Caught On Act

She's right. Erion's mind raced, but the truth hit him hard: It's suicide to go in.

"I'll call for backup. Please, calm down," he said, his voice steady as he activated the special device in his hand, the familiar hum filling the silence of the truck.

In a blink, the woman—Evah—flung open the door and dashed into the night.

Erion's heart skipped. He glanced at the double-lock control, his hand frozen. What the hell?

"Next time, I'm locking you down!" he shouted, fury rising like a storm inside him.

This is suicide! 

Too late, Evah is already gone without a trace.

He pulled the gun from the box on the side, a silver-plated gun that declares his rank and a special silencer that perfectly fit.

Then he dashes out of the car. 

As he entered the gate a wide grassland with nothing but animals surrounded him. Two buildings are before him now.

"Where did she go?" he muttered. 

There was only the sound of the blowing wind and animals on the farmland. 

He chose the abandoned-looking warehouse on the left. 

The right building has lights that might indicate danger. 

You better be alive.

He entered the warehouse silently and swiftly, just like he had so many times before.

The chances of them making it out of this operation alive were slim. Entering through this private driveway, they were already expected the moment they stepped onto the path.

Inside the dome, the only light came from the faint glow of natural sunlight filtering through the cracks in the building. The air was thick with the smell of animal waste and rusted metal, a scent that might be common on a farm—but Erion knew it also made the perfect cover for something darker.

His gun was tucked safely inside his jacket, hidden but within easy reach.

He moved forward, each step measured, and after a few meters, he found himself facing an array of doors. One by one, he approached them, his senses sharp, and slowly, carefully, he began to open each door.

The first one revealed a small, dimly lit room. A few monitors blinked to life, casting an eerie glow on the surroundings. In the center of the room stood a metal medical bed, the kind used for procedures. It looked strangely out of place, as though it had been abandoned—yet somehow, it felt like it had been waiting.

This is where they do it. But the real question was, what the hell are they doing?

The room was unnervingly clean, too clean.

No sign of evidence. They must've cleaned up after their operations.

He recalled a report from one of his generals about a suspect caught overseas. "They said they were just experimenting on animals to improve their production."

What a ridiculous excuse, he thought bitterly. But it's not under my jurisdiction. I can't do anything about it. He hissed in frustration.

Turning away, he walked out of the room, but his attention was quickly drawn to the window of the adjacent door. Something about it caught his eye.

He twisted the cold knob, his senses alert, and pushed the door open slowly. The room was empty.

But it wasn't the absence of people that struck him—it was the strange glow of liquid-filled tubes, standing in glassware all around him.

So this is what's been glowing.

He stepped into the dark room, the glowing liquids casting an eerie light over everything. He needed evidence, something that could tell him exactly what they were up to.

His eyes scanned the shelves, finally landing on small bottles lined up neatly. Without hesitation, he snatched one, holding it up to the light. As he inspected it, his heart skipped a beat.

It wasn't just a serum—it contained microchips. How?

Suddenly, a muffled voice called out, "Erion!"

His pulse quickened. He slipped the bottle into his jacket pocket and rushed out of the room. Judging by the sound of her voice, she was about fifteen meters away. Damn it, she's too loud. She might get us both killed.

As he moved swiftly, his mind began to race with plans.

Plan A: If he couldn't find her, he would pretend to be lost. He wasn't carrying any ID, no badge of the Grand Covenant Order. The only thing he had was his gun, hidden away, and the slim hope that the people here were just pawns—if that was the case, he might have a chance.

Plan B: If he found her, they'd need to exit immediately. If anything went wrong, he'd have the gun as his backup.

Erion opened another door, this time with more caution.

Inside, the room was far from empty.

Rows of large shelves lined the walls, and on top of one was an object covered by a gray cloth.

The moment he stepped in, a heavy scent hit him, a stench of death that made his stomach twist.

I know this smell...

His hand instinctively covered his nose, but his mind was already racing, dread pooling in his gut.

He began to lift the covers, one by one.

One... Two... Three...

The missing person was there, along with two other unidentified bodies. Erion's eyes scanned the grim scene—piles of lifeless bodies, the air thick with the weight of death.

I hope you didn't open this door, he thought grimly, knowing the sight of it would haunt her, leaving scars deeper than any physical wound.

A faint sound broke through his thoughts.

Erion's body tensed, his instincts kicking in as he bolted from the room, heart pounding.

Where is she? Every second spent here was another chance for them to be discovered, another step closer to death.

His mind raced as he moved, checking every shadow and corner. Danger could be lurking around any turn.

At the far end of the warehouse, an open door caught his eye. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward it.

