CHAPTER 30: The Fugitive Part 1

CHAPTER 30: The Fugitive Part 1

10:00 a.m. - Parking lot near Berghain, Berlin

The black Enid Corp van was parked in the shadow of an abandoned building, away from prying eyes. The rumble of the diesel engine was the only sound breaking the morning silence. Inside, the atmosphere was charged with pre-mission tension. The smell of stale coffee and gun oil mixed in the stagnant air.

Enid, with her touch tablet on her knees, studied the blueprints of the Berghain club. Her fingers slid across the screen, zooming in on critical sections.

"Alright, listen up," she said, looking up. "The VIP tickets are secured. Once inside, we split into pairs. Marcus with me at the main bar. Vanessa and Lucian, you'll cover the back halls and private rooms. Remember: information extraction, not confrontation. Viktor must not suspect."

Marcus, reclining in his seat, toyed with a coin he spun over his knuckles.

"Go in, flirt, gather intel, get out. The usual," he said with a carefree smile, though his eyes scrutinized every detail of the equipment around him.

Fénix, sitting by the window, adjusted his tie with jerky movements. His suit, wrinkled and ill-fitting, seemed like a parody of elegance. Suddenly, a spasm shook him. A dry, harsh cough was torn from his chest, so violent he doubled over. When he brought his hand to his mouth and pulled it away, his fingers were stained with dark red.

Vanessa, sitting beside him, leaned toward him, her face pale with concern.

"Fénix! What's wrong?" Her voice was an alarmed whisper.

Fénix shook his head, wiping the blood now dripping from his nose with the back of his hand.

"It's nothing. Just... the dust in this damn place," he lied, avoiding her gaze.

Enid watched him with analytical coldness.

"That's not dust, Fénix. You're coughing up blood. You can't go in like this. If Viktor sees you in this state, you'll not only ruin the mission, but you'll be an easy target. I'll take your place."

Fénix clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening.

"What? No, this mission is mine. I'm perfectly capable," he protested, but another violent retch betrayed him, splattering the floor with scarlet drops.

Lucian, who was checking his gun, looked up gravely.

"Fénix, you look like you got hit by a train. Enid is right. It's not just for the mission; it's for you."

Vanessa nodded, placing a hand on Fénix's shoulder.

"We don't know what's happening to you. It could be a virus, poison... something Viktor anticipated. Stay here."

Fénix cursed under his breath, but the weakness in his legs told him he had no choice.

"Fine. But if anything goes wrong, don't hesitate to call me."

Enid nodded, collecting the VIP tickets.

"Let the mission begin."

The rest of the team descended from the van, leaving Fénix behind.

Inside the Berghain - Eclipse Event

The club was a kaleidoscope of strobe lights and dancing shadows. The music, a pulsing industrial soundtrack, vibrated in the chest. Supernatural beings of all classes mingled in a ballet of decadence: vampires in impeccable suits, lycans with fierce gazes hidden under hoods, and more ambiguous creatures whose forms seemed to shift with the light.

Enid and Marcus advanced toward the main bar, a long counter of polished obsidian where cocktails glowed with unnaturally colored liquids.

"Keep your eyes open," murmured Enid. "Any sign of Viktor."

Marcus nodded, his gaze scanning the crowd with military precision.

They didn't have to wait long. Viktor, in a black silk suit that seemed to absorb the light around him, approached with a predator's smile. Beside him, a woman with jet-black hair and glacial blue eyes accompanied him.

"What a surprise! The great Enid at my humble gathering," said Viktor, his voice a silky whisper that cut through the din of the music. "I thought this place was too... vulgar for your refined tastes."

Enid kept her expression impassive.

"It's always educational to see how the competition has fun, Viktor."

Viktor laughed, a cold, calculating sound.

"Competition? Such an antiquated term. But tell me, where is your favorite wolf? That Fénix... he's always so entertaining when he loses his temper."

Enid didn't blink.

"Busy with matters more important than your games."

Viktor pulled out a silver cigarette case, offering one to Enid.

"A cigarette? A special blend... tobacco aged in witch's blood barrels. It will give you a unique perspective."

"No, thank you," Enid refused with a curt gesture.

The woman beside him, Irene, smiled maliciously.

"Viktor has told me so much about you, Enid. It's admirable how you try to maintain control over your... operation. Although lately it seems to be slipping through your fingers."

At that moment, Viktor snapped his fingers. From the crowd emerged Darem, a two-meter-tall man with an unfriendly face.

"Pity Fénix isn't here," said Viktor. "I brought my pet so they could play."

Darem growled, showing sharp fangs.

"I'm always ready for a game."

Marcus tensed his muscles, but Enid stopped him with a look.

"Send my regards to Fénix," said Viktor, turning away. "I'm sure he'll need them."

In the Back Halls
Vanessa and Lucian slipped through the side corridors, where the music was a distant echo and the shadows multiplied. The walls were studded with occult symbols carved into the wood, and the air smelled of incense and bitter herbs.

"I don't like this," murmured Vanessa. "Too quiet. Too... easy."

Lucian examined a door reinforced with iron.

"Either we're lucky, or it's a trap. I prefer to assume the latter."

At the end of the hallway, a half-open door revealed a room lit by candles. Inside, shadows moved around a table where dark glass bottles contained liquids that seemed to pulse.