The moon hung like a silent sentinel in the sky, casting pale light over the swamp. Nate's boots sank slightly into the muck as he surveyed the scene. His heart raced—not from the damp, not from the swamp's eerie stillness—but from the challenge ahead. This was it: the Atrium. Hollow's fortress.
Beside him, Xanthe was already climbing over the first of the rusted oil rig platforms, her movements fluid and precise. The wind tugged at her red hair, but she didn't seem to notice. Nova, on the other hand, was having none of it.
"I thought this was going to be a stealth operation," she muttered, wiping a thick layer of swamp water from her face. "This feels more like a trap."
Nate glanced over at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "When have I ever done anything stealthily?"
"Touché." Nova rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile that broke through. "So, what's the play now, big shot?"
Nate glanced at Xanthe again, who had reached the first guard tower. She signaled to them—a sharp, efficient motion. She was in her element.
"We play it smart. We don't go in headfirst. Xanthe leads. We follow."
---
The Tower
The first tower was unmanned, its security systems already disabled by Xanthe's silent hacking. Nate couldn't help but admire how she moved—so much like a shadow, she seemed to belong to the night.
They slipped past it without a sound, heading for the central rig where the Atrium's heart lay—an enormous data core that pulsed with red lights, its towers bristling with power cables and air vents. This was no ordinary facility. This was where Hollow's most valuable secrets lay, and getting past the security would take more than just skill—it would take timing, precision, and a bit of luck.
Nate checked his gear. A few grenades, his encrypted comms, and—thankfully—his ring. He couldn't deny that the weird energy it gave off was like an extra set of eyes and ears. It wasn't much, but it was something.
Behind him, Nova moved to check her own gear. "I hate these air vents. I know this is going to get messy."
Xanthe crouched down beside the vent, her fingers flying over the security panel. Within seconds, the vent cover fell away with a whisper.
"We're in," Xanthe murmured. "But don't get cocky. Once we pass the core access point, all hell breaks loose. We'll need the password to access the server."
Nate's eyes narrowed. "You've got the code, right?"
"I'll get it. Trust me." Xanthe's voice was low but confident, and Nate trusted her—at least more than the rest of the world.
They crawled into the vent, moving as quietly as they could.
---
The Heart of Hollow
The air was thick and cold inside the facility's heart. It was a stark contrast to the humid heat outside. The center of the Atrium resembled a massive data vault, with server racks taller than any of them. The only sound was the quiet hum of the machines, the soft buzz of power surging through the lines.
Xanthe's eyes were fixed on the terminal in front of her, fingers already typing in a flurry. A digital lock blinked on the screen—code required.
She didn't hesitate. In seconds, she cracked the terminal's encryption.
"The code's in," she said, breathless. "This is it."
Nate felt the tension rise in the air as the terminal clicked open, granting them access.
---
Chaos Unleashed
Suddenly, the room filled with flashing red lights. An alarm screamed, deafening them.
"Move!" Xanthe shouted.
The sound of boots clanging against metal echoed from the stairwell. Obelisks. The same deadly enforcers they'd barely escaped earlier.
Nate didn't wait. He grabbed Xanthe's arm, pulling her into a nearby maintenance hallway, Nova following closely behind.
"Back exit's this way," Xanthe hissed, leading them through the narrow corridor. They moved quickly, but the footsteps behind them were unmistakable. They had to get to the main server room—or else they'd be trapped in the bowels of the Atrium.
"We need cover," Nova said, looking over her shoulder. "We can't outrun them forever."
Nate turned to Xanthe. "Got a plan?"
Xanthe didn't answer immediately. Instead, she yanked a device from her belt and attached it to the maintenance panel next to them. A series of flashing lights appeared on the screen.
"It's a fail-safe. We can overload the core and collapse the building. We'll have five minutes before everything shuts down."
"Five minutes?!" Nova snapped. "What's your next trick? A grand escape?"
Xanthe shot her a wry smile. "That's the plan."
Nate's stomach churned. "We're going to destroy the whole facility?"
"We need to stop Hollow's operations for good," Xanthe said. "The Phoenix key, your father's legacy, it all leads back to this place. I told you that we do this or nothing."
---
Countdown
As they sprinted through the dim hallways, they finally reached the server room—the pulse of Hollow's operations. The massive door was sealed with thick, industrial-grade metal. Nate hit the control panel, but before it could open, the ground shook. The sound of footsteps thundered down the hallway. They were here.
Xanthe didn't hesitate. She jammed her hand into the panel, releasing a flash of sparks as she forced it open. The heavy door slid back with a hiss.
Nate didn't wait. He burst through the door, followed by Nova and Xanthe. The server room was a sprawling labyrinth of cables and machines, but at its center was the core—the heart of the entire operation.
Xanthe was already at the terminal, fingers flying over the keys. "I'm overriding the system now. Cover me."
Nate scanned the room. The hum of energy was intense, and as he turned to Nova, he could see the look of determination in her eyes. They both knew what was coming.
The countdown began.
"Five minutes," Xanthe said, her voice a low murmur. "We've got five minutes to get out of here."
---
The Final Showdown
Suddenly, the door behind them exploded in a shower of sparks. The Obelisks had arrived.
Nate instinctively raised his weapon, but Xanthe was faster. A pulse shot from her wrist device, knocking the first Obelisk off its feet. The rest charged forward, but Nate and Nova dove into the shadows, using the server racks for cover.
"I'll hold them off," Xanthe said, pulling a sleek energy blade from her side. She launched herself into the fray, moving faster than Nate could track. Each swing of her blade took down another Obelisk.
Nova turned to Nate, her voice tense. "We need to help her. They're too many."
Nate didn't hesitate. He pulled out his gun and fired, hitting one of the Obelisks in the shoulder. The figure staggered but didn't fall.
Nova stepped up, using her pistol's stun setting to take down two more. But it wasn't enough. The Obelisks kept coming.
The server room was quickly becoming a battlefield.
---
The Escape
The countdown continued, the pressure mounting with each passing second. Finally, the last Obelisk fell, its body crumpling to the ground with a loud crash. Xanthe turned, bloodied but unbowed.
"Go!" she shouted. "It's now or never!"
They ran for the exit, but as Nate passed the terminal, a new figure appeared in the doorway—Simon Castor.
"I'm sorry it has to be this way," Simon said, his voice cold. "But you've dug too deep."
Behind him, the rest of the Obelisks moved into place. It was too late.
Nate knew then—Simon had always been the true enemy.
---