#34: Between Light and Shadows

The infiltrator hesitated, his eyes darting between the group and the surrounding shadows, as if he were searching for a way out that didn’t exist. He was young, perhaps younger than Lara had expected, and his nervousness showed in every gesture.

“He won’t cooperate,” Dante murmured, his hand discreetly resting on the holster of his gun. “He’s scared. Or worse, he’s faking it.”

“Can we resolve this without violence?” Caio asked, keeping his voice low but firm.

Alma stepped forward, her posture exuding authority.

“You know who we are, right?” she began, addressing the infiltrator. “We’re not here to play games. The ‘Aurora Project’ no longer has control over you. Now is your chance to get out of this alive and do something right for once.

The young man hesitated, his eyes fixed on Alma as if she were his only hope. Then, finally, he murmured:

“They know you’re here. They know everything.”

Lara felt a chill run down her spine. The boy’s voice was an echo of the threat that loomed over them.

“Where are they now?” Shira asked, stepping forward. “Speak quickly, or we won’t have time.”

The infiltrator stammered before answering:

“The operations center… is in the lower levels of the commercial district. They have… a secondary station there. But they’re prepared. It won’t be easy to get close.”

Dante narrowed his eyes.

“Prepared how?”

“Automated defenses, heavy surveillance. And… they have a new prototype. Something they call the Executor. I don’t know what it is, but I know… no one has survived an encounter with it.”

A heavy silence fell over the group. Lara felt the weight of responsibility grow even heavier. They needed to decide quickly.

“We need to get in there,” she said, her voice determined. “If we don’t do this now, they’ll keep hunting us, and our families will never be safe.”

Dante stepped closer to her, his gaze steady.

“Are you sure about this? They have the upper hand, Lara. We could be walking straight into hell.”

She looked into his eyes, feeling the swirl of emotions. Despite everything, there was something comforting in knowing he was by her side.

“We have no choice, Dante. If we do nothing, they win.”

The Descent

Hours later, the group infiltrated the lower levels of the commercial district. The environment was unlike anything they had ever seen. Lines of neon light cut through the darkness, while autonomous machines glided silently through the hallways. Each step they took seemed to amplify the surrounding silence.

Shira led the group, her skill with technological devices allowing her to disable the security cameras one by one. Alma remained alert, while Caio and Dante covered the flanks. Lara, however, couldn’t help but look around, searching for any sign of impending danger.

They arrived at an abandoned control room, filled with monitors flashing with graphics and live feeds from various parts of the building. In the center was a main terminal.

“This is the heart of the system,” Shira said, connecting her handheld device to the terminal. “If we can access the information here, we can learn everything about the ‘Aurora Project.’”

— Hurry up, Shira. — Alma muttered, her eyes on the doors. — We have company.

Before she could finish, a metallic sound echoed through the hallways. Firm, rhythmic footsteps, followed by a soft buzz. Dante raised his gun, pointing it at the entrance.

— Is it… the Executioner? — Caio asked, his voice full of disbelief.

Lara felt the air grow heavy. The lights in the hallway began to flicker, and an imposing figure appeared in the entrance. It wasn’t human, but it wasn’t completely machine either. Its metallic frame shone in the neon light, and its eyes emitted a piercing red glow.

— I’ll hold him. — Dante said, without hesitation.

— Are you crazy? — Lara shouted, trying to advance, but was held back by Alma. — You can’t face this alone!

Dante looked at her, his eyes full of determination.

— I have no choice. You need to leave here with the information. I’ll give you the time you need.

Lara wanted to protest, but she knew he was right. It was the only way. Shira continued working on the terminal, her hands flying over the keyboard.

“Two more minutes!” she shouted.

“Dante… come back to me,” Lara said, her voice shaking.

He smiled slightly, never taking his eyes off the Executioner.

“Always.”

And then he advanced.

The Fight for Survival

The confrontation between Dante and the Executioner was brutal. He moved nimbly, dodging the enemy’s blows while trying to find weak spots in the metal structure. But the Executioner was relentless, his every move seeming to anticipate Dante’s.

Meanwhile, Shira had finally managed to access the system.

“I got it!” she exclaimed. “We have everything: locations, transportation routes, even the names of the financiers. But we need to get out of here now!”

Lara looked back at Dante, who was still fighting the Executioner. She knew she couldn’t leave him behind, but she also knew that if they stayed, they would all die.

“Come on!” Alma shouted, pulling Lara along. “He’ll find a way.”

Tears in her eyes, Lara walked away, following the group as the sounds of fighting echoed behind them.

They exited through the emergency exit, entering one of the underground tunnels. The air was thick and the tension between them was palpable. Lara looked back one last time, expecting to see Dante running toward her.

But he didn’t appear.

The Uncertain Future

Hours later, the group was safe in a makeshift hideout. Shira analyzed the data while Alma and Caio set up defenses. Lara, however, sat silently, her gaze fixed on the door.

“He'll come back,” Alma said, sitting down next to her. “Dante is stronger than he looks.”

Lara didn't answer. She wanted to believe that, but his absence was a void she didn't know how to fill.

The only certainty she had was that the fight was far from over.