Internal War

Internal War
Sarah's POV

Above us, gunfire echoed throughout the parking lot.

Tommy was pulled behind a concrete pillar by Elena's grasp. I pulled out my weapon and squatted down beside Foster, who was still sitting on the ground and appeared perplexed.

"What's going on up there?" I muttered.

Elena tilted her head and closed her eyes, listening to something I couldn't hear.

"The Hunters," she stated. "They're engaged in combat."

The parking garage reverberated with more gunshots. Car doors slamming and shouting were audible to me.

I told Elena, "Stay here with Tommy," and then I turned to face Foster. "Can you walk, Mr. Foster?"

Slowly, he nodded. "I believe so."

"All right. To find out what's happening, we must ascend to the upper level.

Elena took hold of my arm. "It might be a trap, Sarah."

"Or it might be our opportunity to save my family while the Hunters are preoccupied."

We slipped up Level B2's ramp. The yelling was growing louder.

"Hunter Seven, stop using your weapon!" The voice of a man shouted.

"Hunter Two, you set down yours! It's you who has been compromised.

Elena gestured for me to look after peeking around the corner.

Six individuals with guns aimed at one another were visible to me in the parking lot. They were all dressed in tactical gear and dark clothing.

Someone yelled, "Hunter Five, whose side are you on?"

A woman's voice answered, "I'm on the side that doesn't kidnap innocent cops!"

"Detective Chen isn't innocent! She is collaborating with an extraterrestrial murderer.

"Elena only murders people! I looked through the files.

As the Hunters quarreled with one another, more shouting broke out.

In my ear, Elena whispered. "According to three of them, you're just a decent police officer who accidentally got me mixed up with you. The other three believe that you already possess supernatural abilities.

"Which group is winning?"

"Neither. That is the issue.

A tall man with a facial scar came forward as one of the Hunters.

He shouted, "Enough!" "Hunter One is here, and I'm in command. The target is Detective Chen. The target is Elena. The conversation is over.

A younger woman said, "Hunter One," "I've been thinking about this incorrectly. What if Elena is genuinely attempting to assist others?

"You've been brainwashed, Hunter Four."

"No, my thoughts have been independent. How recently have you done that?

Hunter One aimed his firearm at Hunter Four. "Stand down, or I'll think you're also compromised."

Everything went crazy at that point.

Just as Hunter One began shooting, Hunter Four dove behind a car. Hunter One was immediately under fire from Hunter Two and Hunter Five.

I whispered to Elena, "This is our chance."

However, Elena had an odd look on her face as she gazed at the battlering Hunters.

"There's a problem, Sarah. This is too simple.

"What do you mean?"

This doesn't surprise Hunter One. He isn't even making a concerted effort to win the fight.

I paid closer attention. Elena was correct. Hunter One was shooting, but he deliberately missed. He was grinning as well.

"It's another trap," I recognized.

Elena gave a nod. "He wants the other Hunters to believe they have triumphed. However, why?

My phone rang at that moment.

Unknown figure.

I answered it quietly on the speaker.

"Detective Chen," said the voice. Base from the radio earlier was it.

"Now, what do you want?"

"I'm grateful that you divided up my Hunters. I don't have to deal with choosing which ones to keep and which to get rid of.

Elena's eyes widened. "Hang up the phone, Sarah."

"Oh, hello Elena," Base added. "I hoped you were paying attention. My Hunters weren't all faithful, you see. They were beginning to ask too many questions.

Suddenly, there was no more fighting in the parking lot.

The hunter Hunters Two, Four, and Five were all on the ground, but one remained upright. Not moving.

I said into the phone, "You killed your own people."

"I removed the weak points. Hunter Six, Hunter Three, and Hunter One remain faithful. The others were starting to cause issues.

Elena took the phone away from me. "You're hunting more than just supernatural beings. You're assembling an army.

"Excellent, Elena. Yes, I am assembling a human army capable of combating supernatural beings. However, I must first comprehend how your power functions.

"By taking it from Sarah."

"By researching it. by figuring out how to duplicate it. by producing more people with superhuman skills."

I was ill. "You want more people to like me?"

"There are dozens of them. Everything is within my power. Everyone is devoted to the organization.

Elena was trembling with anger. Her eyes were blazing with silver.

