Chapter-19

The cold night air hit Jane's face like a slap as she and her team advanced toward the abandoned industrial park. Their footsteps were muffled by the thick layer of dust and grime that coated the cracked asphalt. The only sounds were the distant hum of city lights and the occasional rustle of wind through broken windows. Jane’s focus was razor-sharp, every nerve on high alert. This was it—the final push to unravel The Hive, and nothing was going to stop them.

As they moved closer to the entrance of the complex, Yami’s voice broke the silence. "I don’t like this," he muttered, glancing around. "Feels like we’re walking into a trap."

“We’re not walking into a trap, we’re setting one,” Jane replied coldly. "We know their game. They think they’re the ones in control, but not tonight."

Yohan’s laptop beeped in the backseat as he quickly typed away. "I've got a live feed from one of the cameras near the entrance. It’s clear, for now. But they know we’re coming. We’ve got a very limited window before they lock everything down."

Jane nodded sharply. “We move fast. Yami, you take point. Yohan, stay in the rear and cover us. Anya and I will handle the tech."

"Got it," Yami said, his voice filled with the calm confidence of someone who had been in countless tight spots before.

The team approached the main entrance, where a large rusted door loomed ahead. Jane’s eyes scanned the surroundings—every corner, every shadow. They had no idea how many operatives The Hive had in this location, but Jane had learned long ago to trust her instincts.

With a swift motion, Yami checked the door, finding it ajar just enough for them to slip through. He nodded to Jane, and they entered the building in a single fluid movement.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of oil and metal, the sounds of distant machinery still echoing through the cavernous space. Dim, flickering lights hung from above, casting long shadows that seemed to twist and stretch across the floor. Jane’s heart beat faster as she scanned the area, her grip tightening on her weapon.

“This way,” Yami whispered, signaling them to follow. He moved with the precision of a predator, his eyes never leaving the path ahead. Anya followed closely, her hand resting on the comms device clipped to her belt, ready for any unexpected interference. Jane brought up the rear, her mind sharp and calculating.

They reached a hallway lined with security doors. Yohan’s voice crackled in their earpieces. “The tech specialist’s terminal is a few rooms down. We’ll need to breach fast—this place is rigged with alarms, and I’m not sure how much time we have before they lock the building down.”

“Then let’s not waste any more time,” Jane said, her voice low but unwavering.

Anya took the lead as the team moved down the corridor, each of them tense, prepared for the worst. The flickering lights above seemed to pulse in rhythm with their footsteps, adding to the tension. Jane couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched, but there was no turning back now.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the far end of the hall. The sound of boots on concrete. Someone was coming.

“Get ready,” Jane whispered.

Before anyone could react, a group of armed guards appeared from around the corner, their weapons raised. Jane didn’t hesitate. In one smooth motion, she pulled out her gun and fired, dropping the closest guard to the ground. Yami followed suit, his shots precise and deadly, while Anya pulled out a small device, disabling the security camera above them.

The remaining guards scrambled, but Jane and her team were already on top of them. Within moments, the threat was neutralized.

“That was too close,” Yami muttered, his eyes scanning the fallen bodies.

“Stay focused,” Jane ordered, her voice sharp. "We’ve got a job to do."

They continued down the hallway, now more cautious, but no less determined. The door to the tech specialist’s lab was just ahead. Yohan’s voice crackled again in their ears, this time more urgent. "They’re locking down the facility. You have seconds before the whole building is sealed off. You need to move now!"

With a swift motion, Jane reached for the door’s handle, but before she could turn it, a voice echoed from within.

"Did you really think you could stop The Hive?"

The voice was smooth, calm—almost too calm.

Jane’s hand froze on the handle. She exchanged a glance with her team. The trap was already set, but this time, they were the ones who would pull the strings.

“Get ready,” Jane whispered. “We’ve got one last fight ahead of us.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***