Throughout the night, sleep evaded Vanessa, her mind trapped in a relentless loop of the failed mission. Each time she closed her eyes, the vivid scenes replayed, tormenting her. Desperate for a reprieve, she stealthily slipped out of the secure Agency building.

Nestled within a rural expanse on the city's outskirts, the complex's location allowed for discreet movement away from prying eyes. The national park encircling the facility provided a natural barrier against foes lurking within the city's shadows. Neighbours were of no concern, but the rebels were a constant threat.

Vanessa moved swiftly through the rain-soaked grounds, her steps precise despite the slick, treacherous earth beneath her. The relentless downpour turned the soil to mud, but she pressed on, undeterred. The back of the perimeter, cloaked by a dense canopy of trees, offered sanctuary from the storm's fury and the menacing dance of lightning.

Undeterred by the storm's proximity, Vanessa continued to run. The storm reflected her suppressed emotions, its raw energy mirroring her inner turmoil. The recent events and Private Lee Winters consumed her thoughts. Though she harboured no affection for him, he had managed to breach the walls she had built around herself. In their short time together, he had unlocked a hidden vulnerability within her, a fact she couldn't forgive herself for.

With each step, Vanessa dissected every aspect of the mission. Control had been hers until the orders shifted, and she couldn't help but clench her fist at the memory of the politician whose directives had led to such a catastrophe. Meticulous planning had been rendered futile, crushed beneath the weight of political machinations. Ten lives had been snuffed out in pursuit of a single, supposedly more valuable, individual. Logic had chosen life, but the sordid realm of politics had chosen death.

Lap after lap, she pondered the Agency director's words, uttered in the wake of the mission's conclusion: Dwelling in the past is dwelling on failure. As simple as it sounded, let go and forget, she found herself incapable.

Hours had passed since she began her run when a noise from the Agency building caught her attention. Visibility was limited in the torrential rain, and she knew the last thing she needed was to be discovered by security. Hoping her distance from the main building would keep her concealed, she was confident the storm would deter any perimeter checks.

Yet, as she rounded another circuit, Vanessa spotted a figure lurking along the main building's wall. The glance he cast toward the security cameras raised her suspicion. Clad in black weather gear, he could have easily passed for a guard seeking protection from the downpour. But something about his movements, the air of caution that enveloped him, told her something was amiss.

Vanessa observed from a distance as the stranger approached the building's edge, surveying his surroundings with the wariness of an interloper. Lacking the tell-tale signs of a security guard—a radio, keys, or weapons—he was clearly out of place. As their eyes met, she caught a glimpse of the pale skin beneath his hood before he quickened his pace. Without hesitation, she followed in pursuit.

The muddy terrain hampered the stranger's progress, gripping his boots like viscous cement. The gap between him, Vanessa, and the perimeter fence continued to close. The boldness that had propelled him this far must have been waning, and she wondered how he had infiltrated the heavily guarded compound.

Vanessa contemplated intercepting him before he could scale the fence, but she calculated the risk as too great. If she lost momentum and he succeeded in his escape, catching up to him would take precious time. Instead, she slowed, observing as he lunged for the fence.

His acrobatic manoeuvre was flawless, hands pressing against the ground as he flipped backward. But his landing was less than perfect, his left leg buckling under the impact, driving his knee into the mud. Despite the setback, he sprinted into the shadowy forest, followed by Vanessa.

Unfazed by the electrified fence, she vaulted over it with ease. Her landing was considerably more elegant than her quarry's, and she wasted no time resuming her pursuit.

Vanessa spotted a faint glimmer of a red car ahead through the underbrush, illuminated briefly by a lightning flash. As thunder reverberated, she narrowed the distance between them. Before the intruder could reach the sanctuary of his vehicle, she sprang into the air, hurling her weight onto his back and sending him sliding across the muddy ground.

He groaned as she pressed her knee into his back and dug her elbow into his neck. His wiry frame belied the physical prowess he had just displayed, taking her by surprise.

"What did you do?" Vanessa asked.

He coughed and struggled to answer as she pushed his face into the mud.

"Who are you? Who do you work for?" With her free hand, she yanked his arm behind his back, applying pressure until he cried out in pain.

