Agent Red

Chapter 14: Plot after plot

Training them wasn't easy, but the children learned quickly. They mimicked Autumn's movements quietly and efficiently. Lily took notes, impressed by how the children absorbed every lesson. Autumn reminded them not to move like assassins but like shadows unseen and unnoticed. The difference, she said, was what kept them human. The children nodded, determined to prove themselves.

One evening, a coded message arrived from one of the children stationed in the nearest city. The message reported suspicious movement among Escape Company personnel. Lily immediately called for gear, but Autumn held her back. She explained they needed to wait for confirmation of the boss's presence. Lily reluctantly agreed, trusting Autumn's judgment. Patience, Autumn said, was their greatest advantage.

Minutes later, another message came this time confirming that nearly fifty of the boss's soldiers were in the area. Autumn exhaled, knowing her explosives were positioned exactly where they needed to be. Lily sat beside her, waiting for the signal. Autumn pressed her detonator slowly, almost reverently. Lily braced herself, knowing a brutal war was about to begin. Autumn clicked the trigger.

The explosion echoed across the mountains like thunder splitting the sky. Flames burst upward, swallowing the soldiers who had gathered unknowingly near the hidden devices. Lily watched in shock as the news drones captured the destruction. Autumn remained still, accepting the consequences of her design. She whispered a soft apology to the souls who had chosen the wrong side. Lily placed a hand on her shoulder, grounding her.

The children relayed reports that the remaining soldiers were scrambling in confusion. The boss, furious beyond measure, screamed through the comms ordering all survivors to regroup. His plan was in shambles, and he knew it. Agent X tried calming him down, but the boss's rage swallowed every word spoken to him. Lily and Autumn listened through hacked channels, memorizing every detail. Their respect for each other grew with each battle they survived.

As dawn approached, Lily began assembling her medical supplies. She knew they would encounter heavy resistance soon. Autumn sharpened her blades, each stroke echoing through the wooden cabin like a heartbeat. They moved in synchronization, understanding each other without speaking. Lily thought it was strange how two people who barely knew each other could feel so connected. Autumn called it destiny.

Autumn checked the holographic map once more, examining the evacuation routes the boss might use. Lily pointed out a nearby coastal facility that seemed like a possible hideout. Autumn nodded, agreeing that the boss might retreat there before seeking protection from foreign allies. The sisters exchanged determined looks. This was their moment to advance. And they knew they couldn't afford mistakes.

Autumn radioed their child operatives, ordering them to regroup safely. She made it clear they were no longer to risk their lives for the Escape Company's sins. One of them cried, saying they wanted to help fight. Autumn softened her voice, reminding them that this mission was for their freedom not their sacrifice. Lily watched her sister's compassion and felt her heart swell. Autumn was fierce but deeply human.

Later that day, the boss held a brief meeting with Agent X in a hidden bunker. His face was pale with frustration. He shouted that Autumn and Lily were becoming an unstoppable threat. Agent X, calm as always, assured him he had a plan. But the boss didn't trust anyone anymore not even his strongest agent. Paranoia consumed him like a poison.

Autumn reviewed Lily's combat stance, correcting her grip on the handgun. Lily absorbed every detail, eager to improve. She felt stronger now than she ever had under the Escape Company. Autumn watched her with pride, realizing Lily possessed natural potential. They trained together until sunset painted the sky orange. Their bond deepened with every punch, every strike, and every synchronized breath.