming, Strakov will have reinforcements there before we even reach the facility.’
‘We’ll split into two teams,’ Nicholas decided, ‘each taking different routes. One team will act as a decoy, drawing the attention of Strakov’s forces, while the other will infiltrate the facility and extract the child. Leo and Marta, you’ll be on the decoy team. Elena will be with me on the extraction team.’
Marta nodded, her face set with determination. ‘We’ll need to be prepared for anything. This child—if they’re as powerful as we think—could have contingencies we haven’t even considered.’
‘Which is why we need to be flexible,’ Nicholas replied. ‘We go in with a plan, but we have to be ready to adapt on the fly. No one sticks to one approach. If things go south, we break off and improvise.’
Elena looked at Nicholas, concern etched in her features. ‘And what if we can’t reach the child? What if they’ve been too deeply indoctrinated by Strakov? We can’t force them to come with us, and we can’t risk them turning on us.’
Nicholas’s expression hardened. ‘We’ll do everything we can to bring them with us, but if it comes down to it... we have to neutralise the threat. We can’t let Strakov continue using them against us.’
Silence fell over the room as the gravity of Nicholas’s words sank in. They were prepared to fight, to sacrifice, but the thought of turning their weapons on a child, even one manipulated by the enemy, was a bitter pill to swallow.
‘We’ll save them if we can,’ Nicholas added, his voice softer. ‘But we can’t lose sight of what’s at stake. Strakov won’t hesitate to use this child to destroy everything we’ve fought for. We have to be ready for anything.’
The team dispersed to prepare for the mission, each member focused on their role. As night fell, Nicholas found himself alone in his quarters, staring at the maps spread out before him. His mind raced with possibilities, every scenario playing out in his head. But no matter how many times he ran through the plan, he knew that once they were in the field, all bets would be off.
When the time came, the two teams assembled at the rendezvous point. Nicholas looked at each of them, feeling the weight of leadership more than ever before. He knew that this mission could define the future of their resistance—if they succeeded, they might turn the tide against Strakov. If they failed, the child would remain a weapon in the enemy’s hands, with the potential to unravel everything they had built.
‘Remember,’ Nicholas said quietly, his voice carrying in the still night air, ‘we move fast, we move quiet. Trust your instincts and trust each other. We’re walking into the unknown, but we’re doing it together.’
Elena gave him a firm nod, and Marta’s eyes met his with unwavering resolve. Leo adjusted his gear, his expression grim but determined. They were ready.
As they split into their respective teams, Nicholas felt a surge of adrenaline course through him. This was it—the moment they had been preparing for. The darkness of the night cloaked them as they moved out, but the uncertainty of what lay ahead weighed heavily on each step.
The decoy team, led by Leo, moved forwards towards the security checkpoint, their objective clear: create enough chaos to draw Strakov’s attention away from the real target. They moved with precision, their actions designed to be just noticeable enough to be detected by the enemy’s surveillance.
Nicholas and Elena took a different route, heading toward the rear of the facility. As they approached, the silence of the night was broken only by the soft crunch of gravel underfoot and the distant hum of the city. Every shadow, every flicker of movement, set Nicholas’s nerves on edge. They were walking into a trap, but it was a trap they needed to spring if they were to have any chance of reaching the child.
The building loomed before them, a stark structure bathed in the pale light of a few scattered floodlights. The guards were minimal, as Rook had predicted, but Nicholas knew that the real threat was inside.
‘We move in now,’ Nicholas whispered. ‘Keep it quiet and stick to the shadows. We don’t engage unless absolutely necessary.’ As he advanced, the sound of his boots on the hard floor echoed faintly, but it wasn’t the noise that unnerved him. It was the lack of it.
This wasn’t luck though; this was the result of the seeds of chaos they had sowed. Strakov’s forces were busy with the mock offensives the resistance had staged elsewhere in the city. It had been a gamble, but one that was paying off in the form of nearly deserted hallways.
The facility’s interior was a maze of corridors, each turn bringing them closer to their objective. But with each step, Nicholas felt the tension in the air grow thicker, the oppressive weight of anticipation pressing down on them.
As they reached the central chamber, Nicholas held up a hand, signalling for Elena to stop. He could hear faint voices, a low murmur that echoed off the concrete walls. They were close.
Creeping forward, Nicholas peered around the corner, his breath catching in his throat at the sight before him. The room was dimly lit, with a single figure standing in the centre—a child, a young girl no older than ten, their small frame dwarfed by the machinery that surrounded them. They were alone, but the tension in the room was palpable, as if the very air buzzed with unseen energy.
The child’s eyes were wide, but there was a calmness to their expression that sent a chill down Nicholas’s spine. This was no ordinary child—they had been moulded, shaped into something otherworldly by Strakov. And now, as they stood there, seemingly waiting for Nicholas and his team, Nicholas knew that their presence had already been anticipated.
