(The New Mission)

Calum sat stiffly in the wooden chair inside Crow's office, his impatience growing with each passing minute. He'd been waiting for nearly twenty minutes, and the silence was beginning to grate on his nerves. He hadn't expected Crow to be late either.

"Bryant," Crow said, his voice cool as he entered the room. He settled into the chair opposite Calum, a polished mahogany desk separating them. Crow steepled his fingers, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Calum's. He was impeccably dressed, a white T-shirt beneath a formal black blazer and a blue tie.

"I... I had to handle something very important this morning," Calum stammered, his alibi sounding weak even to his own ears.

Crow's interrogative gaze didn't help. "That important thing must have been more important than your job, since you missed the meeting," he remarked, his voice laced with a subtle hint of amusement.

Calum remained silent. He didn't have the guts to argue with his boss, knowing he'd lied about handling something important. He'd lied about everything, and the guilt gnawed at him.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you about our plan to eliminate the Eagle," Crow said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Our spies reported something to me. The Eagle will be out for an important transaction, surely more important than whatever you were doing this morning."

Calum felt a shiver run down his spine. He was confused by Crow's sarcastic tone, especially since he'd simply overslept. Seeing Mariana had been significant to him, but not to Crow.

"What do you want us to do?" Calum asked, his face impassive.

"Kill him," Crow said, his voice flat. "Isn't that what you wanted? This will give you a 100% chance to end him."

Crow sighed. "I'll distract the media and the FBI so they won't detect the Eagle's transaction. Our plan will succeed."

"You don't need to remind me about killing him," Calum said, his voice laced with disdain. "I've taken every chance I've had to end his life. I will kill him."

"That's what I like about you, Bryant," Crow said, clapping his hands and laughing. He was celebrating Calum's unwavering ruthlessness. Calum watched, unimpressed. He was grateful Crow hadn't mentioned Mariana. It was strange how she popped into his mind. It was crazy, because honestly, she was always on his mind.

"Is that all you wanted to say, Crow?" Calum asked.

Crow ended his celebration and straightened his blazer, settling back in his chair. "That's all. You can go back to handling that important thing."

Calum was annoyed. If Crow wasn't his boss, he would have punched him. He quickly left Crow's office, his steps heavy with frustration. He spotted Trae's smiling face as he descended the long, structural steel staircase of the headquarters. Walking up and down those stairs always made him feel like he was walking into an infinite abyss. The headquarters was built many years ago but never been raided once by the FBI, that's how clean they do their business.

He was still far from Trae, but he easily noticed him. It wasn't racism, but Trae's dark skin and white teeth always made him stand out. Trae reached him as he reached the bottom of the stairs, a wide, unsettling smile plastered on his face.

"How's your sleep, buddy?" Trae asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Calum knew this was coming. Trae was always looking for a way to irritate him. He could see the malice behind Trae's smile.

"I didn't sleep at all," Calum said, his voice clipped. "So don't ask."

Trae's smile widened. "That's insane. I wondered why you woke up late. I'm so eager to know the whole story."

Calum shook his head. Trae's constant interrogation was beyond his capacity to handle.

"Come on, Trae," Calum said. "We should talk about something more relevant to our upcoming mission."

Trae smirked. "Okay, sir. You're terrifying me."

Calum knew Trae wasn't terrified; his sarcasm was evident. They walked together until they found a bench in the hallway. They sat down, and Calum began.

"We need to plan our mission carefully. We've waited so long for this, and I can almost taste the sweet nectar of our success."

Trae's smile vanished, replaced by a seriousness that mirrored Calum's. "I can't wait to watch that cold, evil blood of Eagle burst out of him. I want him to drown in his own blood."

A dark, deep pain lurked within them. Their bloodthirsty agony had consumed their souls and spirits. They were both poisoned by a hatred that seemed to fester in their hearts, refusing to fade. Their thirst for vengeance was as dark as their past, blinding them to the happiness they had once known.

"Hey! I've never been so lucky to actually witness my idols getting romantic. What's the status?"

Kyrie's boisterous voice shattered the tense silence. He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, a water bottle dangling from his hand. Calum and Trae glared at him with chilling intensity. Kyrie immediately realized he had made a big mistake, interrupting their conversation with his ill-timed joke.

"Oh, never mind," Kyrie said, scrambling to retreat. "Just keep talking, guys. I'm just a breeze passing through."

Kyrie hurried away, disappearing from their sight as quickly as possible.

"An idiot," Trae chuckled.

"And by the way, buddy," Trae continued, "we have a minor mission to handle first. We need to take care of Spencer. He's quitting, and Crow says he'll become a major problem for our plans."

Calum nodded. "Then let's get on with it and waste no time. Let's take care of him."

They stood and walked out of the headquarters, their steps echoing in the silent hallways.

"Hey, Calum," Trae said, his voice a low whisper. "You know, I've been thinking. Maybe we should take a break from all this. Maybe we should find a place where we can just... relax."

Calum stopped walking, his gaze fixed on the ground. He knew what Trae was suggesting. They both needed a break, a chance to escape the darkness that had consumed their lives. But they were trapped in a web of their own making, and there was no easy way out.

"Maybe later," Calum said, his voice barely a whisper. "But right now, we have a job to do."

Trae nodded, his expression grim. They continued walking, their steps echoing in the silent hallways. The world outside awaited them, a world of violence and darkness. They were destined to be players in this game, their lives forever intertwined with the shadows.

...