The sky was still dark when Ethan and Raven set out, the early morning chill biting at their skin as they navigated the narrow, winding streets of Prague. The city, with its gothic spires and cobblestone roads, seemed to hold its breath, as if sensing the storm of violence that was about to erupt. The mission ahead was dangerous—perhaps even suicidal—but there was no turning back now.
Ethan checked his watch. 4:30 AM. They had an hour before sunrise, an hour to infiltrate the weapons depot, plant the explosives, and disappear before anyone could raise the alarm. He glanced at Raven, who moved silently beside him, her eyes focused, her body language exuding calm confidence. She'd been through this kind of operation before—many times, judging by her demeanor—but Ethan knew better than to rely solely on her experience. He had to stay sharp.
Their target, a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of the city, sat in a quiet industrial area. It was an unlikely location for one of the Valkyries' largest weapons depots, which made it the perfect cover. From the outside, it looked like any other building—a relic of Prague's post-industrial era, forgotten by time. But inside, it was a fortress.
They reached the perimeter of the depot, taking cover behind a stack of old shipping containers. Ethan pulled out a pair of binoculars, scanning the area. Just as Raven had said, there were a dozen guards, all heavily armed, patrolling the grounds. Security cameras were mounted on the corners of the building, sweeping the area in slow, methodical arcs.
"We'll need to take out those cameras first," Raven whispered, her breath visible in the cold air. "If they spot us, the whole place will go into lockdown."
Ethan nodded, setting his sights on the closest camera. He pulled out a silenced pistol, lined up his shot, and fired. The camera sparked and went dead, the sound of the shot muffled by the suppressor. Raven followed suit, taking out the second camera with surgical precision.
"Good," Raven said, her voice barely audible. "Now we move."
They crept toward the building, sticking to the shadows. The guards, unaware of their presence, continued their patrols, their faces blank and professional. Ethan and Raven moved in sync, a silent dance of death as they approached the first guard. Ethan struck first, his knife flashing in the dim light as he slit the guard's throat, catching him before he could make a sound. Raven did the same with the second guard, her movements quick and efficient.
With the outer perimeter secured, they made their way to a side entrance. Raven produced a small device from her pocket, attaching it to the electronic lock. A few seconds later, the lock clicked open, and they slipped inside.
The interior of the depot was just as Raven had described—rows upon rows of crates filled with weapons, ammunition, and explosives. Ethan couldn't help but feel a surge of anger at the sight. This was the Valkyries' arsenal, the tools they used to spread chaos and fear across the globe.
"Let's make this quick," Ethan said, pulling out a pack of C4 charges from his bag. "We don't have much time."
Raven nodded, already moving to plant the explosives. They worked in silence, moving from crate to crate, placing charges in strategic locations. The plan was to cause a chain reaction, ensuring that the entire depot would be destroyed in one massive explosion.
As Ethan set the final charge, a sound caught his attention—footsteps, approaching fast. He turned just in time to see a group of guards entering the depot, their eyes scanning the area with suspicion.
"Raven!" Ethan hissed, drawing his weapon.
But before they could react, Raven was already in motion. She sprang from the shadows, her silenced pistol spitting death as she took down the first two guards with perfect headshots. Ethan followed her lead, taking out the remaining guards with cold efficiency.
The last guard fell, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud. For a moment, the only sound was the echo of their gunfire, quickly fading into the silence of the depot.
"We need to move," Raven said, her voice tight with urgency. "They'll know something's wrong when those guards don't check in."
Ethan set the timer on the explosives—five minutes. Enough time to get out, but not enough for anyone to stop the detonation. They sprinted toward the exit, adrenaline pumping through their veins as they burst through the door and into the cold morning air.
The city was waking up, the first rays of dawn creeping over the horizon as they made their way back through the industrial area. Ethan could feel the tension between them—an unspoken understanding that they had just crossed a line. There was no going back now.
They reached a nearby parking lot where a car was waiting—a nondescript sedan that blended in with the surroundings. Raven slid into the driver's seat, starting the engine as Ethan climbed in beside her. As they sped away from the depot, Ethan glanced back, just in time to see the warehouse erupt in a massive explosion. The blast lit up the sky, a fiery inferno that consumed everything in its path.
"That'll get their attention," Ethan muttered, watching the flames in the rearview mirror.
"Good," Raven replied, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Let them know we're coming. This is just the beginning."
Ethan leaned back in his seat, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away. They had succeeded in their mission, but the cost of victory weighed heavily on him. The Valkyries would retaliate—they always did. And the next time, they wouldn't be caught off guard.
"We need to lay low," Ethan said, his mind already racing with their next steps. "Find out what their next move is before they find us."
Raven didn't respond immediately, her focus on navigating the winding streets of Prague. Finally, she spoke, her tone somber. "There's something you need to know, Ethan. The Valkyries—they're not just after power or money. They have a plan, something big. I don't know all the details, but it's tied to Berlin. Whatever it is, it could change everything."
Ethan's jaw tightened. Berlin—the hub of their operations. It was always going to come back to that. "Then we need to get there before they do."
Raven nodded, but there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. "This won't be like the depot. Berlin is their stronghold, and they'll be ready for us. We need to be prepared for anything."
Ethan's mind was already working through the logistics, the possibilities. He knew this was just the beginning of a long and bloody war. But he also knew that if they didn't stop the Valkyries, no one else would.
"Whatever it takes," Ethan said, his voice resolute. "We'll bring them down."
The car sped through the awakening city, leaving the burning depot far behind. Ethan knew the road ahead would be fraught with danger, betrayal, and more bloodshed than he cared to imagine. But there was no turning back now. The lines had been drawn, and the battle had begun.
And in the end, only one side would be left standing.
END OF CHAPTER 3
By- Saketh Raja