Lena, go wake your dad,” I heard a voice call from the kitchen.

  “Yes, Mom,” Lena replied, her small voice sounding determined as she trotted toward the master bedroom.

  “Dad! Dad! Mom said you need to wake up! DAD!” she shook me as she spoke, her words almost dancing in rhythm like a tiny chant.

  “I know, I know, Lena... Just give Dad five more minutes,” I groaned, turning over and trying to catch more sleep.

  But that wasn’t Lena’s plan.

  “Dad, wake up!” she insisted, stretching my arm as far as she could reach. “Mom said we need to get there early!” She grinned.

  “Fine,” I mumbled, finally opening my eyes with a dramatic sigh. “I’m up.”

  “Great!” she beamed. “Mission accomplished—well done!”

  She marched proudly back to the kitchen. “Mom, I woke up Dad!”

  I slowly forced myself to sit up. Getting out of bed was never easy—being a young professor wasn’t exactly a job with neat hours and clean endings. It was long, exhausting, and rarely rewarding.

  Dragging myself across the room to grab my clothes, I muttered something about needing coffee under my breath.

  “You’re finally awake,” came a voice from the kitchen again, this time with a small hint of approval.

  I sighed. “I need my coffee, Kalthyn. Later.”

  “I made it just as you like,” she replied, handing me a steaming cup with a smirk.

  I took it gratefully. “Thank you, darling,” I said as I sipped.

  Just then, Lena appeared and announced something with pride. “I passed the coded!”

  “Lena!” I yelled in surprise.

  “Sorry, Dad! I’m just so excited!” she giggled.

  “Be careful,” I said with a smile. “Amazing... but careful.”

  “Yes, Dad,” Lena replied shyly, but her joy still bubbled underneath.

  A few hours later, we stood at the front door.

  “You did forget the key again, didn’t you?” Kalthyn asked, raising an eyebrow at me in mock doubt.

  “They’re in my pocket, darling. Let’s go,” I said, tapping my coat.

  We piled into the car. The sun filtered through as the city rang with a lazy hum.

  But the moment was fleeting. A traffic jam greeted us unexpectedly.

  Lena continued to chatter excitedly in the back seat. Kalthyn and I exchanged tired, amused looks while inching through the gridlock.

  “It’s always going to be like this,” I murmured, turning the wheel.

  “I know,” Kalthyn replied softly. “I'm sorry.”

  “I told you—”

  Bang!

  A gunshot rang out in the distance.

  “What was that?” Kalthyn asked, alarmed.

  “Lex…”

  Screams followed. Sirens. Cars swerved. Chaos bloomed in the street.

  “Stay in the car,” I commanded, slowing down. My hand instinctively reached for the glove box—but it was empty.

  “Dad?” Lena whispered shakily.

  “It’s okay,” I tried to mask my dread. “This just... isn’t right.”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  My instincts flared too late.

  A car rammed into ours—hard.

  Everything went still.

  For a split second, time stretched thin, nearly collapsing.

  I couldn’t see. I couldn’t hear.

  Just the faint sound of Lena’s voice: “Dad…”

  But it was all—

  Just a dream of memory I wished to forget.

  ****

  I rolled over on the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling the room blur around me. The bedside table was no longer messy—just empty. My thoughts drifted like smoke, unanchored.

  Is this really how it ends?

  But then—a sharp ring cut through the silence.

  A mechanical voice crackled through the device:

  I sat upright, eyes narrowing. “I accept,” I said.

  “Details,” I demanded.

  A holographic display flickered to life beside the device, showing the subject’s photo and dossier.

  My jaw tightened. “Reason for the kill?”

  “I’m requesting authorization for more intel,” I pressed.

  I exhaled. “Understood.”

  The transmission ended with a soft click.

  I stood, grabbed my coat, and finished my coffee in one quiet breath. Then, without a word, I walked to the door.

  I didn’t take the fast route. Instead, I strolled near the bay, its cold gray ripples mirroring the mood of the sky. Tomorrow, this place might feel like a memory.

  A soft chime rang as I stepped into a quiet roadside diner, the usual scent of brewed coffee and grilled bread greeting me.

  “Your usual?” the waitress asked, recognizing me instantly.

  “Yes.”

  “Will it be coffee only, or...?”

  “New directive,” I murmured under my breath, eyes scanning the window.

  “That’ll be all, sir,” she said gently.

  “Yes.”

  She left me in peace.

  After a moment, I headed toward the back of the diner. A misted panel slid open silently as I passed my hand across it.

  A voice greeted me from the hidden corridor:

  “Welcome back, Agent.”

  A small case rested on a pedestal beneath a screen.

  “This is your suit. Custom-fitted for fieldwork.”

  I opened it slowly.

  “Project Seven ensures quality,” the voice added.

  I looked down at the gear, fingers tracing the sleek black fabric.

  “Will you resume the work?” the voice asked.

  I looked up toward the speaker, then past them, into the shadows.

  “Submit the target list. Mark it ‘Collected,’” I said firmly as I turned back, eyeing the car that was already waiting for me.

  The driver gave a short nod. “Welcome, Agent.”

  “Northwest of the steel net, past the Alpha towers.”

  “Understood,” the driver confirmed as he shifted into gear and pulled onto the road.

  As we arrived at the destination, I turned my head slightly, filming a quick scan of the surroundings.

  “Wait for me. Thirty minutes.”

  “Yes, sir,” the driver replied promptly, passing me a small communicator.

  I headed toward the observation building just outside the shadow of the rusting towers. The area was rundown, half-forgotten, suspicious. Just like the station itself.

  I moved silently through the corridor, drawing and checking my weapon with practiced ease.

  “Agent 301,” a voice answered from the dark. But it wasn’t one I recognized.

  “Who are you?” I asked, stopping.

  “My apologies. I am an Officer, Division B. Codename: Kai. I’ve been assigned to support you for this directive.”

  I raised an eyebrow, uncertain. “I wasn’t informed of this.”

  Kai remained calm. “Clearance came from the top.”

  “Citrus?” I questioned.

  “I’m sorry, Agent, but I have no further information,” Kai responded on the earpiece. “But I’ll do my best to assist you in your assignment.”

  I stood still, no relax, settled my stance, and marked my position.

  “Observation status?” I demanded.

  “Yes...., The target is in the eastern suit terminal 12. Distance: 25 meters. Three subjects. Primary is wearing a red visor with a goatee. Designated: Subject 15. Confirmed hostile.”

  I turned on my helmet’s internal system and locked onto the signal. My display flickered to life, linking to Kai’s transmission.

  “Ready,” Kai said coldly.

  Then—

  Bang.