Page 60 of Lycan King's Claim
“Bold words, Xandros,” Vin sneered. “But you should know I have enough supplies down here to last decades, and this bunker is impenetrable.”
“Then it's a good thing we have your daughter with us,” I spit, anger and frustration boiling beneath my skin like molten lava.
“We're coming for you, Vin. And when we do, you'll wish you never crossed me.”
“Good luck, Xandros,” he replies, the line going dead just as we pull up at the police station.
“Alright, everyone,” I say, turning to face the assembled search party. “Every minute counts. We need to cover as much ground as possible and find Sienna before it's too late.”
The Council members work in tandem with us, while we try to locate exactly where the tunnel is at this location, Carina knows the locations, just not the exit points.
Advanced tech teams deploy, using ground-penetrating radar to detect any underground anomalies around the suspected sites. Social media's role becomes pivotal; the online community rallies, sharing any and every potential lead.
Then, an anonymous tip on a digital portal catches our attention: a blurry photo of Sienna, unconscious. My heart lurches at the sight. Instantly, a digital team works on enhancing the image, trying to pick out any identifiable markers in the background, like the markings on the old pipes along the ceiling. They look for anything.
Vin's confidence is evident when he sends a mocking text, Vin: You won’t find her, not with all the tech in the world.
In a moment of anger, I send back an image of Carina, a subtle reminder of what I have on my side: You underestimate us, but most of all, you're underestimating what your daughter knows.
“Xandros,” Javier's voice crackles through the radio.
“We found it. The entrance to the underground tunnels. It's hidden, but it's here.”
“Good work, Javier,” I reply, hope flaring in my chest like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
“Carina and I will meet you there. Be ready.”
As we race to the location, my mind churns with fear. What if we were too late? What if Sienna didn't make it? But I couldn't allow those thoughts to consume me. Not now. Not when we were so close to finding her.
30
My heart races, each beat echoing the urgency of the situation. The entrance to the underground fortress looms ahead, a testament to King Vin's paranoia and cunning. The air feels heavier here, the weight of the earth pressing down. Every instinct screams that Sienna is near, and every moment we delay could be fatal.
“Xandros!” Javier's voice pulls me from my thoughts. He's indicating to a massive metal door ahead, nearly concealed behind a deceptive facade of two false walls. “That's our way in.”
I approached the door, studying its construction. Thick and reinforced with multiple layers, this isn't an ordinary barrier. It's designed to withstand sieges, to keep out whatever King Vin fears most.
A tactical unit, clad in black and heavily armed, joins us. Their movements are swift and deliberate, their presence signaling the grave danger ahead. They immediately set to work, positioning a hydraulic cutter to breach the door.
“We need to hurry,” Carina whispers, her voice thick with tension.
The machine whirs to life, its blades biting into the metal. Sparks fly, illuminating the faces of the team working tirelessly, every second a battle against time. But even after minutes that feel like hours, the door barely shows a dent.
“We don’t have time for this,” Javier mutters, frustration evident in his voice.
Switching tactics, the team sets up explosive charges. We all took cover, waiting for the signal.
“Now!” comes the shout.
A deafening blast rocks the underground chamber, the door blowing inward. Thick smoke billows out, but as it clears, we see the path ahead is open.
It's not unguarded, though. Vin's guards, more than I expected, emerge from the shadows, weapons at the ready, faces set in grim determination. The fight for Sienna is now.
Tense, tactical coordination surrounds us as we prepare to infiltrate Vin's underground fortress. The air vibrates with tension, every guard and officer's motion calculated, every weapon checked and ready.
“Did you seriously assume we are not ready for you?” One of Vin's guards, armored but clearly overconfident, stands defiantly, mockery evident in his tone.
I narrow my eyes, feeling every muscle coil in readiness. “The same could be said for you,” I respond coldly, before lunging with a precision that surprises even the guard. Our bodies slam together with a force that reverberates through the chamber. As we grapple, the room becomes a blaring of gunshots, shouts, and the unmistakable sounds of close-quarters combat.
