Page 12 of The Darkness Within

Beside him, Scar tightens his grip on his weapon, his gaze hard and focused. The rest of the team has taken their positions, each one moving with a quiet efficiency that speaks to years of experience. Gage and Talon have circled around to the back entrance, while Reed and Soren cover the side exits. Kade has taken a vantage point on the roof, his sharp eyes trained on any movement within.

Blade signals to the others, his hand a quick blur in the darkness, and they move as one, each man slipping into his assigned position. He can feel the familiar rush of anticipation, the cold clarity that settles over him in moments like this. But beneath it all, he feels the warmth of Rayne’s presence, a steady pulse at the edge of his consciousness that reminds him of why he is here, of what he is fighting to protect.

They are close—he can sense Rake’s energy, a dark, twisted force that seems to seep into the very walls of the building. Blade exchanges a glance with Scar, a silent communication passing between them. They are ready.

Gage’s voice crackles over the earpiece. “Positions secure. On my mark, we go in.”

Blade takes a steadying breath, his senses on high alert. He can feel the tension radiating from his team, each one prepared for the fight that lay ahead. This is what they are trained for, what they lived for. But this time, the stakes are higher. This time, it is personal.

“Mark,” Gage’s voice commands, and they move as one, slipping into the building with silent precision.

Inside, the warehouse is a maze of shadows and debris. Blade can feel the darkness pressing in around them, the air thick with the scent of old blood and decay. They move through the aisles, each step careful and deliberate, their eyes scanning for any sign of movement.

And then he sees him—Rake, standing at the far end of the room, his back to them as he mutters in a language that makes Blade’s skin crawl. The rogue demon is tall and lean, his body radiating a dark, malevolent energy that seems to distort the air around him. Blade can see the twisted symbols carved into Rake’s skin, remnants of the ancient ritual he is trying to complete.

“Rake!” Blade’s voice cut through the silence, hard and unyielding.

Rake turns slowly, a twisted smile curling across his lips as his gaze settles on Blade. “Ah, the Elite Squad. Always so predictable.” His voice is smooth, mocking, as if he hasn’t a care in the world. “And here I thought you’d forgotten about me.”

Blade steps forward, his stance steady as he levels his weapon at Rake. “It’s over, Rake. You can’t hide anymore.”

Rake’s laughter echoes through the warehouse, a cold, hollow sound that makes the hairs on the back of Blade’s neck stand on end. “Hide? Oh, I’m not hiding. I’m just getting started.”

Before Blade can react, Rake moves, his body a blur of motion as he launches himself at them. The warehouse erupts into chaos, the air filled with the clash of weapons and the crackle of dark magic. Blade fights with a fierce intensity, his every movement precise and calculated, but Rake is relentless, his attacks wild and unpredictable.

Scar moves in beside him, his blade flashing as he blocks one of Rake’s strikes, giving Blade the opening he needs to press forward. Together, they drive Rake back, forcing him to retreat, but he fights with a desperation that speaks of someone with nothing left to lose.

Reed and Soren flank Rake from either side, their weapons cutting through the darkness as they close in. Gage and Talon cover the exits, making sure there is no way out. But Rake is cunning, his movements slippery and evasive, always one step ahead as he ducks and weaves, avoiding their attacks with an almost supernatural agility.

Blade can feel the surge of adrenaline, the thrill of the fight coursing through his veins. But there is something else, too—a sense of urgency, of desperation that he hasn’t felt before. He knows that Rayne is feeling it, too, that she can sense his fear, his determination, through their bond. He pushes forward, his mind focused on ending this, on stopping Rake once and for all.

But just as they seem to have him cornered, Rake twists, his body dissolving into a cloud of dark smoke that fills the room, choking the air and obscuring their vision. Blade swings his weapon, cutting through the smoke, but it is too late. Rake has slipped away, his laughter echoing through the warehouse as he disappears into the shadows.

“Damn it!” Blade curses, his fists clenched as the smoke begins to clear, leaving them alone in the empty warehouse. He can feel the frustration, the anger bubbling up inside him, but he forces himself to stay calm, to think.

Gage’s voice breaks through the silence, steady and composed. “We’ll get him. He can’t run forever.”

Blade nods, though the tension in his shoulders doesn’t ease. He knows Gage is right, but the thought of Rake slipping away, of the danger he still poses, leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. He looks around at his team, each one of them breathing hard, their faces a mixture of anger and determination.

Scar claps a hand on his shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. “We’ll find him, Blade. And when we do, he won’t get away again.”

Blade nods, his jaw set. He knows this isn’t over. Rake has escaped, but they had him on the run. And with the Elite by his side, Blade knew they would hunt him down, no matter how long it took. He glances up, his thoughts turning to Rayne, to the warmth of their bond that steadies him, even now.

“Let’s get back,” he calls, his voice hard but resolved. “We need to regroup, plan our next move.”

The team moves out, their steps heavy but determined as they leave the warehouse behind, the battle with Rake far from over. Blade’s mind races with possibilities, strategies, as they make their way back to headquarters. He knows they have to be ready, that the next encounter would be even more dangerous. But he also knows that with Rayne, with his brothers by his side, he would face whatever came next with a fierce determination that nothing could shake.

RAYNE 7

Rayne paces the room, her heart set on one thing—attending the Halloween party. She knows the risks, knows that Rake is still out there, lurking in the shadows, but her students had worked so hard. She couldn’t let them down.

Blade watches her, his arms crossed, his face etched with concern. “Rayne, it’s too dangerous. Rake is unpredictable. I can’t protect you if you’re out in the open like that.”

Rayne meets his gaze, her expression determined. “I can’t just hide away forever, Blade. The kids have been looking forward to this for weeks. I promised I’d be there.”

Scar, standing off to the side, exchanges a glance with Gage, who sighs and steps forward. “She’s got a point. We can keep her safe, and the school is easy to secure. We’ll all go, cover every entrance and exit. Rake won’t get anywhere near her.”

Talon smirks, giving Rayne an approving nod. “I say let her go. We’ll be there to keep an eye on things, and besides, I’m dying to see what she’s got planned for a costume.”

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