"It was all for her," he grunted.

"All for who?" Vanessa bore down harder, concerned that he might have planted explosives within the complex.

Before she could extract more information, he began convulsing. Weakly, he turned his head to the side and looked at her. Dark circles marred the skin beneath his blue eyes, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He had ingested something, and the symptoms of poisoning were unmistakable. This revelation only heightened her suspicion that his presence marked a meticulously planned, targeted attack.

"Who are you working for?

"It doesn't matter," As his words trailed off, his eyes rolled back, and foam seeped from his mouth. She checked for a pulse but found none. Medical help was too far away, and CPR wouldn't counteract the poison coursing through him.

Vanessa hastily searched the man for any clues about his intentions. She discovered a car key, an electronic device still connected to a cable, and a photograph of a young woman. He had risked everything to infiltrate the nearly impenetrable Agency complex—a feat neither rebels nor enemy soldiers had accomplished before.

She scanned the shadowy forest. How had security missed this breach? The surveillance cameras should have detected his movements. If they hadn't caught him sneaking out of the building, at the very least, they should have captured her pursuit.

With mounting urgency, Vanessa pushed herself into a sprint, heading back toward the complex. Her anger surged with each step, driven by the knowledge that the security system—their first line of defense—had failed them. This breach wasn't just a technical error; it was a lapse in human judgment, one that left the Agency vulnerable. Questions burned in her mind: was this the start of a rebel assault, or something even darker, like an enemy incursion?

But there was no time to dwell on it. She had to raise the alarm before the situation escalated beyond control.

****

On the western flank of the Agency building, Vanessa found solace in the shadows while dawn unfurled its light. Beyond the enclosing fence, the forest awakened, its melodies of birdsong forming a vivid contrast to the sterile grip of her surroundings.

Top of Form

The morning had already been eventful, a security breach slicing through the Agency's facade of invincibility. Vanessa found a bitter humour in it; even the mighty could be shaken.

She heard footsteps approaching, a soft rustling against the grass. Leon emerged around the corner, wearing black jogging pants, a simple blue shirt, and white sneakers. He moved cautiously, his lean figure skirting the fence with unease.

Dark circles underlined his eyes, and his brown hair was tousled, giving him a messy look that belied his usual composure. Despite being a decade her senior, he carried an air of youthfulness that matched hers.

"You look like you've had a rough night, Leon," Vanessa quipped with a spark of mischief in her eyes.

He ran a hand through his hair, a sheepish smile on his face. "Wasn't expecting to be called in today."

"Too much partying last night?" Vanessa probed, her tone light, teasing.

Leon chuckled, the weariness in his eyes softening as he reached into his pocket for his cigarettes. "There was a competition. It went on till the early hours."

Vanessa laughed. "Maybe if you put that much effort into your love life, you wouldn't be single."

He changed the subject, pulling out a cigarette and offering her one. "You're bold, smoking right under their noses," he remarked, lighting their cigarettes. A cloud of smoke swirled around them, mingling with the crisp morning air.

She shrugged, her gaze drifting back to the forest. "They're too preoccupied with the security breach and the dead rebel. Besides, I've set the cameras to loop."

Leon inhaled deeply, the smoke curling around him. His casual demeanour shifted as he broached a more serious topic. "Did anyone get a bullet for this security lapse? It's slightly concerning the same security is responsible for 'managing' conscripted agents. I mean, look at you flouting the rules."

Vanessa acknowledged the truth in his words, aware of the uncomfortable truth they carried. The breach had exposed a critical vulnerability in their defences.

"I haven't received any orders to reprimand anyone yet," she replied indifferently. You must've been at that game for ages. You look drained."

Leon deflected with a remark. "And you're still in your drenched uniform. The rain stopped hours ago."

She brushed off his comment, " I haven't had a chance to change. I was combing through the server room for explosive devices."

"And that took you hours, did it?" he asked.

Vanessa flicked the ash from her cigarette, her expression turning contemplative. "When you don't find what you're looking for, it's even more troubling."

He turned to face her, his expression marked by a furrowed brow. "What exactly went down?"

