“I don’t need her to be the same. I just need her alive.”
River nods once—warrior to warrior.
Cyclone’s voice cuts in again. “I’m picking up something… hold on… There’s chatter inside the control room. They’re talking about a ‘Subject Hart.’”
My entire body goes motionless.
Hart.
Lena Hart.
Alive.
River exhales softly. “That’s her. So she’s stillhere.”
Before I can respond, a high-pitched alarm shrieks from the far side of the compound. Lights flare on the catwalks.
Beckett’s voice cracks through comms. “We’re compromised. They spotted the drone Cyclone launched.”
Cyclone curses. “It was cloaked. They shouldn’t have—wait. They wanted to spot it. They’re flushing the perimeter.”
My stomach drops.
“It’s a diversion,” I say coldly. “They’re moving someone.”
River’s eyes widen. “Lena.”
I slam my rifle into position. “We breach. Now.”
The team moves instantly—boots slicing snow, bodies low and fast. Gunfire cracks from the tower. I fire back without slowing, dropping the shooter cleanly.
I reach the blast door first, plant the charge, and whisper a prayer I haven’t used since the day my team died.
Hold on, Lena. Just hold on.
The charge blows.
Snow, metal, sparks erupt outward—the Golden Team floods in behind me. Delta keeping our cover.
I lead the way.
Down the first stairwell.
Into the belly of the mountain.
Heart pounding like a war drum.
And for the first time in years, hope—dangerous, blinding hope—burns inside me.
She’s here.
I can feel it.
11
Lena
Location: Level Three Descent Chamber
