The storm raged outside, its fury pounding against the walls of the old mansion. Lightning flickered through the windows, briefly illuminating the room before plunging it back into darkness. Inside, the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation and fear. Alex paced the length of the room, his face tense with worry as he thought about the recent turn of events.
Sara sat at the large wooden table in the center of the room, her fingers drumming rhythmically on the polished surface. The meeting with The Shadow had been a disaster. They had come too close to discovering the true identity of the leader of the rogue faction, only to be thwarted at the last moment by a sudden and unexpected attack.
Alex stopped pacing and looked at Sara, his eyes reflecting the frustration he felt. "We should have known something was off. The information was too perfect, too convenient. It was a trap."