She inhaled deeply from her cigarette, allowing herself a moment before answering. "A rebel infiltrated the building and got into the data centre. I caught him trying to flee, but he took his own life. I've scoured the data centre and checked the servers but found nothing. Tech and security teams came up empty, too. Now, the director wants us to understand what seems like a dead end."

Leon tapped his finger against his chin as he focused on the forest. "Nothing out of the ordinary, huh? That's odd. Maybe the intruder had second thoughts, or," he said, a hint of jest in his tone, "you're out here because you suspect there's still explosives hidden somewhere?"

As she listened to Leon's casual remarks, Vanessa's frustration simmered beneath her calm exterior. " Leon, when I reported the breach, their first question wasn't about the dead rebel or the security lapse. No, it was why I, a senior agent, was out of bounds as if curfews applied to me. If security were under my command, they'd be in for a real shake-up."

Leon shrugged, a half-smile playing on his lips. "Someone's got to keep you grounded, Vanessa. They are scared of the conscripts and overcompensate with their power trips. I agree, it's bullshit."

"And while I'm dealing with their incompetence, you're off gaming."

Leon chuckled. "I keep telling you, don't live vicariously through me. I'm a lost cause; even my mother's given up on me." He paused, his expression turning more serious. "But tell me, why were you up? You're still not sleeping, are you?"

She leaned back against the concrete, her eyes scanning the distance. "Sleep is overrated."

"Your ability would be handy for my competitions. If you keep pushing yourself like this, the others will see your weakness and use it against you. You've seen how hard the other agents compete for privileges, and you've certainly got more freedom than any of the others do."

Brushing aside the urge to delve into personal matters, Vanessa pushed off the wall, her mind shifting gears. "Let's go. I need to wrap this up and move on to something more substantial." She glanced at Leon as they walked. "So, did you win your game before I interrupted?"

Leon's smile returned. "I was on a roll until your call. Thanks for asking."

They rounded the corner, blending into the shadows as they travelled across the field. Joining a concrete footpath, they headed towards the data centre. As they turned another corner, they were met with a scene of controlled chaos, with Agency personnel moving in a frantic yet orchestrated manner.

"An attack now would catch everyone off guard," she mused as she scanned the area.

Leon halted, his phone pinging. "Hold on," he muttered, his attention shifting to the screen. The alerts echoed in the quiet morning air before he silenced the device. His expression darkened, lines of concern etching his forehead. "We might have a bigger issue here."

Quickly, Vanessa guided him to a secluded doorway, away from the prying eyes of the security team stationed outside the data centre building. The lockdown meant limited movement, providing them a semblance of privacy by the accommodation building.

"Keep your voice down," she whispered, her eyes darting around to ensure they weren't overheard. "Too many chiefs involved in this already."

Leon leaned closer. "I'm getting alerts about Project Ruptura. There's been a leak."

A wave of shock rippled through Vanessa, momentarily stealing her breath. "Impossible. I made sure nothing was compromised here."

"It's in Windfield, the social housing sector. Not exactly where you'd expect this kind of trouble," Leon continued, his fingers flying over his phone. "I need to access a computer to get the full details."

"Do you have an address? I can head there right now," Vanessa said, determined to investigate.

Leon looked at her and raised his eyebrow. "Are you sure that's wise? Leaving now might not sit well with Riley or the director."

Vanessa's response was swift and firm. "I'm the one who apprehended the intruder. There are enough people here to handle things. Besides, keeping Project Ruptura under wraps is my top priority."

Vanessa took his phone, absorbing every detail with a sense of urgency. The revelation that Project Ruptura might be compromised sent a wave of alarm through her. This project wasn't just another assignment; it was intertwined with her life and secrets.

Leon's voice broke through her focus. "You're playing with fire here," he warned, swiftly reclaiming his phone.

"I need to see this for myself. You stay here; gather what information you can on what happened here."

"They are not going to let you leave the premises until this is sorted. And look at you," he said as he gestured at her.

She gave him a wry smile. "If a rebel could breach our security, I'm sure I can find a way out unnoticed. Keep me updated on any new developments." With that, she turned, her mind already plotting her escape route. She knew the risks, but the potential fallout from a leak of Project Ruptura was a far greater threat. It was a risk she had to take.

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