Rion
I can feel the tension in the air as we stand outside the prison, hidden by the darkness of night. The cold wind whips around us. Anna, Felix, and Griffyn are all huddled together, their breaths visible in the chilly air with Blaze next to them scowling.
We had to drive here to get close enough since the entire place is protected from transport charms.
“We need to wait for the guard shift change before we can go inside,” Felix whispers to the group.
“Right,” Anna nods, her mossy green eyes filled with determination.
“Looks like they’re switching now,” Blaze grumbles, his brown eyes scanning the area.
“Rion, do you think this will work?” Anna asks me, biting her lip nervously.
I don’t voice my worries. It’s too late for that. “We’re getting Aksel out of here.”
“Alright, everyone. Get ready, they just switched which means they’ll be switched inside too,” Felix says as he watches the guards through his enhanced vision.
My heart races as we descend into the old tunnel system beneath the prison. The darkness is near absolute, swallowing us whole and leaving only the sounds of our careful footsteps echoing off damp walls.
Felix takes the lead since he has feline-shifter night vision. We proceed in a single file, each one of us taking great care not to make a sound.
Despite my vampire senses, the darkness is still disorienting. We can’t use our powers on this mission and risk alerting the supernatural prison’s defenses.
“Stop,” Felix suddenly commands, his whisper barely audible. I freeze in place, straining my ears to listen for any sounds that might indicate danger. “We are going up.”
I hear the soft clang of a ladder as Felix climbs and I follow behind him.
“I just need to open this…” Felix trails off.
The heavy iron door creaks open letting in light and revealing the dimly lit interior of the prison. My heart races in my chest as we cautiously enter, each of us keenly aware of the cameras dotting the walls and ceilings.
A guard stumbles upon us as everyone finishes climbing out. Felix quickly disarms him and leaves him unconscious.
Blaze takes the lead and uses his fire to fry the security cameras as we go. They’ll know someone was here but they won’t have proof it was us.
We make our way further into the prison, down multiple flights of stairs towards the high-security area where Aksel is being held.
As we approach the high-security wing, we hear the faint sound of footsteps echoing through the corridor. Two guardsturn the corner and freeze when they see us. Their eyes widen with recognition, and one of them speaks up, a greedy gleam in his eyes.
“Look at that. Our lucky day! The reward for turning them in is going to be huge!”
“Grab them!” the other guard orders, drawing his weapon.
“Let’s try to avoid killing them if we can,” Anna says.
“Agreed,” Felix replies, his eyes narrowing. He lunges forward, his agility allowing him to dodge the first guard’s attack and disarm him in one swift motion. Blaze sends a burst of fire at the second guard’s feet, causing him to stumble back in surprise.
Anna’s speed carries her to the second guard and she knocks his temple so hard he blacks out.
“They’re going to know we were here,” I say. “The first guard and now these two will be able to verify it was us.”
A sharp, burning pain takes over my stomach. I clutch the spot and feel a wet, sticky feeling.
Someone stabbed me.
I didn’t sense anyone else and yet blood is spreading from a wound.
How did they sneak up on me?