He gestured for Elena to hang back as he stepped into the room, his movements slow and deliberate. The child watched him, their gaze unblinking, as if they could see every possible outcome of this encounter playing out in real time.
‘Are you the one they call Nicholas?’ the child asked, their voice soft but carrying a weight far beyond their years.
Nicholas nodded, his throat dry. ‘I am.’
The child tilted their head slightly, their eyes narrowing in concentration. ‘You’re here to take me away. But you know it won’t be that simple.’
Nicholas met the child’s intense gaze, feeling the weight of the moment. He took a careful step closer, his voice gentle but firm. ‘I know you’re scared,’ he said, ‘but I need you to see the truth for yourself. Look into the future—see what happens if you stay with Strakov. ‘
The child’s eyes narrowed, the flicker of doubt in their expression more pronounced now. Nicholas could tell they were torn, caught between the fear instilled by Strakov and the possibility of a different path.
‘Strakov is using you,’ Nicholas continued, his voice low and urgent. ‘You’re powerful, and he wants to control that power. But you’re more than just a weapon. You deserve to live your own life, to make your own choices. I’m not here to hurt you—I’m here to help you break free.’
The child hesitated, their gaze drifting to the floor as they considered his words. Nicholas held his breath, knowing this was a pivotal moment. Slowly, the child’s eyes lifted to meet his again, their expression still uncertain but less guarded.
‘Look ahead,’ Nicholas urged softly. ‘See what happens if you trust me. I promise you, I’m not your enemy. I only want to help you find the life you deserve.’
For a moment, there was silence, the child’s eyes searching Nicholas’s face for any sign of deceit. Then, something shifted in their expression, a flicker of vulnerability that reminded Nicholas of the innocence that still lay beneath the surface.
But before Nicholas could take another step, the door to the chamber burst open, and a pair of Strakov’s soldiers stormed in, weapons raised. Nicholas barely had time to react as Elena sprang into action, the room erupting in chaos.
Amid the gunfire and shouts, Nicholas locked eyes with the child, who stood frozen in the centre of the room, torn between two worlds. He knew that this was the moment of truth—their fates hanging in the balance.
‘Please,’ Nicholas called out over the din, ‘come with us! You don’t have to do this!’
The child hesitated, their expression a whirlwind of emotions, and for a split second, Nicholas thought they might reach out, might take that first step toward freedom. But then, as if a switch had been flipped, the child’s gaze hardened, and Nicholas saw the cold determination of someone who had been pushed too far, too fast.
Before Nicholas could react, the child raised their hand, and a wave of force slammed into him, sending him crashing into the wall. He gasped for breath, the wind knocked out of him, but even as pain shot through his body, his mind raced, trying to process what had just happened.
When the world faded back into focus for Nicholas, the first thing he registered was the dull throb of pain radiating through his body. His vision blurred as he blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The chaos that had erupted in the chamber had quieted, replaced by a tense silence.
Marta and Leo were crouched nearby, their weapons at the ready, eyes darting around the room for any sign of movement. The soldiers who had stormed in were either unconscious or incapacitated, their bodies sprawled across the floor. But Nicholas’s gaze quickly found the child, standing in the centre of the room, their small form trembling slightly.
The child’s eyes were wide, filled with a mixture of fear and regret. They had seen the destruction they were capable of, had felt the power surge through them, and now they stood frozen, caught between the force that had been drilled into them by Strakov and the possibility of another life.
Nicholas took a slow, deep breath and stepped forward, ignoring the pain that shot through his limbs. He had to reach the child, had to show them that there was another way.
‘It doesn’t have to be like this,’ Nicholas said softly, his voice steady but filled with urgency. ‘You have a choice. You can come with us. We can protect you. You don’t have to be Strakov’s weapon anymore.’
The child’s gaze flickered to Marta and Leo, then back to Nicholas. Uncertainty warred with the lingering fear in their eyes, and Nicholas could see the struggle playing out in their mind. They had been taught to trust no one but Strakov, to see the world in black and white, but now, in this moment, that certainty was beginning to crack.
Nicholas reached out a hand, palm upturned, offering a lifeline. ‘I know you’re scared. But I promise you, we’re not here to hurt you. We’re here to help. We can give you a chance at a life where you’re not controlled by anyone—where you can be free to make your own choices.’
The child stared at his hand, their expression torn. Then, slowly, they took a hesitant step forward. The tension in the room was palpable, Marta and Leo holding their breath as they watched, their fingers still poised on their triggers.
Nicholas didn’t move, didn’t push, letting the child make the decision on their own. He could see the fear in their eyes, but also the glimmer of hope—a hope that maybe, just maybe, they could find something better.
Finally, with a small, almost imperceptible nod, the child reached out and placed their hand in Nicholas’s. The touch was tentative, as if they were afraid the connection would shatter at any moment, but it was enough.
‘Good,’ Nicholas whispered, his voice filled with reassurance. ‘You’re doing the right thing.’
