The Silvermane headquarters was as quite as a night could be. Lights off, devoid of life, the only one in the building was the blinking's of a security system. That was quickly disabled by a sudden electronic burst.
"Ok, we're clear." The leader of the squad. Known as 'Shadow Zero.' Leading a decently sized squadron of at least 12.
Their mission, 'Secure the artifact of the Silvermane Guild.' A simple enough mission, a stealthy raid, grab the item, GTFO. However, as soon as the squad entered the compound something felt... off.
"Sir, what's our plan?" Asked shadow one, his second in command, and a veteran of the group. A man of experience and caution, who had earned the leader's trust through countless successful operations.
"We... move as a unit, check every floor. First floor and up. The client said it's on the upper level. But I don't want any surprises." Shadow Zero ordered. Gesturing with hand signals for the group to move through the lush garden.
The garden that was unaffected by the cold winters of Japan was his first indication of a trap. Then the lack of security was a second, and a third being the complete darkness of the building. His senses screamed danger with every step they took towards the HQ.
His squad's gear was top of the line, using the latest technology and weaponry available. Optical camo, making them practically invisible in the darkness of night.
Up the stairs of the HQ, not a step was heard. Intense training had honed their movements, allowing them to move like silent predators through the shadows.
Fourth indication. 'Why the fuck is no one around?' Working late and Japan went hand in hand. Way before the gate's arrival. Hell, people still worked to death, even if the world thought itself better than yesteryear.
"Sir, where is everyone?" Asked shadow two. No doubt, he shared his leaders insitincs.
"I... Don't know." Shadow zero; a man of caution, a man of strategy, was unnerved by the lack of presence. He was always one to trust his instinct. In the past, they had saved his life countless times.
It was screaming out to him. They needed to leave. Needed to get as far away from the HQ as fast as possible. However...
'What would our employer think?' That was the other issue. If they left, this could affect future missions and their relationship with the client. But if they stayed...
Death or something far worse.
The top floor, and the final indicator. The door to the guild master's office. Wide open, a thumbstick sat upon a pile of documents.
"This... It's a trap." Whispered Shadow Zero, looking back at his team, "Grab it and run, we need to leave. Something's very wrong."
Shadow 8, a lithe woman scurried into the room. Her steps silent as she grabbed the thumbstick.
*Beep* *Beep*
"Sir!!" Shadow four shouted, a small device had activated. As it's lights blinked red.
Not a bomb, not a trap, a beacon; A sound that alerted the whole neighbourhood to the shadow's presence. Like a silent siren in the night.
"Shit, run!" Shouted shadow zero, making a break for the stairs. The tension in the air only growing with each step. Shadows moving with haste, fear and adrenaline pumping through their veins. Their cloaks and gear would not save them now, as the shadows were exposed.
The shadows of the night began to morph and change. Long tendrils of darkness reaching out towards them. Following their footsteps as they descended the steps of the HQ.
Outside the wind began to pick up, garden joining the shadows in pursuit of the shadows, the earth itself was against them, and the squad knew it.
'What the fuck is going on!' Shadow Zero thought. This was unlike any mission they had ever faced before. A trap, a set up. They had no idea what was happening or who was following but the eyes of the unknown where upon them. They could feel it.
"GO GO GO!" Zero shouted to the squad, they needed to evacuate fast. Filling into the trucks, heavily armoured but sleek in design. Tinted windows as black as the abyss, doors and frame could withstand the force of .50 cals and even RPG's.
Tires screeching on the road, the first car took off at high speed, the second one close behind. The third bringing up the tail.
"Zero... What was that?" Asked the driver of the first car. A veteran of the shadows. One who had been in the most hellish situations. He had seen things that would drive normal people insane, but this was different, this was something new. Something beyond their comprehension.
"That wasn't just the dark playing tricks on our minds."
"I know... But we must focus on the mission now. Get paid and take a break from this shit. This mission is a bit too much." Shadow 0 spoke into the radio, "Focus, get out of here and rendezvous at the warehouse. Got it?"
"Roger. Sir."
*Roar* *Roar* *Roar* *Roar*
A demon's howl from the depths of hell. The unmistakable growl of motorbike began to echo through the empty roads of ward 4. A black bike with a lone rider, clad in darkness.
The Reaper. He had awoken from the shadows, and had begun to chase the shadows.
"Sir, we got a problem!" Shouted shadow one through the radio. Looking through the rearview mirror at the skull faced Reaper.
'It was a trap.'
---
*ROARRRR* *ROARRRR*
The bike now by the side of the convoy of cars. Azure eyes burning through darkness of the Reaper's mask. Shadow 1 looked back at the Reaper. They heard of the spectre in their briefing, but to see it. The rider, the Reaper in all his dark and horrifying glory.
"Zero! What do we-"
*POP* *SCREEEEEECH*
"Fuck! Our tires are blown." Shouted the driver of truck 3. A single slash of a bone whip pierced the rubber of the rear tire, causing the vehicle to swerve and skid.
*POP* *SCREECH*
*CRASH*
Truck 3 collided with a lamppost. Its momentum too fast to turn or stop. The driver and the passenger were thrown through the window. Glass shattering into pieces, as their bodies crashed into the hard pavement. A sickening crunch echoed through the night air, bones breaking upon impact.
"Kill that thing!" Ordered Zero from truck 1.
Truck 2, opened its window. A rifle's muzzle poked out, aiming at the reaper.
*RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT*
*PING* *PING* *PING*
The bullets bounced off the Reaper's bike and body. Each hit doing nothing to slow down the rider.
