The sharp morning air stung with the cold, biting through my cloak. We stood just outside the entrance of the hideout, the wind biting through our layers, our breath fogging in the chilly air. Today was my first real mission, and the weight of it settled heavily on my shoulders. The tension in the group was thick—there was no room for mistakes.
"Alright, Lyra," Finn's voice cut through the air, firm and sharp. "Today, you'll prove if you can hold your own. Stick close. Stay low." He turned to meet my eyes. "Stay alert. The regime's patrols are all over the city. We don't want to get caught."
I nodded, my stomach tight. I couldn't afford to mess this up. The first real test of my abilities—and the stakes were high.
"The objective is simple," Finn continued, his finger tracing the path on the map. "We need to infiltrate the central communications hub. Inside is a list of high-priority targets—resistance leaders, sympathizers, anyone with enough information to bring the regime to its knees. We get in, grab the intel, and get out. Clean and quiet."
A shiver ran down my spine as I processed his words. This wasn't just another reconnaissance mission; this was a strike that could cripple the regime. If we were caught… the consequences were unimaginable.
"You'll be split into two teams," Finn continued, turning toward Elric. "Elric, you're in charge of the first team. You'll handle the initial entry, disable the security systems, and secure the target building."
Elric nodded, his face as unreadable as ever. "Understood."
"Lyra, you're with me," Finn added, locking eyes with me. "We'll be the backup team. We'll provide extraction once the intel is secured."
Cass, lounging at the back, raised an eyebrow. "And what happens if things go south? We all know it never goes exactly as planned."
Finn shot him a brief, hard look. "If things go south, you adapt. There's an emergency extraction point here." He pointed to a back alley near the docks on the map. "We've got a vehicle waiting. If the primary exit is compromised, we head straight for that alley. No exceptions."
He turned back to the group. "We've got two hours before we leave. Make sure you're prepared—gear, weapons, comms, supplies. If anyone has questions, now's the time."
Cass raised a lazy hand, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do I get to play the hero again? Maybe charm some of those lovely regime officers while everyone else does the dirty work?"
Finn didn't even respond to him, his focus already shifting to the next part of the plan. "Intel suggests the building's heavily guarded. Expect resistance, but remember: our goal is stealth. No unnecessary confrontation unless we're forced into it. If you see a patrol, take them down quietly. We don't want to raise alarms."
My mind raced with the possibilities. A quiet takedown sounded fine in theory, but what if we were caught? What if I couldn't control what was inside me?
Finn's tone turned commanding as he finished the briefing. "Gear up. We leave at 2200. If you're not ready, you won't be going."
With that, the briefing was over, and the air in the clearing around the hideout felt heavier than before. I could feel the pressure in my chest as I stared out at the bleak landscape. There was no going back. Only survival.
The sun dipped low on the horizon as we moved through the city's outskirts, the sounds of distant patrols filling the silence between us. The group stayed close, darting from shadow to shadow, keeping low. The streets were emptier now, but danger was still everywhere—regime patrols could be anywhere, and the last thing we needed was to be spotted.
Finn's voice was low, urgent. "Quiet," he ordered, and we crouched behind a broken-down cart, the smell of decay thick in the air. My heart hammered in my chest as I crouched beside him, my stomach tight with anxiety.
Then I felt it—a strange sensation beneath my skin. It was subtle at first, a flicker of warmth that spread through my fingertips. But then it intensified, a pulse of heat that seemed to hum with my every heartbeat. It was like a fire that wasn't fire, a current of energy I couldn't explain. My breath hitched, and I jerked my hand back, confused.
What was that?
Finn's voice cut through my fog of confusion. "Lyra," he warned, his eyes hardening as he looked at me. "Control it."
Control what? I didn't even know what it was.
I nodded, my pulse racing. The heat still lingered beneath my skin, a pressure that felt foreign and dangerous. I tried to push it away, to ignore it, to stay focused.
Cass, ever the tease, called out from the back. "You good, Lyra? You look like you're about to combust."
I forced a laugh, but it came out shaky. "I'm fine," I said, my voice betraying me. "Just… just keep moving."
