They went back on a Tuesday night.
Kavya had spent the day planning—studying satellite images of the warehouse, timing the guard rotations, mapping escape routes.
"It's not a fortress," she said. "They don't expect anyone to come back. That's our advantage."
"Anything else?"
"The equipment they used to block our abilities—it's powerful, but it's not portable. Once we're inside, we'll have about thirty seconds before it kicks in."
"Thirty seconds to do what?"
"Find the files. Download everything. Get out."
"Thirty seconds."
"Yes."
Aarav looked at Rohan, who was sitting in the corner, pretending to study.
"You stay here," Aarav said. "If we're not back in two hours, call the police. Tell them everything."
"Everything?"
"Everything."
Rohan nodded. His face was pale, but his voice was steady. "Don't die."
"We'll try not to."
The warehouse looked different at night.
Larger. Darker. More menacing.
Aarav and Kavya approached from the east side, staying low, moving between shadows. The guard rotation was exactly as Kavya had predicted—a five-minute gap between patrols.
They slipped through a broken window.
Landed softly on the concrete floor.
The thirty-second clock started.
"Left," Aarav whispered.
They ran.
The warehouse was a maze, but Kavya had memorized the layout. She led him through corridors, past crates, around corners.
"Here."
A door. Locked.
Aarav put his hand on the lock and focused. The thoughts of the guard on the other side were faint—the equipment was already starting to interfere—but he caught enough.
"—code is 3472—"
He punched in the numbers.
The door opened.
The room was exactly as he remembered it.
Screens. Wires. Machines.
And a computer in the corner, its screen glowing faintly.
"Fifteen seconds," Kavya said.
Aarav ran to the computer. Plugged in the USB drive Rohan had given him. Started the download.
A progress bar appeared.
10%... 20%... 30%...
"Ten seconds."
40%... 50%...
"Five."
60%... 70%... 80%...
The door behind them slammed open.
"Well, well."
Aarav turned.
Sharma stood in the doorway.
Behind him, six armed guards.
"You actually came back," Sharma said. "I have to admit... I didn't expect that."
The progress bar hit 100%.
Aarav yanked the USB drive free.
"Kavya. Now."
She reached.
Not for Sharma—he was protected. For the guards. Their minds were weaker. Less defended.
She pushed confusion into their heads.
They stumbled. Dropped their weapons. Stared at nothing.
"Run!" Aarav shouted.
They ran.
Bullets followed them.
Not many—the guards were too disoriented to aim—but enough.
Aarav felt one whistle past his ear.
Another hit the wall beside him.
They reached the window.
Kavya went through first.
Aarav followed.
And then
Pain.
Exploding through his shoulder.
He hit the ground hard, his vision swimming.
"Aarav!"
Kavya was beside him, pulling him up, dragging him toward the fence.
"I'm hit," he said. Stupidly. Obviously.
"I know. Keep moving."
They climbed the fence.
They ran through the empty lot.
They disappeared into the darkness.
Behind them, the warehouse grew smaller and smaller until it was just a speck of light in the distance.