Page 52 of Challenged
Griffyn smirks and adds, “That’s exactly how Aksel acts, too. Stubborn and unwilling to admit when he’s wrong.”
Aksel merely rolls his eyes and ignores Griffyn’s remark, focusing his attention back on the meeting below. I glance between them, realizing that perhaps my presence has affected all of them in some way or another.
“…these drops are crucial. With one of our suppliers caught, we can’t afford any more mistakes,” a gravelly voice says.
“Agreed. The operation must go off without a hitch,” another adds, the urgency in their tone unmistakable.
My heart races as I process their words, anxiety gnawing at the edges of my mind.
“Any idea what they’re talking about?” I ask the guys quietly. They shake their heads, their faces etched with frustration. Whatever these people are discussing, it’s clear that it’s something big.
“Let’s just keep listening. Maybe we’ll get a better idea of what’s going on,” Aksel suggests in a hushed tone, his eyes never leaving the scene below.
We focus, our ears attuned to every word.
The hushed voices from below continue, each word sinking into the darkness around us. My heart races in anticipation as I search for any clue to their intentions. Griffyn’s eyes narrow with determination, and without a word, he slips off his backpack, revealing a coil of rope and a small camera.
“Stay here,” he whispers, tying the rope securely to a nearby pipe. “I’ll see if I can get a better look inside and take some pictures.”
“Be careful,” I murmur, my voice barely audible.
Griffyn winks at me, and then, with a gracefulness that belies his muscular frame, he propels down the side of the building. I hold my breath as I watch him descend, the shadows swallowing him whole.
Minutes pass like hours, and my nails dig into my palms as I fight the urge to call out for him.
“Got it,” Griffyn suddenly announces, his voice startling me as he appears back on the roof, looking pleased with himself. He holds up the camera, and I let out a sigh of relief. “Managed to snap a few shots through a crack in the window. We should be able to identify some of them now.”
“Good job,” Aksel commends him with a nod. “Let’s just wait for the meeting to end before we make our move.”
The voices grow quiet, and then silence falls over the area. After what feels like an eternity, we hear footsteps echoing away from the building, signaling that the meeting has finally come to an end.
“Let’s go,” Rion says, his voice full of determination. We make our way down the fire escape, cautiously entering the now-empty building.
Immediately Aksel notices the grid of lights, trip wires, and traps. He points them out to us. “I’m guessing they’re meant to keep anyone who breaks in here long enough for someone to come detain them.”
Aksel releases a dust that shows the lights across the floor and we step over them carefully.
The room is dimly lit, casting eerie shadows on the walls as we search for any useful information. My eyes scan everysurface, my heart pounding in my ears but nothing was left behind. Why rig the place if there’s nothing here?
“Let’s split up,” Aksel suggests, his voice low and serious. “Cover more ground that way. Do not set off these traps.”
“Agreed,” Rion replies quietly.
I nod, swallowing my fear as I make my way to a corner of the room filled with boxes and crates. They’re empty.
“Nothing here,” Griffyn calls out, his voice tinged with frustration. “How about you guys?”
“Same,” Aksel mutters, his expression darkening.
“Empty,” Rion adds, his eyes filled with worry.
Minutes tick by as we continue our search, each of us growing more disheartened by the second. The room is eerily quiet, the only sounds are our footsteps and ragged breaths echoing off the walls.
“Nothing here,” Aksel mutters, frustration evident in his voice. “We’ll have to rely on Griffyn’s pictures for leads. Let’s get out.”
My heart sinks as I look around at the empty shelves and barren tables. He’s right. We’ve searched every inch of this room, and there’s nothing to be found.
I lift one of the last crates and notice a little red light moving along it.