Inside, amid boxes and supplies scattered across the room, she sat on the floor, sobbing softly.

Erion exhaled, a wave of relief crashing over him. She's still alive.

He couldn't help the quiet sigh that escaped him. 

Evah didn't notice Erion approaching from behind. She sat on the ground, desperately trying to wake Yuka, who was still unconscious, bound to a pole.

"Yuka…" Evah whispered, her hands trembling as she shook her friend, tears streaming down her face.

Yuka's body was battered, bruised, and covered in dirt. A portion of her shirt had been torn, exposing the bruises on her right shoulder.

"Yuka, wake up!" Evah cried out, her voice cracking.

Erion stood silently behind her, watching the scene unfold.

"Erion, she's not waking up." Evah's voice was soft and broken as she looked up at him, her usual fierce expression now replaced by one of helplessness and vulnerability.

Erion crouched down beside them, checking Yuka's pulse with a practiced touch.

She's still alive? he thought, frowning. Normally, they'd kill their victims to avoid leaving any evidence behind.

"She's alive," he said, his voice steady. "Probably drugged. That's why she's not waking up."

He stood, moving as quietly as he could, glancing at Evah. I can't let her run off again. It's too dangerous.

His mind flashed to the glowing serum from the room. That's probably it...

Evah's voice broke through his thoughts. "Let's take her to the hospital. Help me untie her. Do you have a knife or something to cut the ropes?"

She pulled at the ropes binding Yuka to the pole, desperation in her movements.

"We can't," Erion replied, his tone firm as he gently tugged Evah to her feet. "We need to go now. It'll take days for her to wake up."

Evah hesitated, her eyes pleading with him, but he wasn't giving in. He pulled her up once more, trying to make her understand.

Prioritize the one most likely to survive. The thought weighed heavily on his mind.

"We can't leave her here!" Evah's voice trembled with disbelief, her anger flaring as she looked at him.

What kind of damn system is this? You're supposed to be saving people! Her hatred for Erion burned brighter with every passing second. Why did I even trust that damn Order?

Her thoughts raced, spiraling into frustration and doubt.

Erion remained calm, his expression hardening. "We'll go back for her, but we can't afford to be caught. If we do, we'll all be dead."

Evah's eyes flickered with confusion, but he continued, his voice quiet and steady. "We already planned for a situation like this with the organization behind this. We will go back for her."

He paused, frustration crossing his face as his mind briefly flickered to Plan B. If we're caught, headquarters will activate Plan B in four to five hours. They'll move forward without us. She might witness things... things no one should ever see.

His mind flashed back to an earlier conversation with his team—the one drilled into him as part of the plan.

"We'll have Plan B, the Silent Kill. You know what to do if this happens outside our zone," he had said, his voice low and precise.

"Yes, Major!" They had answered in unison, ready for anything.

Erion refocused. There was no time for hesitation. Too much was at stake.

"I know, but I can't just leave her," Evah whispered, her voice barely audible.

Her anger subsided a little when she realized Erion had a point—one she couldn't quite wrap her head around. There was a solution, but it felt impossible.

"Let's go," Erion said gently, leaning down to offer her his hand, trying to convince her.

But Evah's love for her best friend couldn't be dissolved so easily. Still sitting on the ground, holding Yuka close, she didn't move.

My hands are freezing with fear, she thought, shaking with anxiety. Just how corrupt are you to be so calm in this situation?

She glanced up at him, her eyes meeting his. She realized his hand wasn't even cold. His face was as unreadable as a chess player, poised and calculating, always a step ahead.

Those eyes—he doesn't fear anything.

Evah pulled her hand away from his, a quiet defiance in her movement. "You can go. Get help. I'll stay here with Yuka."

Erion's patience snapped.

"Do you want to die?!" he said, his voice rising with frustration. He stood, glaring down at her. "You're lucky she's still alive!" He shot her a cold, nonchalant look. "You're going to get us all in trouble."

Then, just as his words hung in the air, all the lights in the building flickered on, blindingly bright.

Of course.

NOTES:

Decipher This department specializes in high-class reverse hacking, decoding, and manipulating encrypted systems. They operate mostly within the office, their work subtle yet vital to the success of every mission. Decipher's members are adept at cracking even the most intricate codes, ensuring that information remains secure and that the Order's operations run smoothly.

IroncladThe powerful and unyielding arm of the Grand Covenant. They are the muscle, executing the most dangerous missions with precision. Made up of physically imposing individuals, their expertise lies in hand-to-hand combat, large-scale operations, and executing high-risk strategies that demand exceptional strength and skill. Ironclad members are sent to the front lines, where their training and combat prowess are essential to carrying out the Order's most complex missions.