Chapter 169
As the tension in the city grew, so did the anticipation for the various players involved. Carolina’s escape plan moved forward, with the corrupt guard disabling the security cameras in her wing of the detention facility. Her hands trembled slightly as she hid the small lockpick device he had smuggled to her under the table. It had been years since she had needed to rely on such crude tools, but desperation sharpened her focus. The guard slipped her a knowing nod as he passed by during the evening rounds, signaling that everything was in place.
In the dead of night, when the hallways were dark and empty, Carolina made her move. With quick, precise motions, she manipulated the lock and pushed the cell door open just enough to slip through. Every sound seemed magnified—the faint buzz of the overhead lights, the distant footsteps of guards on other floors. She moved quietly through the hallways, sticking to the shadows until she reached a side exit the guard had left unlocked for her.
The cold night air hit her face as she stepped outside, free for the first time in months. A black sedan waited for her at the edge of the facility’s grounds, headlights off. As she slid into the back seat, she looked up to see an old ally behind the wheel—a mercenary who owed her favors from a long-forgotten conflict. He glanced back at her, the corners of his mouth twitching into a smirk.
“Thought you’d never get out of that place, Carolina.”
She settled into the seat, catching her breath. “I’m out now, and I need to find Lily. She’s the one who got me in there, and she’ll pay for it.”
The car pulled away from the facility, disappearing into the city’s nightscape. As they sped away, Carolina thought of the twisted satisfaction she would feel facing Lily and making her pay for every perceived betrayal. She had no idea, however, that Lily and Alexander were already anticipating her escape.
Back at their makeshift command center, Lily and Alexander received a message from one of their informants within the detention facility. As soon as the text came through, Lily’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen.
“She’s out,” Lily said, turning to Alexander and Caleb, who had gathered around the table.
Alexander nodded, already reaching for a map of potential hideouts Carolina might use. “She’ll be coming for you, Lily. And if she’s desperate enough, she won’t care about collateral damage.”
Caleb, standing with arms crossed, studied the map. “We should keep her close, but not too close. We can use her to draw out some of The Architect’s operatives—if she thinks she’s got the upper hand, she’ll become reckless.”
Lily thought for a moment, then agreed. “Let’s leak some false information through her old channels. Make her believe she’s found a secret meeting spot where I’m supposed to be alone. If she falls for it, we’ll have her right where we want her.”
As they set their trap, The Architect watched from a distance, receiving updates from his own sources. A new plan was already forming in his mind, one that would use Carolina’s hatred to his advantage. If he could steer her towards Lily and Alexander while keeping his own operatives in the shadows, he could create enough chaos to keep them occupied. His real objective, however, was something entirely different—something that would unfold far away from the attention of Lily and her allies.
***
Meanwhile, in a remote location on the outskirts of the city, a team of construction workers, unknowingly part of The Architect’s scheme, had been working on an underground facility for weeks. What appeared to be a simple expansion project for a new subway line was, in fact, something much more secretive. The Architect had spent months orchestrating this plan, bribing city officials and planting false blueprints to keep the true nature of the project hidden. This underground space was intended as a staging area—a safe place where he could relocate his operations when the time came.
His goal was simple: to build a hidden network under the city, providing not only a new base of operations but also a way to move around without being detected. And once complete, it would give him the power to strike at his enemies while remaining untouchable.
As the workers continued drilling through the earth, unaware of what they were truly building, The Architect’s mind turned to the next phase. If he could manipulate Carolina’s anger and Lily’s determination to weaken each other, he would have a clear path to complete his underground network—and the power it would bring.
Back in the city, the false meeting spot had been arranged, a quiet park on the outskirts where Lily was meant to meet Carolina. The sun had just begun to set, casting long shadows across the deserted playground. Lily, hidden behind a row of trees with Alexander, kept a watchful eye on the scene, waiting for Carolina’s arrival.
“She’s late,” Alexander muttered, his eyes scanning the empty park. “What if she caught on?”
Lily shook her head. “No, she’s too angry to think clearly. She’ll come.”
And she was right. A few minutes later, the black sedan approached the park, and Carolina stepped out, a pistol hidden beneath her coat. She moved cautiously, scanning the area for any signs of a trap. But instead of Lily, she found herself face to face with Caleb, standing alone in the center of the clearing.
“Looking for someone?” he called out, his tone deceptively casual.
Carolina’s eyes narrowed as she pulled out the gun, aiming it at Caleb. “Where is she?”
Before she could get an answer, a noise behind her made her spin around, only to find herself surrounded by Alexander and a team of Lily’s operatives. They had expected her to come armed and ready for a fight, and now she was cornered.
But Carolina had one more trick up her sleeve. With a swift motion, she pressed a button on a small device she had hidden in her coat. A loud explosion rocked the park as the black sedan behind her went up in flames, creating a temporary diversion. In the confusion, Carolina broke into a sprint, disappearing into the trees.
Alexander cursed under his breath as he tried to chase after her, but the smoke and flames slowed him down. “She’s getting away!”
Lily grabbed his arm, pulling him back. “Let her go, Alexander. She’s leading us into another trap. We’ll deal with her later.”
They watched as Carolina’s figure vanished into the darkness, but Lily knew this battle was far from over. She glanced at Alexander, determination burning in her eyes. “We need to find The Architect’s real base before he finishes whatever he’s planning underground. He’s using her to buy time.”
Alexander nodded, his jaw set. “And we can’t afford to waste any more time ourselves.”
As they regrouped, the distant sounds of sirens grew louder, signaling the arrival of emergency services to the scene of the explosion. It was a reminder that their time was running out, and that the web of deceit and danger woven by The Architect, Carolina, and their own quest for justice was growing tighter with each passing moment.
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