Fire spreading as planned. Emergency services ETA 2 minutes. You’re clear.
Kade:
Confirmed. Syndicate security detail splitting. Half responding to OCK fire. Meeting proceeding as planned. Three targets, four guards. Window is now.
This is it.
“We need to move. Now.”
We skirt around the crowd, using the chaos as cover. No one pays attention to three more students evacuating, as we make our way to the equipment shed behind the house.
Inside are three duffel bags we placed there earlier.
We strip, changing into dark jeans, black long-sleeves, and gloves. Then we strap on our weapons—handguns in shoulder holsters, knives at our waists, extra magazines in pockets, comms devices in our ears.
“Radio check,” I say quietly.
“Check,” Talon responds.
“Check.” Jasper’s voice crackles through.
“Rally point. We’re moving to target. Stay ready,” I say, knowing Mara’s listening.
Her voice comes through, tight with fear but steady. “Copy. Be safe.”
Rook’s voice joins hers. “We’ve got her. You three focus on the job.”
“Let’s go.”
We slip away from OCK house while it burns behind us. The fire’s fully engulfed it now—flames shooting through windows, the roof beginning to collapse. The street’s in total chaos with campus security trying to control the crowd, while everyone’s phones are out, filming the destruction.
No one notices three figures in dark clothes moving away from the scene.
No one sees us cut through the back lawns of sorority houses, making our way toward Greek Row, where the PTO house is.
No idea what’s about to happen.
The walk takes eight minutes. We move in silence, weapons hidden but ready, constantly scanning for threats. Campus is emptying—everyone’s either at the OCK fire or hiding in their dorms. A campus-wide alert probably went out about the emergency.
Perfect.
We approach the PTO house from the back, using the shadows. The building’s massive—even bigger than OCK. Three stories of Georgian architecture and old money.
The house is eerily quiet after the chaos we just left.
Kade’s directions were perfect. We find the room easily—boilers, electrical panels, and a false wall that looks exactly like every other wall.
Except this one has a hidden door.
Jasper runs his hands along the edges, finding the catch. The wall swings open, revealing a narrow staircase descending into the catacombs.
“This is it. We’re going in.”
CJ responds, “Copy. Emergency services still occupied at OCK. Campus security spread thin. You’ve got maybe thirty minutes before someone notices the split and starts asking questions.”
“That’s all we need.”
I take point, gun raised, flashlight in my other hand, Talon behind me, then Jasper. We descend single file, every sense on high alert.
