Klaz

KLAZ

I worked the complex locking mechanism with practiced precision, my fingers dancing over the intricate patterns. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I raced against time. The darkness of the vault, broken only by intermittent flashes from the malfunctioning power grid, added an extra layer of challenge.

My hearing strained to catch every subtle click and shift of the lock’s internal workings. I’d cracked countless high-security systems in my years as a soldier and bounty hunter, but this one pushed me to my limits.

Finally, the lock yielded with a satisfying click. I allowed myself a brief moment of satisfaction before pushing the heavy door open.

My heart pounded as I entered the vault. The air inside was cool and still, almost a shock after the chaos outside. In the center of the room, bathed in a soft blue light that seemed to defy the power outages, sat the Larain Diamond.

I approached it cautiously, my eyes fixed on its mesmerizing brilliance. Even in the dim light, it sparkled with an otherworldly radiance. I lifted it carefully from its pedestal, marveling at its weight and the way it caught what little light there was.

With reverence, I slipped the diamond into a hidden pocket in my suit.

My hand went to my cufflink, tapping it to activate the communication link to Cinta. “I’ve got it,” I whispered. “What’s your status?”

Only static answered me. The storm must have disrupted our communication. A cold dread washed over me, settling in the pit of my stomach.

Something was wrong. I felt it in my bones, an inexplicable certainty that Cinta was in danger. Without a second thought, I abandoned all pretense of stealth and sprinted towards our rendezvous point.

My mind raced with worst-case scenarios as I tore through the dimly lit corridors. Had she been caught? Was she hurt? The thought of Cinta in pain or danger made my blood boil.

I rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. A dozen security guards blocked my path, their weapons trained on me.

“Stop right there!” one shouted.

I didn’t have time for this. Cinta needed me.

I launched myself at the guards, my Vinduthi strength and speed giving me an overwhelming advantage. I moved like a blur, my fists connecting with satisfying thuds as I took down one guard after another.

A laser blast grazed my shoulder, but I barely felt it. My focus was singular: get to Cinta.

“Cinta!” I called out between blows, my shout echoing through the corridors. “Where are you?”

I fought with desperate power, fueled by a mix of adrenaline and fear for Cinta’s safety. The guards were good, but they hadn’t been warned about a Vinduthi on the rampage.

Too bad for them.

As I dispatched the last of them, I paused, straining my ears for any sign of Cinta. The silence that answered me only heightened my panic.

I pressed on, determined to find her, the weight of the diamond against my chest a constant reminder of what was at stake. But in that moment, I realized that no prize, no matter how valuable, mattered more to me than Cinta’s safety.

As I raced through the corridors, my cufflink crackled to life. Cinta’s voice, faint and fearful, broke through the static.

“! The water... it’s rising... I can’t?—”

Her words cut off abruptly, plunging me into silence. My heart hammered against my ribs, a primal fear gripping me.

“Cinta!” I shouted into the comm link. “Cinta, answer me!”

Nothing. The silence stretched on, each second an eternity.

I stopped, my mind reeling. The logical part of me screamed to continue towards our rendezvous point. But something deeper, more instinctive, pulled me in another direction.

I closed my eyes, letting my other senses take over. The scent of damp metal and ozone from shorted circuits filled my nostrils. Distant alarms blared, muffled by the thick walls. And beneath it all, a faint current of air brushed against my skin.

Without questioning why, I followed it.

Emergency lights flickered erratically, casting grotesque shadows that danced across the walls. Water sloshed around my ankles, steadily rising.

Cinta’s voice echoed in my mind, driving me forward. But as I reached a junction, I hesitated. Left or right? Logic told me to go left, towards the maintenance tunnels, but something pulled me right.

I growled in frustration, torn between instinct and reason. The seconds ticked by, each one potentially fatal for Cinta.

And then I felt it. A tug, deep in my chest. An inexplicable certainty.

Without questioning it, I turned right, sprinting down the corridor. The pull grew stronger with each step, guiding me through a maze of twisted metal and rising water.

I came to a sealed door, the electronic lock dark and unresponsive. The certainty that Cinta was behind it overwhelmed me. With a roar, I dug my fingers into the seam and pulled.

Metal groaned and buckled under my grip. I couldn’t explain how I knew, but I was sure Cinta was running out of time. With a final surge of strength, I tore the door free.

Water rushed out, knocking me back. And there she was, huddled in a corner, pale and shivering but alive.

“?” she whispered, disbelief in her eyes. “How did you find me?”

I crossed the room in two strides, scooping her into my arms. As I held her, the pull in my chest settled into a warm, steady hum. I didn’t understand it, but I knew I never wanted to let her go.

“I’ll always find you,” I murmured, surprising myself with the truth of those words.

Cinta let out a shaky laugh. “My hero. Though I did most of the work myself, you know. Swiped an access card from a guard earlier. Came in handy when the flood controls went haywire.”

I pulled back, drinking in the sight of her. Even soaked and bedraggled, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

“You’re incredible,” I said, meaning every word.

A faint blush colored her cheeks. “Yeah, well, I don’t make a habit of needing rescue.”

I shrugged off my jacket, draping it over her shoulders, covering the sodden uniform dress. She snuggled into it, her shaking slowly subsiding.

“Did you get it?” Cinta asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement despite our dire situation.

I patted my chest, feeling the hard lump of the diamond. “Safe and sound.”

She grinned, a flash of her usual cockiness returning. “We did it. I knew we would.”

Reality quickly reasserted itself as another alarm blared in the distance.

“We need to move,” I said, glancing towards the door. “It won’t be long before they notice the diamond’s missing, storm or no storm.”

Cinta nodded, her expression turning serious. “Right. Ready to get out of here?”