On the upper floor of the hotel, Damien, Arisha, and Kaelan stood near the window looking out over the ruined city below.
The morning light had grown stronger, cutting through the grey clouds in pale strips.
Then Damien's smartwatch buzzed.
He accepted it immediately. "What happened, Marina?"
Her voice came through tense and clipped, not her usual calm.
"My unit got ambushed. I just received an emergency call from one of my members. They were attacked." A brief pause. "Some of them may already be eliminated. The fact that you haven't been contacted by Isaac means he's probably out."
Damien's expression turned hard instantly.
"Where are you right now?"
"I'm moving toward the mall with the remaining members of my unit. I'm close. What are your orders?"
"How many enemies are we talking about?"
"I can't confirm the exact number. But based on the call I received, there could be more than thirty."
The line went quiet for a moment.