Marta and Leo exchanged glances, their tension easing slightly as they realised that the immediate danger had passed. Marta quickly moved to secure the area, while Leo began to check the unconscious soldiers to ensure they wouldn’t pose a threat.
‘We need to move,’ Marta said quietly, returning to Nicholas’s side. ‘Reinforcements could be here any minute.’
Nicholas nodded, still holding the child’s hand. ‘We’ll get you out of here,’ he promised. ‘But we need to be quick. Can you get us to safety?’
The child looked up at him, a flicker of determination in their eyes. ‘I... I think so.’
‘That’s all we need,’ Nicholas replied, giving their hand a gentle squeeze. ‘We’ll take care of you.’
The facility was eerily quiet as they made their way through the dimly lit corridors. The alarms had long since fallen silent, replaced by an unsettling calm. Nicholas moved cautiously, the child’s small hand clasped firmly in his own. The rest of the team followed, their footsteps muted, senses heightened in the strange, suffocating stillness.
As they turned a corner, Nicholas came to an abrupt halt. There, sprawled across the floor and slumped against the walls, were Strakov’s soldiers. Dozens of them, fully armed and clad in tactical gear, but utterly motionless. Their eyes were closed, expressions blank, as though they had simply… shut down.
‘Is... is this your doing?’ Elena asked, glancing nervously at the child. There was no need for an answer. Nicholas could feel the faint pulse of power in the air, lingering like an aftershock. He looked down at the child, who avoided his gaze, their face a mixture of fear and confusion.
‘They didn’t give me a choice,’ the child whispered, their voice trembling. ‘I—I didn’t mean to hurt them.’
Nicholas knelt beside the child, his expression softening. ‘You didn’t hurt them,’ he reassured them gently. ‘They’re just asleep. You did what you had to do.’
The child nodded hesitantly, but it was clear they were still grappling with the weight of what they had done. Nicholas gave their hand a reassuring squeeze. ‘We’ll talk about it later,’ he said. ‘Right now, we need to get out of here.’
The cold night air hit Nicholas like a splash of icy water as they emerged from the facility’s shadowy depths. He paused just outside the exit, his breath visible in the chilly atmosphere, heart pounding in sync with the residual adrenaline coursing through his veins. The silence outside was stark compared to the tension inside, almost disorienting.
Beside him, the child stood frozen, eyes wide as they took in the unfamiliar surroundings. The open sky, dotted with stars, seemed to overwhelm them—a stark contrast to the sterile, artificial world they had just escaped. Nicholas watched as the child’s gaze darted from the darkened trees at the perimeter to the distant lights of the city beyond. The world had suddenly grown so much larger for them, and it was clear they didn’t know how to process it.
Nicholas knelt down beside the child, bringing himself to their level. ‘You’re safe now,’ he said, his voice calm, though he knew the danger was far from over. The child’s breathing was shallow, almost panicked, and their small hands clenched into fists at their sides.
The others in the team fanned out, securing the perimeter and checking for any signs of pursuit. Nicholas stayed focused on the child, understanding that this moment was critical. ‘It’s a lot to take in, I know,’ he continued, softer now. ‘But we’re out. We did it.’
The child turned to him, eyes full of fear and something else—an emotion Nicholas couldn’t quite place. Perhaps it was disbelief, or maybe the dawning realisation that they were no longer under Strakov’s control. They had been liberated, but freedom, it seemed, was as terrifying as captivity.
Nicholas reached out cautiously, placing a hand on the child’s shoulder. He could feel the tremor running through their small frame, the pent-up energy of someone who had been taught to fear the world outside. ‘You’re not alone in this,’ he said. ‘We’ll help you. You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for.’
The child’s lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. Instead, a single tear escaped, rolling down their cheek. Nicholas felt his heart tighten in his chest. This child, despite their power, was just that—a child, thrust into a world they didn’t understand and burdened with abilities they could barely control.
‘It’s okay,’ Nicholas whispered, his voice filled with a tenderness he hadn’t realised he was capable of. ‘One step at a time.’
A soft rustle from behind them signalled the approach of one of the team members. ‘We’re clear,’ they said quietly, respecting the delicate moment. ‘No signs of pursuit, but we should move quickly.’
Nicholas nodded, still focused on the child. ‘We’re going to head to a safe place,’ he explained gently. ‘Somewhere no one can find us. We’ll figure everything out together.’
The child hesitated, glancing back at the facility as if expecting someone to emerge and drag them back into the nightmare. But the night remained still, the facility now just a dark silhouette against the horizon. Finally, with a small, almost imperceptible nod, they reached out and took Nicholas’s hand. The gesture was tentative, but it was enough—a fragile thread of trust forming between them.
Safety was a fleeting thing in this world. Nicholas knew that as well as anyone. Yet, as he stood there, Nicholas couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of something unfamiliar—hope. It was a fragile thing, delicate and easily shattered, but it was there. The child represented more than just an asset to be protected; they were a symbol of something larger, something worth fighting for. A future that hadn’t been dictated to them by anyone.
