Ghostflake led the small company of agents through the empty corridors of Pulvis and quickly, everyone split up into groups, covering every inch of the base. The agents all wore dark military clothing and gas masks, leaving nothing to chance. Who knew what types of weapons and traps they would have laid out this deep into the organisation? They were going in blind and had to use every precaution necessary to succeed. They all stalked through the corridors quickly and carefully like cats, their boots making no noise, their speedy footsteps as light as the still air around them. One agent stepped up to a door and slowly took the handle, opening it quietly. He held up a fist. The squad immediately stopped and froze in place. He tiptoed into the sleeping quarters, looking around cautiously and then swept his hand forward, issuing the silent order. The rest followed after him like ghosts. They all drew their knives out and stood by the beds of the slumbering employees, each one picking a target. One employee stirred awake and saw the gas masked agent right above him. The agent put a finger to his mask and quickly plunged the knife into his neck before he had time to cry out. The rest of the agents killed their targets and they all died silently, not a single sound to be heard except for the small gurgling as they choked on their blood. One of the agents gestured and they left the silent scene of death, moving forward. Another team exited from the quarters, also being successful in killing their targets, knives marked with red. The death toll was quickly racking up and the scales were tipping in favour of the agents. Ted slumbered away at the monitors, not being aware of the infiltration that was displayed clearly on his screens. The door behind him opened up quietly and an agent crept up behind him. He grabbed his forehead, forcing his head up, and drew the knife across his neck in a split second, not giving him time to yelp. A long line of blood splattered itself across the monitor. Ted gasped in quiet agony, choking on his own blood. He went to reach for the alarm, but the agent quickly finished him off, plunging the dagger into his neck, severing one of his jugular veins. Ted died a couple of seconds later, slumping down in his seat, soaking blood into his suit.

  Ellis stirred, waking up from her slumber. She sat at the edge of the bed, her brow furrowed in anger. She sighed and rubbed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. As if she didn’t have enough to deal with, now MI18 were after her. The coming war was eating away at her mind, disturbing her. Her ears suddenly picked up the faintest knocking of boots and she snapped her head upwards, almost missing seeing the dim shadow walk by the crack in her door. She threw on her dressing gown, tying the sash, and grabbed her sword, creeping over to the door. Opening it silently, she crept down the corridor and her shocked eyes were greeted by the ghastly spectacle. She looked for a second at all of the blood soaked beds and the corpses that inhabited them. Turning back to her room, she entered it and pressed a button, activating an alarm. Suddenly everyone sprung into action, grabbing whatever weapon was at hand, and pandemonium ensued. Shots rang out and bullets broke the silent air. Ellis swiped her sword, cutting down any agent that dared to face her. She swung her sword into one agent’s face and grabbed his corpse, using it as a human shield against a bullet. She released it, letting it collapse to the floor and grabbed a fallen gun, shooting down some agents. Confused Pulvis employees fought against the night agents in nothing but their underwear, taking care of them one by one. Ellis sliced through an agent and spun, cutting down another. Her heart raced with adrenaline, her head pounded furiously, her lungs worked overtime. Suddenly, she collapsed to one knee and clutched at her mouth, gagging. Blood dripped through her fingers and onto the floor, her body not being able to take the physical and psychological abuse any longer. It was practically screaming at her to slow down, the years' worth of sustained injuries and torn muscles finally getting to it. She looked at the patch of fresh blood on her hand and snarled. Mustering up her strength, she heaved herself up and staggered back onto her own two legs once more. A woman in a white pinstripe suit delivered a brutal punch to her target’s throat. The body collapsed, already dead before it had hit the floor. Ellis suddenly saw a giant, gleaming blade cleave through a Pulvis employee's arm like it was tender beef. He roared in agony for a single second before the blade easily took his head, feeling no resistance whatsoever. The head hit the floor and rolled to a stop at Ellis' bare feet. The fight suddenly stopped and all was quiet. Ghostflake turned and faced his target.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Ellis Silver.” He greeted her, almost sarcastically.

  “Who are you, an elite agent of MI18?” She asked him. He suddenly laughed.

  “Oh no, I am much worse.” He told her with a smile.

  “So you're MI18's assassin. And I'm guessing that brunette there is your sidekick.”

  “Indeed I am.” She said, twiddling her elegant fingers at her in a sarcastic greeting. “Miss Cantankerous is the name.” She leaned against a wall and crossed her arms, gesturing with her head. “My partner over there is Ghostflake.”

  “Christ, and I thought that Artificis was a dumb name.”

  Ghostflake suddenly began laughing. He looked over to his partner and she too began laughing, suddenly amused by the situation. Ghostflake gestured to Ellis lightly, who frowned, not understanding what was going on. Both agents suddenly ceased their banter as Ghostflake swung at Ellis. She just managed to jump back from the blade, the point slicing through her thin gown. She parried the second attack. They fought against each other, blades clashing in a deadly dance. Ellis stepped back from her enemy, giving herself some space. He suddenly swung at her with such a ferocity that her sword almost juddered out of her hand, sending a shock wave that rippled all through her bones.

  “Hello?!” Ellis yelled out. “A little help here?!”

  Two employees aimed their pistols at their target and fired without thinking. The bullets hit Ghostflake in the arm and he quickly retreated, with Miss Cantankerous by his side. The agents followed after them, leaving the organisation in peace. Ellis panted and turned, making her way back.

  “Hey!” Someone suddenly called out. Ellis stopped and turned around. She looked at her employee.

  “What?” She asked testily.

  “Have you no shame? You just let most of us get killed by a single infiltration.”

  “No. I do not.” Without saying anything else, she turned back towards her original course and walked away.