The flickering light cast eerie shadows on the walls as we walked through the winding corridors of the Wyrm Raiders’ base. My thoughts were in turmoil, the images of my sister’s lifeless body and the innocent face of Mia haunting me. Each step echoed my internal conflict, the memories of loss mingling with a burning desire for vengeance.

My mind wandered back to our desperate situation. Thirteen credits. It was all we had managed to scrounge together, a pittance that wouldn't get us far. I had kept my silence as Samantha and Max discussed our options, but my thoughts had never strayed far from Cassius and the Triads. Finding Mia was my priority, but now, standing in the lion's den, the plan seemed far more dangerous and complex than I'd anticipated.

As we reached Cinder’s office, I could feel the weight of her scrutiny. She was different from the rest, her fiery temperament matched by a surprising depth of insight. I was barely paying attention to the conversation between her and my friends, my focus on the bandage Lina had applied to my knee. The pain was faint, yet it was a constant reminder of the price of our mission.

“Sabir, was it? You okay, you seem dazed?” Cinder’s voice cut through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present.

“Yeah, just… thinking,” I replied, meeting her gaze briefly before looking away. I could see the skepticism in her eyes, but she didn’t push further.

Samantha and Max were trying their best to keep the conversation light, but I could see the fear in their eyes. We were out of our depth here, and they knew it. The Triads were dangerous, but they were also our best shot at getting into Havana. My jaw tightened as I thought about the risk we were taking.

Cinder leaned back, her demeanor shifting from leader to something more approachable. “You kids better get some rest. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”

She glanced at the door and called out, “Nia, come in here.”

A slender woman with a graceful demeanor entered. She had long, jet-black hair and striking almond-shaped eyes, and I recognized her as the one who had seen us on the ground floor earlier.

“Nia, lead them to the empty room,” Cinder instructed.

Nia nodded. “The empty room has a single bunk bed,” she said softly, looking at us with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Cinder waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. One of them can sleep on the floor.”

Nia led us through the corridors, which seemed even more oppressive as we walked. Max and Samantha exchanged worried glances, their concern for me evident.

As we reached the room, Nia hesitated at the door. “I’m sorry for everything. My friends… they’re good people, really. We’re all just trying to survive.”

The trio exchanged doubtful looks. Max crossed his arms, skepticism clear in his voice. “Good people? You were going to kill us.”

Nia laughed, a bitter edge to her voice. “We’re living in tough times. No one knows who to trust anymore.” She paused, her eyes softening. “Just get some rest. Tomorrow’s another day.”

She left, closing the door gently behind her. The room was small and dimly lit, with a single bunk bed in the corner. I sighed and dropped my bag onto the floor. “I’ll take the floor.”

Samantha sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes still on me. “Sabir, what’s going on in your head?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. “I’m just… thinking about Mia. And Cassius. If the Triads killed my sister, then…”

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Max interrupted, his voice firm. “Then we need to be careful. We can’t take them on, not now. We need to play along, get into Havana, and then figure out our next move.”

He was right. Revenge would have to wait. For now, our priority was survival and finding Mia. I nodded, forcing a smile. “You’re right. Let’s get some rest.”

The two of them settled down in their makeshift beds, while I squirmed uncomfortably on the floor. The silence of the night amplifying my thoughts. I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing with plans and contingencies. I couldn’t let my anger cloud my judgment. Cassius was out there, and Mia needed us. I had to stay focused.

As I drifted off to sleep, the small brown man from before suddenly appeared by my feet. He grinned broadly, looking down at us. “Oh, hi guys! I heard you’re gonna be coming with us into Havana. Isn’t it exciting?”

Max and Samantha both sat up quickly, startled. The man continued, unfazed by their reactions. “I’m Jai Singh, by the way.”

Samantha was about to introduce herself and the others when Jai cut her off. “Oh, I already know who you are.” He pointed at each of us in turn. “You’re Sabir, that’s Samantha, and he’s Max. You’re all eighteen, right? That makes you two years older than me.”

It was shocking to hear that this midget was younger than us, with his wispy beard and crooked posture. All this time I thought he was a man but he was really just a kid.

Jai continued, "I hope you don't hold a grudge against Miguel and Yuen earlier. Miguel... well, there's not much going on upstairs, at least that's what old man Mendoza says. And Yuen, he just wants to fight all the time. He's been fighting all his life, or at least that's what he tells me.

Jai shook his head, realizing he was getting off track again. “Look what I'm trying to say is, is that you guys got lucky. If you even think about revenge you'll die, before you even know it"

The word "revenge" hung in the air like a blade. Samantha's eyes widened, and she instinctively touched the scar where the knife had stabbed her. Max's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. I felt a surge of anger mixed with fear, but forced myself to stay calm. The Triads were dangerous, and Jai’s warning wasn't to be taken lightly.

Max frowned, his sarcasm oozing. "Are all you friends lethal and dangerous?"

Jai shrugged, a wry smile on his face. "I might not know everything about them, but The Triads are like family to me and they all treat me well."

Samantha leaned forward, her interest piqued despite herself. "What kind of abilities does everyone have?"

Jai's expression turned serious for a moment as he scanned Samantha’s face, his eyes narrowing. "Why do you want to know? What are you, a spy?"

Samantha's face paled, the memory of the knife flashing in her mind. She stammered, "N-nevermind, I'm not interested."

Jai's mischievous grin returned. "Relax, I was just messing with you. Besides, you've already seen some of our abilities. Yuen’s precise telekinesis, Miguel’s super strength. Lina’s got healing abilities, and the boss... well, she’s got some seriously scary pyrokinesis. Old man Mendoza, I don't know exactly what his power is, but he's very good with a sword. As for the others, well, they wouldn’t like me sharing their powers.”

Max's eyes widened. "That's quite a lineup."

Max and Samantha exchanged glances, both processing the information. Before they could ask more, Jai’s eyes twinkled with excitement. "Now, let me show you what I can do.”

He vanished and reappeared in front of Max, who jumped back in surprise. “How do you do that?” Max asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Jai smiled mischievously. “My esper abilities let me teleport myself and others, as long as we’re touching.”

Without warning, Jai disappeared again, reappearing beside Samantha. He placed his hand on her shoulder and then teleported them both into the air. Jai blinked back onto the floor, leaving Samantha to fall straight down onto me.

I caught her awkwardly, and for a brief moment, our faces were inches apart. There was a strange mix of tension and something softer in her eyes. Before I could react, Jai appeared again, his face next to ours, grinning mischievously.

I fought back the urge to punch him, knowing it wouldn’t end well. Samantha scrambled to her feet and smacked Jai on the shoulder. “Stop it!” she snapped, her cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

Jai just laughed and vanished again. Samantha shook her head, muttering under her breath as she got back into bed. The room fell silent once more, but the brief chaos had dispelled some of the tension, and we finally began to relax.

As I settled back onto the floor, I kept my resolve sharp. The time for payback would come, and when it did, I'd be ready. With my conscience fading, the tightness of my fist never left.