"That isn't feasible. It is impossible to artificially replicate my power.

"Is it not possible? Elena, we've been researching you for two years. We are aware of aspects of your skills that you are unaware of."

Hunter One was still talking into his radio as he made his way to the parking garage entrance.

"Should we go ahead and capture the targets, Base?"

"Hunter One, not yet. I want them to observe the consequences for those who disagree with The Organization.

I could hear distant car engines starting at that point.

"They're bringing in more people, Elena."

Elena focused and closed her eyes. "I sense about twenty cars coming this way, Sarah. crowded with armed individuals."

Foster and Tommy were cowering behind the pillar. "What do we do, detective?"

I had a quick thought. "Elena, please get Mr. Foster and Tommy out of here."

"Where would we go? Every exit from the city is being watched by them.

Once more, Base's voice could be heard over the phone. In case you were wondering, we also have helicopters, Detective Chen. as well as roadblocks. Around the building, there are roughly fifty additional hunters.

"What do you want?"

"I want you to give up. With your hands raised, exit the parking garage. For the ceremony, let us take you to the cemetery.

"And if I don't?"

"After that, we begin murdering hostages. starting with your parents.

Elena grabbed the phone back. "Base, you're doing something wrong."

"What is that error, Elena?"

"You believe that the only person I've ever shared power with is Sarah."

The phone was silent.

"That's impossible," Base said at last. "Our research reveals—"

"Your research is incorrect." Elena's voice was growing increasingly sinister. "The first person to survive the process is Sarah."

"What are you saying?"

Elena flashed that frightful grin. "You're going to meet the others," I said.

Automobiles began to roar from all sides. However, these weren't the vehicles of The Organization.

I could see people running toward us through the entrance to the parking garage. However, they lacked tactical equipment.

They appeared to be typical individuals. A store clerk, a mechanic, or a teacher. However, they shared Elena's silver-glow eyes.

as well as mine.

"Sarah," Elena said, "get to know the other people on my team."

Now Base's voice was panicked. "That isn't feasible! Elena worked alone, according to our intelligence.

"There were many things about which your intelligence was incorrect."

Hunter One and the other devoted Hunters were surrounded by the silver-eyed individuals who dispersed throughout the parking garage.

Then a horrible thing occurred.

Suddenly, one of Elena's teammates screamed and fell to the ground. Then another. Then another.

"What's happening to them?" I shouted.

Elena appeared frightened and perplexed. "I'm not sure. There is a problem with the connection.

Over the phone, Base laughed.

Elena, did you really believe that we hadn't prepared for this? Were you under the impression that we were unaware of your previous experiments?

"What did you do?"

"Every person you've ever granted authority to has been monitored by us. And iron particles in the water supply have been gradually poisoning them."

As more members of her team fell, Elena went to her knees.

Base clarified, "The iron weakens the connection between us." "And when the connection breaks..."

Elena was having trouble breathing. "They're all dying, Sarah. Everyone I've ever attempted to assist.

"What does this mean for you, Elena?"

Elena's fading silver eyes gazed up at me.

It indicates that I will soon lose all of my power. You will then be the only person left in the world capable of opposing The Organization."

A text message buzzed on my phone.

"Now, do you get it, Detective Chen? We wanted more than just your power. We wanted you to be the last person in charge. The only one we have to manage. Either visit the cemetery right away, or witness the deaths of everyone you love. Ten minutes are all yours. "-Base"

Elena fell apart.

"Elena!" I knelt beside her.

Her eyes no longer shone brightly. "You must go without me, Sarah."

"I won't abandon you."

"You must. Right now, you are the only one who can save your family.

Tommy came running toward us. "What's wrong with Elena, Aunt Sarah?"

I glanced at Elena's dying eyes, then at my nephew's terrified face, and finally at the message on my phone.

I'd have to step into a trap made just for me in ten minutes. By themselves. without a backup.

And everyone I cared about would perish if I didn't.

Before she fainted, Elena whispered one final thing.

"I never told you about the ritual they're planning, Sarah."

"What?"

It does more than simply
take away your power. Whoever kills you gains your power.

My blood froze. "What are you saying?"

"Sarah, I'm saying that Base isn't merely attempting to research supernatural abilities. He is attempting to become superhuman himself.