*Slice*
The whip cut through the air, with a single lash, the gunner fell with a limp thud onto the road. Blood pooling from the severed stump of their right arm.
"Fuck this! Sir we need to use the big boy." Second shouted. Clearly shaken by the sudden brutality of the spectre they faced. This was nothing like their previous missions. Their target was far more dangerous and unpredictable than any human opponent. The Reaper was no mere man.
"Do it."
From a large container came an RPG. Needing two members of the shadows just to keep the damn thing steady. Aiming at the Reaper, whose bike sped up. The roar of demonic metal was louder. Fear fuelled every rev.
*FWTOOM*
"Got ya you shadowy bastard!" Shouted shadow one. As the RPG shot forward. In an instant, an explosion of fire and metal collided with the Reaper's motorcycle. A deafening roar followed by a blinding flash of light, burning ruby red.
However, the fire turned white. Through the flames came the Reaper. Whip alight with white fire, lashing towards truck two.
"Shit! It's still alive?!"
*Slash*
"AGHHHHH!" The whip licked Shadow one's face, tearing through the ballistic mask as easily as flesh, leaving a bloody gash across his left cheek. However, the flames quickly moved through the back of the vehicle, setting it ablaze.
The car began to swerve. The driver trying to keep control, but the inferno of the white flames had consumed the rear, melting tires and the engine itself. Smoke billowing out of the backdoor.
*CRASH*
It crashed into a guardrail, flipping over and over and over and over and over. An inferno of twisted metal, and white flames.
Last, the front truck. With only the Reaper left to deal with. The bike was now ahead, leading the charge.
'What is it doing?' Thought shadow Zero, the Reaper was not attacking, no slashing with that infernal whip of death.
*Thud*
On the front engine landed a figure clad in white leather and crow like helmet.
"Shit."
*Schick*
The momentum of truck 1 slowed, fast paced speed turning to a normal drive, then to a slow stop.
"What's happening?" Asked shadow eight. Holding the thumbstick tight in her hand.
*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
Heavy boots stepped outside of the truck. Heading towards the back of the truck, the driver most likely dead; what monstrosity was coming to towards them.
The backdoor swung open. And with it a giant of a man looked in. Azure eyes surveyed the interior, finding the terrified faces of the shadows. The giant entered and squatted by the exit. A man sent to ensure that the remaining thieves are kept in line.
The truck slowly turned around, heading back through the city. A short journey, no one said a word, no one dared say a word. Fear consumed these veterans of war. A deep-seated fear of this man, this monster.
The ones who died would be luckier than them. Something far worse awaited back at the Silvermane HQ.
***
"We won't talk!" Shouted Zero into the void. The last surviving members of the shadow squad hung upside down in what was akin to a smooth stone prison. No temperature to the room, no fresh air, nothing to stimulate the senses. Only the cold embrace of whatever held them captive.
A voice echoed through the room. Calm, deep, almost soothing if not for the situation they found themselves in.
"If that is your wish Mr. Nakatomi. However, if you wish to live; you will cooperate."
Baelor, in all his graceful stride emerged from the shadows. A look of disappointment on the elf's face.
"You're the Guildmaster. Heh, the one that runs the Silvermane. Why don't ya just kill us?" Zero asked, a forced smile on the man's lips.
"Information is all I require. If you give me what I want then-"
*Spit*
"We ain't gonna tell you shit!" Zero spat at the elf's feet, a defiant glare met with Baelor's gaze. One of hatred and anger while the other was merely calm and collected as if they were discussing the weather.
"The fabled shadows, elite soldiers of the Order of light. Once agents of good and justice. Now..." A sigh, disappointment clear.
"If you won't talk then listen. Your mission to retrieve the thumbstick was based on insider information, correct?"
Silence. Although, the question was rhetorical. Baelor had already known the answer. He was always a step ahead.
"Well, I was your source for said information." Baelor revealed the truth, and with it, the shock and confusion that came along with it.
"Then why did you have us steal it from you?" Asked shadow eight, who was confused by the revelation.
"I wanted to lure out your employer." He answered. "You were bait."
"We still ain't gonna tell you-"
*Shick*
A bone whip sliced the neck of Zero. A spray of crimson blood splashing onto shadow eight's face.
If he wasn't going to squeal. No point keeping him alive then.
"Once more... Who is your point of contact?" Baelor asked once more.
"Ota... The right hand of the prophet... He's who were supposed to deliver the goods to." Eight gave in. It was not that she was weak willed, just that she wanted to live to fight another day.
"Very well..."
*Schick* *Schick*
The bodies of the remaining shadows dropped to the floor, the life of them draining away, like water. Blood pooling at the feet of Baelor, whose boots now became stained with crimson. But that was of little concern for the elf. In truth, the death of these people meant nothing to him.
"Your name is Mrs. Hase, correct?" He asked, lowering her from the ceiling.
"Yes..."
"Mrs. Hase if you want to live you will deliver the drive to Ota as promised, a trojan horse has been planted within."
"W-why me?"
"We could not risk the virus being discovered. You will ensure that it infiltrates the system, personally. Then, we will purchase you a ticket, a new identity and a small amount of money to start your new life."
"I-I... I don't get a choice in this?" Eight felt helpless, like a fly in the spider's web.
"The choice is yours. But think of the alternative - a swift death, forgotten by the world, or a chance to prove your worth and start anew."
To live was her only option. Helped to her feet, and sent on her way back to the drop point. A long night awaited her, a very long night that could lead to her death. Or her survival. It all rested on luck.
Luck has a funny way of changing things... For better or for worse.