Caught On Act

Erion refocused. There was no time for hesitation. Too much was at stake.

"I know, but I can't just leave her," Evah whispered, her voice barely audible.

Her anger subsided a little when she realized Erion had a point—one she couldn't quite wrap her head around. There was a solution, but it felt impossible.

"Let's go," Erion said gently, leaning down to offer her his hand, trying to convince her.

But Evah's love for her best friend couldn't be dissolved so easily. Still sitting on the ground, holding Yuka close, she didn't move.

My hands are freezing with fear, she thought, shaking with anxiety. Just how corrupt are you to be so calm in this situation?

She glanced up at him, her eyes meeting his. She realized his hand wasn't even cold. His face was as unreadable as a chess player, poised and calculating, always a step ahead.

Those eyes—he doesn't fear anything.

Evah pulled her hand away from his, a quiet defiance in her movement. "You can go. Get help. I'll stay here with Yuka."

Erion's patience snapped.

"Do you want to die?!" he said, his voice rising with frustration. He stood, glaring down at her. "You're lucky she's still alive!" He shot her a cold, nonchalant look. "You're going to get us all in trouble."

Then, just as his words hung in the air, all the lights in the building flickered on, blindingly bright.

Of course.

A man stepped into the room from the corridor, flanked by two large, imposing figures. They'd been watching them.

Evah didn't notice at first, but as the man approached, she reached for Erion. Her trembling hand grabbed the edge of his windbreaker jacket as she pulled on it from where she still sat.

Now you're scared. Great.

Evah was afraid of these men, but not of him? That stung more than it should've.

What a way to feel belittled.

"Any specific reason you're here?" The man's voice was low and measured. He stood in the shadows, his face obscured by the darkness of the corner.

"Just wandering," Erion said with a smile. "My wife and I got lost." But beneath the calm exterior, his mind was already working through potential escape plans. 

Option 1: I could take on these three, but with the guns and the distance between us, one of them might manage to pull the trigger on this crazy woman before I get close.

Option 2: I could take them out with one shot, but if backup is too far, it might draw unwanted attention from outside.

Option 3: Get caught and wait for reinforcement. If they try to kill one of us then I need to pull the trigger.  

Option 4: Escape now and return with the team. It's the safest choice, but by then, they might not be alive. Erion's gaze lingered on Evah.  

Evah watched him again, how his expression shifted like an actor preparing for the stage. How can I know if he's truly concerned for us? Can I trust him?

"Do you even know where you are?" The man's deep voice echoed, resonating through the room.

The sound startled Evah. Instinctively, she pulled Erion's jacket tighter around her. He gently took her hand, the one that had been tugging at his jacket.

She was trembling, her skin ice-cold.

"Signor, we can use the other girl," the man on the right suggested.

The man in the middle gave a silent signal, and the two others moved toward them.

The man in the middle was dressed sharply in a black business suit, while the other two were in casual clothes—muscular, intimidating.

Where's the leader? According to the reports, it should be a woman. I'm sure she's running this operation from the shadows, pulling strings from every corner of the globe. She chose to land where law enforcement is corrupt or absent. Unfortunately, that's almost everywhere these days. Erion analyzed the situation, his mind racing. He'd been trying to crack this problem for a while—people had been going missing, yet no action had been taken.

Erion leaned down, whispering in Evah's ear as she sat on the ground. "Don't be scared. Stay calm. We'll get out of here."

Evah nodded, her expression vacant.

Great. Now she's acting like an obedient kitten.

The two men yanked them apart.

One of the men seized both of Evah's hands, while the other moved toward Erion.

Don't react. Look down. Just like Erion said. Evah repeated the words in her mind as the man began tying her beside Yuka.

Erion raised both of his hands, his voice tense. "Hey, be careful with her! That's my wife!" He forced a grin, a jester's smile. I need more time.

Option 3: Let myself get caught. In three hours, this will be over. I just need to stay alive.

The other man pulled Erion's hands behind his back and snapped on handcuffs. "What do we do with this one? We can't use him."

Handcuff, lucky.

"Kill him, if she gets away it will be a problem." After saying that the man exited the warehouse.

Just what I thought. 

Scanning the whole warehouse and possible entrance point, Erion knows what he wants to happen.

"No, you dimwit! Fight him!" Evah started to kick her feet but she was already bound to the pole. 

"See that? You don't want to mess with my wife, she's scary." He smirked at the man holding him captive like they were college. 

"Can't you stop joking around?" She glared at him. How can you be so unserious about this situation?

Option 3-1: I might need to pull a trigger here. I can take these two down but she'll see all the blood work. 

The man pulled a gun and thrust it to the back of his head. "In case you don't know what situation you are in, you're about to die." The man pressed the gun harder. 

