The woman's smile twisted into something darker, more predatory.
Her eyes glinted under the shadow of her hood, the malice in her gaze unmistakable.
Ada's hand tightened around the hilt of her blade, her muscles coiling in readiness.
She could feel Vega's presence beside her, calm and steady, but her instincts told her that this encounter was far from simple.
"You've been looking for us?" Ada's voice was low, measured. "Why?"
The woman chuckled, a cold, chilling sound that echoed in the otherwise silent room. "Why? Because you're the key to everything." She took a step forward, her boots making a soft, deliberate sound against the metal floor. "And I'm not about to let you slip away."
Vega's fingers subtly tightened on the grip of her crossbow.
She didn't say anything, but her stance spoke volumes—alert, prepared, waiting for the right moment. Ada shot her a glance, but Vega's focus never wavered from the woman in front of them.
"I don't think we're interested in whatever you're selling," Ada said, her voice sharp.
The woman's lips curled into a smirk. "You don't get to decide that. Not anymore."
With a swift motion, the woman gestured to the shadows, and out of the corners of the room emerged more figures—silent, deadly, and ready for whatever the woman commanded.
Ada's heart skipped a beat. It was a trap, and they had walked right into it.
"We're surrounded," Vega whispered, her eyes flicking between the new arrivals. "We can't fight them all."
Ada's gaze hardened. "We don't have to fight them all. We just need to make it out alive."
In one fluid motion, Ada turned and gestured for Vega to follow.
The two of them bolted towards the narrow exit at the back of the room, but the figures in the shadows were quick to react.
Before they could reach the door, one of the figures lunged forward, blocking their path.
Vega fired her crossbow without hesitation.
The bolt flew through the air with precision, striking the figure in the chest. It collapsed instantly, but another emerged from the darkness in its place.
"Dammit," Vega muttered under her breath, quickly reloading.
Ada's mind raced. They needed a way out, and fast.
She scanned the room, eyes landing on a metal grate near the ceiling. It was small, but it would be their best bet.
Without a word, she bolted for it, her body moving with the fluidity of someone who had lived through countless similar situations.
She reached the grate and began to pry it loose.
"Vega!" Ada called, her voice urgent. "Cover me!"
Vega fired again, taking down another figure that had emerged from the shadows.
She kept her aim steady, ensuring no one could get too close to Ada.
The sound of crossbow bolts slicing through the air was a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat echoing in the tension-filled room.
Ada finally managed to wrench the grate free, her fingers slick with sweat.
She swung it aside and motioned for Vega to follow her.
"Get in!" Ada shouted, her voice barely above a whisper as the door behind them slammed open. The woman was moving toward them, her eyes glinting with anger and frustration.
Vega hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking toward the woman in the center of the room.
Her fingers tightened on her weapon, but then she looked back at Ada. "We're not leaving you behind," she said firmly, stepping forward.
"I don't have time to argue," Ada replied, her voice a mix of urgency and command.
She pushed Vega toward the opening. "Now, go!"
Vega hesitated for another heartbeat, but when the woman took another step forward, she didn't wait.
She ducked through the opening, followed by Ada in a swift motion.
The two of them crawled through the small shaft, their movements swift but careful.
The space was narrow, uncomfortable, and the faint scent of mold filled the air, but there was no time to worry about that now. They had to keep moving.
The sounds of pursuit echoed behind them as they navigated through the ventilation system, the low hum of machinery and the rush of their own breaths filling the silence.
Ada could feel the sweat beading on her brow, her heart pounding with every second that passed.
They were running out of time.
"Do you think she'll follow us?" Vega asked, her voice low and tight.
Ada didn't answer immediately.
She could feel the weight of the question hanging between them. "If she does," Ada said after a moment, "we'll be ready."
They reached a vent at the end of the shaft, and Ada pried it open.
Cold air rushed in, and they both exhaled in relief, grateful to be out of the claustrophobic space. They quickly climbed out, landing softly on the ground below.
The outside air was cool, but it did little to calm the storm of adrenaline raging through Ada's veins.
They were outside now, but they weren't safe yet. They still had to move—fast.
"I'm not sure who she is, but she's bad news," Vega said, eyeing the horizon. "We need to figure out who she's working for."
Ada nodded, wiping the sweat from her brow. "And we will. But for now, we need to get as far away from here as we can."
She began walking, her pace steady but quick, and Vega fell in step beside her.
"Where do we go now?" Vega asked, her voice carrying the weight of their situation.
Ada didn't hesitate. "Back to base. We need to regroup, figure out our next move. But we can't stop moving until we're out of her reach."
As they continued forward, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting the landscape in shadows.
The world around them was quiet, but Ada could feel the tension mounting with every step. They hadn't escaped yet.
The worst was still to come.