CHAPTER 47 – THE DOUBLE CROSS
CHAPTER 47 – THE DOUBLE CROSS
Darkness swallowed the chamber. The only sound was the hum of cooling metal and Elijah’s uneven breathing.
Raven’s pulse thundered in her ears. “Elijah, get the emergency lights.”
He didn’t move. His gaze was locked on the screen, which now showed only one word pulsing in red: TRACE.
“Elijah!” she snapped.
He blinked, then reached for the control pad. The lights flickered dimly back on, revealing the mess around them, broken wires, a crushed drone, smoke curling toward the ceiling.
Raven scanned the room. “The Warden knew we’d be here. He’s inside the system.”
Elijah swallowed hard. “He’s inside me.”
Raven froze. “What do you mean?”
He turned his wrist upward. The faint symbols that had flickered earlier were now glowing brighter, pulsing in sync with the red word on the screen.
“Elijah…”
“I was part of his division,” he said hoarsely. “Before I left. Before I met you. I thought I’d erased everything, but…” He looked at the dark drone. “He still has access.”
Raven’s chest tightened. “You said you left the Verse because of Zara.”
“I did.” His voice cracked. “But she wasn’t just anyone, Raven. She was one of us. One of the Verse’s own field analysts. She tried to expose the Warden’s control programs, and they killed her for it.”
Raven’s breath caught. The silence between them was heavy, charged with grief and dread.
He continued quietly, “After Zara’s death, I ran. I burned every connection, every trace. But it seems he never really let me go.”
Raven took a step closer. “You think the Warden’s using you to get to us?”
“I know he is.” Elijah turned back to the screen, typing fast. “He’s in our network. He’s in everything. Someone on your side gave him access.”
“You’re saying there’s a mole in my agency.”
“Yes. Someone high up.”
A loud click echoed through the room. Raven’s hand flew to her gun.
Elijah froze. “Did you hear that?”
A panel in the far wall slid open. A shadowed figure stepped out, dressed in black tactical gear, visor reflecting the low light.
Raven aimed. “Identify yourself.”
The figure raised both hands slowly, voice filtered through a modulator. “Easy, Agent Raven. I’m one of yours.”
“Name.”
“Agent Ryker. Intelligence Division.”
Raven didn’t lower her weapon. “You’re supposed to be stationed in Prague.”
He hesitated. “Orders changed.”
Elijah stepped forward slightly, watching him. “Who gave you those orders?”
Ryker tilted his head. “The same person who sent you here. Director Morrow.”
Raven’s stomach twisted. Morrow? That didn’t make sense. She’d spoken to Morrow herself before this mission.
“How did you know we’d be here?” she asked.
Ryker’s visor hid his eyes. “Your mission coordinates were transmitted through the main channel. I intercepted the feed. You were compromised.”
“By who?”
“By someone inside your team.”
Elijah’s hands clenched. “Name them.”
Ryker took a step forward. “I can’t. Not until I confirm…...”
The sound of gunfire cut him off.
A sharp crack echoed through the chamber. Ryker stumbled backward, clutching his side. Raven dove for cover behind a broken console, returning fire toward the doorway.
“Elijah, get down!” she shouted.
He ducked behind a crate as another round hit the wall near his head. The lights flickered again, plunging them into pulsing shadows.
Raven crawled toward Ryker, who was bleeding fast.
“Who fired? Who’s out there?”
Ryker coughed, blood on his lips. “Not... alone.” His hand trembled as he reached for something inside his vest. “You were right. There’s a mole... in the agency.”
He pressed a small chip into Raven’s palm.
“This... will prove it.”
“Elijah!” Raven called. “We have to move now!”
He grabbed the portable data drive from the console.
“There’s a hidden exit behind the mainframe. Go!”
They ran through the narrow corridor as bullets tore through the walls. Sparks rained around them.
“Whoever shot him, are they following?” Raven panted.
“Not yet,” Elijah said. “But they will.”
They burst into an underground tunnel lit only by blue emergency strips. Raven pressed the chip to her wrist device. It projected a file.
Her stomach dropped when she saw the image.
The data log showed encrypted transmissions from inside her agency’s command network, directly to the Verse.
And the sender’s ID was clear.
Director Morrow.
Raven felt the world tilt. “It can’t be…”
Elijah looked at her. “He’s the mole.”
Raven shook her head, disbelief mixing with rage. “He recruited me himself. He sent me on this mission.”
Elijah’s expression hardened. “Then he sent you to die.”
The tunnel lights suddenly dimmed. A mechanical hum filled the air.
“Elijah…”
He looked up. “We’re not alone.”
From the shadows ahead, a familiar voice echoed through the tunnel. Calm. Cold.
“Running won’t help you, Agent Raven.”
Raven’s blood froze.
The Warden’s voice again but this time, it wasn’t from a speaker.
It was coming from a human figure stepping slowly into view.
And when the light hit his face, Raven stopped breathing.
It wasn’t the Warden at all.
It was Cassian.
Alive.
And wearing the Verse insignia on his chest.