"Erion, do something!" She shouted.This is my fault, he will get killed because I dragged him here. If I just agree with his plan, but I don't want to leave Yuka here. Guilt started to weigh heavily on her, slowly breaking her down from the inside.

Why do you casually call my name? He watched her, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Clean that fast." The man who tied Evah was on his way to the exit. 

He can feel the cold muzzle of the gun on the back of his head. 

What a mess.

He thought nonchalantly. 

"Erion! Do something!" she cried out again, her heart screaming, Please don't die! She didn't even realize she was weeping. 

Why are you crying? Erion wondered.

The man was about to pull the trigger when a loud beep echoed from the speakers on the pole where Yuka and Evah were. The sound halted him in his tracks.

"Gentlemen, proceed to the extraction room immediately." A woman's voice crackled through the speakers, carrying an unmistakable authority.

The man holstered his gun with a sigh.

"Well, it's your lucky day."

"I bet," Erion replied with a smile, as they shoved him roughly against the wall, a meter away from the pole.

That voice—it could be the mastermind.

"Don't try anything funny," the man warned, before turning and walking away.

Why aren't you even wavering? Evah felt both relief and frustration, emotions she never knew could coexist so strongly.

"Are you stupid? Why didn't you fight back? You're Grand Order! You're supposed to be a secret agent-like skill. Are you fake?" she glared at him. 

Erion watched them as they exited the building.

"I could take them down, but it might cost your life." He sat on the ground a meter away from Evah, leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed on the locked door.

His cold blue eyes were lit by the orange rays of the setting sun.

"And stop watching so many fantasy shows. Secret agent, huh?"

Sitting in silence, Erion remained focused, his mind locked on the plan to save these people and crack the case. Finally.

"What should we do now?" She glanced back at Yuka, still unconscious. Her light brown hair was matted with dirt. It's my fault, the thought echoed relentlessly in her mind.

"Rest up." His voice was calm, but his eyes never stopped scanning the surroundings, ever watchful. Reaching inside his jacket, he pulled out a small device, its sleek shape resembling a car key. His fingers moved quickly as he sent encrypted codes to headquarters.

The device wasn't just any piece of tech—it could only be deciphered by those in the Grand Order, the signals it sent known only to them, coded by a Decipher.

Beneath his jacket, a fully loaded gun sat, ready for whatever came next.

"For real? We're about to die here!" she protested, her voice tinged with panic.

Irritated, Erion shot her a sharp glare. I'm busy setting up the plan to keep us alive, and all you do is question me?

"I'm the Grand Order Major General. Everyone follows my orders." His voice remained calm, but the irritation seeped through. "For the last time, listen. If you don't want us both dead, you'd better do as I say."

"Okay." She looked down, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to steady her breathing.

"I'll keep watch. Don't worry," he murmured, his voice low, almost a whisper.

You haven't done anything right, and yet... why do I trust you? The thought echoed in her mind. I guess I don't really have a choice.Her gaze drifted to Erion, just a meter away. They both faced the corridor ahead, while Yuka lay with her back to them.You look familiar. Have I met you somewhere before? The thought lingered, a curious sense of déjà vu tugging at her.

Inside Erion's mind, every step was already calculated.

Two hours to get here, and one hour for positioning. Every move had been planned in the operation he'd set up long before. Thirty minutes would be enough for adjustments. He could issue orders from here.

The twilight fading into night would offer the perfect cover.

I can't risk putting this on the news. It would ruin everything—months of work wasted. Perigo Cube's investigation would be compromised.

If the media or the police catch wind of this, other jurisdictions will come after me.

He clenched his jaw. I can't afford to let this burn.

A few minutes later, he noticed Evah had fallen asleep.

How did you infiltrate my system? He thought. Tracked a dead phone? His mind churned. If you're not going to be an asset, you'll be a problem in the future.

Notes: 

The Grand Covenant Order Other departments:

Decipher This department specializes in high-class reverse hacking, decoding, and manipulating encrypted systems. They operate mostly within the office, their work subtle yet vital to the success of every mission. Decipher's members are adept at cracking even the most intricate codes, ensuring that information remains secure and that the Order's operations run smoothly.

Ironclad The powerful and unyielding arm of the Grand Covenant. They are the muscle, executing the most dangerous missions with precision. Made up of physically imposing individuals, their expertise lies in hand-to-hand combat, large-scale operations, and executing high-risk strategies that demand exceptional strength and skill. Ironclad members are sent to the front lines, where their training and combat prowess are essential to carrying out the Order's most complex missions.

The Cloak Cadre—a covert division within the Grand Covenant Order, specializing in intelligence gathering and analysis. They didn't fight in the frontlines. Their battlefield was one of secrets, shadows, and surveillance. They tracked political movements, intercepted communications, and analyzed enemy military activities. Their work provided vital insights, shaping the strategic decisions of the Order. But the Cloak wasn't built for combat.