The tunnel was cold, damp, and unwelcoming. The flickering lights above did little to dispel the dark, only accentuating the grime and decay that had long since overtaken the place. The faint scent of mildew hung in the air, mingling with the sharp tang of metal from the exposed pipes that snaked along the walls.
Grimm and the team moved cautiously, the echoes of their footsteps swallowed by the oppressive silence. The only sounds came from the low hum of the transport vehicle's engine, still rumbling in the distance as they approached the meeting point.
"We're close," Jake muttered, his voice low, almost reverential. "This is where we meet them."
Grimm kept his eyes scanning the shadows ahead. "I don't like this, Jake. Every step we take down here feels like we're walking into a trap. You sure about this contact?"
Jake gave a tight nod, his hand slipping into the pocket of his tactical vest. "Trust me. I know the risks. This person, they want out. They've got enough dirt to bury Blackthorn, but they won't hand it over for free."
Tanya let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Nothing's ever for free. Especially not in our world."
Bull, ever the silent observer, adjusted his grip on his weapon. His eyes scanned the tunnel's exits, instinctively looking for possible ambush points. "We'll just have to make sure the price isn't our lives."
Grimm's gaze locked onto the narrow doorway up ahead, barely visible in the half-light. This was it—the rendezvous point. He signaled for the team to hold back as they neared. There was no telling who or what awaited them on the other side.
Jake stepped forward, pushing open the rusted door with a careful hand. The sound of creaking metal echoed in the silence as the door swung open, revealing a small, dimly lit room.
A man stood inside. Middle-aged, wearing a tactical vest and dark combat fatigues, his face partially obscured by a balaclava. He had the look of someone who'd seen far too much to ever truly trust anyone again. His eyes were sharp, scanning each of them in turn, before settling on Jake.
"You made it," the man said, his voice hoarse, low. "Didn't think you'd show."
Jake gave a nod, stepping into the room. "We're here. And we need to move fast. Blackthorn's getting closer."
The man eyed the group, his gaze lingering on Grimm for a moment longer. There was a flicker of recognition, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he motioned for them to sit at the table in the center of the room.
Grimm's team didn't hesitate. They took their places, weapons still within arm's reach, senses on high alert. The man pulled a tablet from his bag and set it on the table between them.
"This is everything," the contact said, his tone dead serious. "Blackthorn's operations, their key players, and—more importantly—their central hub. The one place you can hit them where it counts."
Grimm leaned forward, his focus sharp. "And the catch?"
The contact paused for a long moment. "They'll be onto you the second you use it. Their security's locked tight. Getting in won't be easy."
Tanya crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed. "I thought you said you wanted out."
"I do," the man replied, his voice colder now. "But I'm not suicidal. You want to take down Blackthorn, you'll need more than just a little intel. You'll need a plan. A real plan."
Bull leaned back, his eyes scanning the room. "And you've got one of those?"
The contact's lips twisted into something between a grimace and a smirk. "I've got the blueprint for their stronghold. I've got access to their inner circle. If you want to get in, this is your shot."
Jake reached forward and tapped the screen, bringing up a map of a heavily fortified compound. The structure was located in a remote part of the city, surrounded by layers of security—walls, armed guards, and multiple checkpoints. The kind of place you couldn't just waltz into.
"What's the plan?" Jake asked.
The contact didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned his attention to a schematic of the building. "This compound is a fortress. But we've been tracking its operations for months. Blackthorn's key players—Kessler's right-hand men, their weapons development team—are all housed there. If you hit this building, you take down the entire operation."
Grimm leaned closer, studying the map with laser focus. "We get in, neutralize the targets, and get out."
"It's not that simple," the contact warned. "Blackthorn has eyes everywhere. The moment you breach their perimeter, they'll lock everything down. We're talking drones, ground units, everything. Your best bet is to hit them hard and fast, before they can call in reinforcements."
Bull let out a low growl. "Sounds like we're walking straight into the lion's den."
"You are," the contact confirmed. "But the real question is: are you ready to make it out alive?"
Grimm didn't hesitate. "We don't have a choice. If we don't take them down now, they'll come for us—just like they've come for everyone else."
The contact gave a grim nod, pulling out another file from his bag. "I'll give you everything I've got. But you'll need to act fast. They've already started moving assets. Blackthorn knows you're coming."
Grimm's jaw clenched, his eyes meeting the contact's. "Then we make sure they don't see us coming."
Jake shot Grimm a look, something unreadable in his gaze. "We've got one shot at this. You ready?"
Grimm didn't answer right away. The weight of their mission pressed down on him. The stakes had never been higher, and the risk was greater than ever. But one thing was clear: they had no other choice. They were going in. They were going to finish what they started.
And they were going to make Blackthorn pay.