Elric, who had been quiet up until now, spoke with his usual calm. "It takes time to understand what's inside you. Just breathe, Lyra." He moved closer, taking my hand in his, the touch gentle yet firm. He guided me to take a deep breath, his voice steady. "Inhale through your nose, count to four. Hold it. Now exhale, slowly. Focus on the air moving in and out of your lungs."
I looked at him, still uncertain. What was inside me? The strange heat? It felt like something I should understand, but I couldn't put it into words. My mind raced, but I couldn't let myself get distracted now.
Finn turned to me, his expression hardening. "You're doing fine, but you need to get a handle on it. If it gets out of control in there, we're all in trouble."
I nodded again, though I had no idea what he was talking about. I didn't understand what was happening, but I knew one thing: I couldn't let it spiral. All I could do was try.
Elric's thumb brushed across my shoulder, his voice soft yet firm. "You're here. You're safe." His words were simple, but there was something in his tone that anchored me, cutting through the chaos in my head. Despite the anxiety twisting in my gut, I felt a flicker of calm, a quiet reassurance that I wasn't alone.
We pressed on, keeping to the shadows as we neared the target building. The patrols were becoming more frequent, their boots echoing against the cold stone as they passed by, oblivious to us crouched behind crates and buildings. I could feel my heart thundering in my chest, the anxiety, and the strange sensation in my hands growing stronger with each step.
Finn's voice was low. "Patrol up ahead. Stay quiet."
I could hear them too now—voices, boots scraping on the pavement. They were close. My heart raced as I clenched my fists again, trying to force the feeling down. But the air around me seemed to charge, the heat building in my hands despite my best efforts.
Elric was beside me, his voice a calm contrast to the storm inside me. "Just breathe."
I nodded, focusing on my breath, willing my anxiety—and whatever this feeling was—to calm. The patrol passed without noticing us, their figures just a few yards away. I could feel the tension lift as they moved past.
Finn's sharp gaze met mine. "That was close. Control, Lyra. Stay calm."
I didn't reply, my throat tight. But I knew I had to keep it together. For the mission. For all of us.
Suddenly, a sound—footsteps approaching. My stomach dropped. I wasn't sure if I could hide fast enough.
"Stay low," Finn whispered, his voice barely audible. We crouched, pressing ourselves against a wall, trying to blend into the darkness.
I held my breath, my eyes scanning the street for any sign of the patrol. The footsteps grew louder. Then, through the gap in the shadows, I saw the glint of metal—a guard walking down the street, his boots crunching on the gravel.
I didn't think. The heat in my chest flared, instinctively, and before I could stop it, the pressure built inside me. A burst of warmth flooded my hands, and I held them out, almost as if I was going to push something away.
Flames erupted from my fingertips, crackling in the cool air, lighting up the night as it spiraled upward, dancing around my hands like an obedient lover, their flickering orange tongues licking the air.
The sensation was intoxicating—like holding the sun itself in the palm of my hand.
"Shit," Finn hissed, his eyes widening. "Lyra, no—"
The flame flickered and burned hotter, swirling, but then the guard froze, his head jerking toward us, eyes wide in shock.
My pulse was racing. I didn't know how I was doing this, but I couldn't stop it. The fire danced along my fingers, a crackling light that illuminated our hiding spot.
"Get down!" Finn growled, pulling me roughly behind cover just as the guard took a step in our direction.
I managed to choke the fire down, the heat dissipating with a sharp breath, but my body was still humming with that same energy. My chest heaved as I clutched my hands tightly, my mind spinning with confusion.
The guard hesitated for a moment, scanning the area, before slowly continuing down the street. My heart was still pounding in my ears, but we'd been lucky. Too lucky.
"We need to move," Finn said quietly, his voice tight with barely-contained tension. "If they saw that…"
"I didn't mean to—" I started, but Finn cut me off with a sharp look.
"We'll talk later. Let's go."
I nodded, my head swimming with everything that had just happened. As we crept through the alleyways, the adrenaline still coursing through me, I couldn't help but wonder: what had I just done? And why did it feel so…good?