Chapter 20: Falling Dominoes

The quiet of the safehouse was shattered by a deafening crash. The front door splintered under the force of an explosive charge, sending shards of wood flying across the room.

“They’ve found us!” Ikran shouted, pulling his weapon as Maria and Julia dove for cover.

Through the smoke, armed Kentofes operatives stormed inside, their movements precise and calculated. Bullets tore through the air as Ikran fired back, his aim steady despite the chaos.

“We can’t stay here!” Maria yelled, clutching the hard drive containing their evidence.

Julia grabbed her bag and crawled toward the back exit. “This way! There’s a fire escape!”

Ikran covered their retreat, his shots keeping the operatives at bay as Maria and Julia slipped out the back. He followed moments later, his footsteps pounding against the metal fire escape as they descended into the alley below.

The streets of Pasadianka were alive with the glow of neon signs and the hum of traffic, but the trio had no time to blend into the crowd.

“They’ll have reinforcements,” Ikran said, his voice grim as they ducked into a side street.

Maria clutched the hard drive tightly. “We can’t lose this. It’s everything we’ve worked for.”

Julia glanced behind them, her heart pounding as she spotted shadows moving in the distance. “They’re tracking us. We need to split up.”

“Are you insane?” Maria snapped.

“She’s right,” Ikran interjected. “If we stay together, they’ll corner us. We split up and regroup at the fallback point.”

Maria hesitated, her instincts screaming against the idea. But the determination in Ikran’s eyes left no room for argument.

“Fine,” she said, her voice tight. “But you’d better make it back.”

Ikran nodded, handing her a spare weapon. “You too.”

The team scattered, each disappearing into the labyrinth of alleys and backstreets.

Julia darted through a crowded market, her bag slung over her shoulder. She could feel the operatives closing in, their dark uniforms blending into the shadows. She ducked into a shop, using the chaos of customers and merchandise to slip out the back unnoticed.

Maria took a different route, weaving through abandoned buildings and side streets. Her breath came in short bursts as she clutched the hard drive, the weight of their mission pressing down on her.

Ikran, meanwhile, led a group of operatives on a wild chase through the industrial district. His movements were calculated, each turn and detour designed to lead them further from Maria and Julia.

Hours later, the team regrouped at an old factory on the outskirts of the city. The air was thick with tension as they checked their surroundings, ensuring they hadn’t been followed.

Maria was the first to speak, her voice shaking with adrenaline. “Did we lose them?”

“For now,” Ikran said, his eyes scanning the darkened windows. “But they’ll keep coming.”

Julia leaned against a rusted machine, catching her breath. “We need to strike back. We can’t keep running like this.”

Ikran nodded, his jaw set. “Agreed. We hit them where it hurts. PRASASTI’s central hub. That’s where they’re most vulnerable.”

Maria frowned. “You’re suggesting we attack their headquarters? That’s suicide.”

“It’s our only option,” Julia said, her gaze fierce. “If we don’t stop them now, they’ll keep coming until they wipe us out.”

Maria sighed, the weight of the decision heavy on her shoulders. “Then we’d better make it count.”

As they planned their next move, the shadows of Kentofes loomed larger than ever. The team had survived this encounter, but the war was far from over.

The dominoes were falling, and there was no turning back.