The journey ho felt longer than usual. Cassandra kept her head down, weaving through the crowded streets with practiced precision. