Story 397: Into the Lion’s Den

The sound of boots rushing toward her was all Zara needed to hear. She darted behind a crumbled statue, pressing her back to the cold stone as guards stormed into the chamber, weapons drawn.

“She couldn’t have gotten far!” one barked.

Zara’s pulse quickened, but her face remained calm—she’d survived worse odds. Slowly, she reached for her smoke grenade, clipped to her tactical harness. Timing was everything.

“Fan out!”

She smirked. Perfect. With a swift pull of the pin, Zara lobbed the grenade toward the center of the room. It clattered against the ground, and within seconds, a plume of dense smoke erupted, spreading like a storm cloud.

“Smoke! Find her!”

Zara didn’t wait. She moved through the haze, her movements precise, like a predator stalking prey. She aimed for the exit beyond the monolith, where a narrow hallway led deeper into the compound.