The air was heavy as Raven and Lucas made their way toward the warehouse, their steps being swallowed by the concrete beneath them. The light of early morning struggled to filter through the dimmed windows of the building, casting long, twisting shadows that seemed to reach out in every direction. This was a fortress, and each inch of it was constructed to conceal the blackest secrets. But Raven and Lucas weren't here to reveal those secrets anymore—Raven and Lucas were here to destroy them.
"We're close," Raven whispered into the comms. "We've got eyes on the target, Valerie. Any movement?"
Her voice crackled through the earpiece, and a few seconds later Valerie's smooth, steady response came back.
"Yeah, I've got eyes on the front door," Valerie replied, her tone crisp and intense. "There's a guard change every fifteen minutes. You've got a small window to get in. They won't be looking for you from the rear."
Raven looked at Lucas. It was a narrow window, but it was their best bet.
"Copy that," Lucas replied, his tone calm but laced with determination. "We're going in."
Raven took the lead as they moved stealthily around the corner of the building, taking advantage of the cover afforded by huge shipping containers to remain hidden. Raven stopped every now and then, her quick eyes scanning the horizon for a glimpse of movement. She couldn't risk being negligent. Lives hung in the balance, on each step, each breath.
They reached the back of the warehouse without incident. A locked door stood before them, but Raven was prepared. She pulled out a small device and attached it to the lock. A few moments later, a soft click sounded, and the door creaked open.
"Valerie, we're in," Raven reported, slipping inside. "Get ready to guide us."
"Got it," Valerie replied. "There are a few guards inside, but they're scattered. You're going to have to move quickly."
Inside, the warehouse smelled of rust, mildew, and old machinery. The large, cavernous space was filled with rows of cages—some empty, some holding women and children in varying states of distress. Raven's stomach twisted at the sight, but there was no time to dwell. They had a job to do.
"Stay low," Raven whispered to Lucas. "We go fast, but silent."
They hugged the walls, moving together as Valerie led them through the comms, giving directions and information on guard movement. With each step, Raven's determination grew. They weren't just going to liberate these people-they were going to scorch this operation to ashes.
As they crept further into the middle of the warehouse, they heard a bunch of guards sitting in a break room with their guns lying on the table. Raven did not wait. She gave Lucas a signal, and they crept through an adjacent storage facility quietly without making any noise.
"Valerie," Lucas whispered. "Where are the kids?
"Left side of the building," Valerie's voice was tight, urgency creeping into her tone. "I can hear them. they're still alive."
"Understood," Raven said, her voice steady but grim. "We're going for them next."
The thought of what those children had endured, what they might still be going through, was enough to keep her moving faster. She couldn't let herself think too much about it—not now.
They finally arrived at a big door on the far side of the building, a metal barrier that seemed to open up to the interior rooms, where the worst of the procedure probably occurred. There were two guards standing outside, their presence the last barrier between them and freedom.
Raven nodded to Lucas. She'd get the one on the left. He'd get the right. The scheme was straightforward, effective. They could not make mistakes now.
At her cue, both of them advanced in quick, deliberate movements. Lucas disarmed his target with a swift strike to the throat, shutting him up before he could even move. Raven, on the other hand, came up behind her target, a quick jab to the neck, followed by a kick to the back to send him quietly crashing to the ground.
"Clear," Raven breathed, her voice little more than a whisper.
Lucas nodded and moved forward to open the door. The room they entered was poorly lit, packed with rows of makeshift beds. And in the middle of the room, tied and cowering, were the children Valerie had alerted them to—some only six years old, others barely capable of talking.
Raven's heart churned as she gazed at them. These innocent lives were taken from their families, held in a hell they didn't comprehend. She pushed herself to concentrate, hands firm as she rapidly approached the closest bed, cutting loose the straps and lifting into her arms a little girl who was not much older than five.
"Get them out of here," Raven told Lucas, her tone strained with emotion. "We don't have much time."
Lucas nodded, his features stiffening as he stepped in to assist the others, moving quickly but carefully as he untied each of the children and pushed them towards the door.
There was the ring of gunfire outside the room. It wasn't a muted pop or silenced shots—it was near, too near.
"Shit," Raven swore, automatically reaching for her gun as she turned to Lucas. "We've been compromised. We have to move, now."
"Go!" Lucas yelled, dashing for the door with the children behind him.
Raven stayed close, matching his pace as the two of them sprinted through the labyrinth of corridors. The noises of pursuit were closing in. Guards were closing in. They had to get out before they were surrounded.
As they approached the rear exit, Valerie's voice crackled in their earpieces, sharp and panicked. "There's a van for you! Go! Don't delay!"
Raven's heart thudded against her chest as they turned the corner. The van was waiting, just as she'd been told. Lucas pushed the door open and guided the children into the van one at a time, while Raven stayed behind, eyes fixed on the rearview mirror, waiting for any indication of trouble.
But the anarchy didn't cease. Yelling and shots filled the air. The traffickers were closing in, frantic to prevent them, but too late.
A figure emerged from the darkness before Raven could get into the van herself—a man, gun in hand, eyes blazing with fury.
"Not so fast!" the man yelled, his voice shaking with anger.
Raven's reflexes took over. Without a thought, she launched herself into a roll, rising up with her gun trained squarely on his chest.
"Get in the damn van," she growled, her tone cold.
The man flinched, but before he could move, Lucas shot from across the way, taking him down with one bullet.
"Not today," Lucas grunted, slamming the door closed.
Raven got into the van and shut the door behind her, her breathing labored. The van surged to life, and they were moving, racing toward safety.