Helena didn't like the plan.
She understood it. She even agreed with it. But that didn't mean she liked it.
"You want to use me as bait," she said, arms crossed, her eyes locked on Marcus.
Marcus didn't deny it. He stood across from her, calm as ever, reviewing something on his tablet like they were discussing business—not putting her directly in danger.
"I want to draw them out," he corrected.
"And I'm the easiest way to do that."
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
The honesty should have reassured her. Instead, it made her chest tighten.
Helena let out a slow breath, turning away from him as she tried to steady her thoughts. The city stretched out beyond the window, bright and alive, completely unaware of the war quietly unfolding above it.
"If they're watching me," she said, "then they'll react if I make a move."
"Exactly."
She turned back to him. "And what kind of move are we talking about?"
Marcus set the tablet down and stepped closer. Not too close—but enough that she could feel his presence, grounding and dangerous at the same time.
"You'll access old files," he said. "On the company servers. The ones tied to that night."
Helena's stomach dropped.
"That's risky."
"It's supposed to be."
Her jaw tightened. "And when they come after me?"
Marcus's gaze darkened slightly. "They won't get far."
She studied him for a moment. There was no hesitation in his expression. No doubt.
Only certainty.
"You sound very confident," she said quietly.
"I am."
"And if you're wrong?"
A beat.
Marcus stepped even closer now, his voice lowering.
"I'm not."
Her breath caught—just slightly.
God, she hated how convincing he could be.
Helena looked away first, shaking her head. "This is insane."
"Yes," he agreed calmly. "It is."
Another pause.
Then she exhaled.
"Fine," she said. "We do it."
Marcus didn't react immediately—but something in his eyes shifted. Approval. Respect. Maybe even something more.
"You'll start tonight," he said.
Helena blinked. "Tonight?"
"The longer we wait, the more time they have to disappear."
He was right.
She hated that he was right.
"Alright," she said, straightening slightly. "Then we do it properly."
Marcus nodded once. "We will."
The office felt different at night.
Darker. Quieter.
Every sound echoed more than it should, every shadow seemed deeper, heavier. Helena sat at one of the terminals, her fingers hovering just above the keyboard.
Marcus stood behind her.
Watching.
Always watching.
"System is secure," he said. "I've locked external access."
Helena let out a quiet breath. "Let's hope that's enough."
"It will be."
She glanced back at him briefly. "You don't sound worried at all."
"I don't waste energy on things I can control."
"And this?" she asked, gesturing to the screen.
Marcus's gaze darkened slightly.
"This… I intend to control."
Helena turned back to the computer before he could see the effect those words had on her.
Focus.
She needed to focus.
Her fingers moved, typing carefully, navigating through layers of files and security barriers. It had been years since she'd accessed anything like this—but the memory was still there.
The system loaded slowly.
Too slowly.
Her pulse quickened.
"Marcus…"
"I see it," he said quietly.
A delay.
Unusual.
Suspicious.
"They're watching," Helena whispered.
"Good," he replied.
She froze. "Good?"
"That's what we want."
Her heart pounded harder now.
The screen flickered once.
Then again.
Helena's fingers stilled over the keyboard.
"They're here," she said softly.
Behind her, Marcus didn't move—but she felt it. The shift in the air. The tension coiling tighter.
"Keep going," he murmured.
Helena swallowed and clicked the next file.
It opened halfway—Then stopped.
A message flashed briefly.
ACCESS DENIED
Her breath caught. "They're blocking me."
"Push through."
"I'm trying—"
The lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then—The entire system went black.
Helena gasped softly.
"No…"
For a split second, everything was silent.
Then the screen came back on.
But it wasn't the system anymore.
It was a camera feed.
Live.
Helena's blood ran cold.
Because the camera…
Was inside the room.
Watching them.
Her.
Marcus stepped forward instantly, his expression turning deadly calm.
"They're closer than I thought," he said.
Helena's voice barely came out. "Marcus…"
The screen flickered again.
Then words appeared.
"Wrong move."
Helena's heart slammed against her ribs.
"This isn't just a warning anymore," she whispered.
Marcus didn't look away from the screen.
"No," he said quietly.
His voice dropped—cold, sharp, dangerous.
"It's a challenge."
And for the first time—Helena realized something terrifying.
They hadn't just set a trap.
They had walked straight into one.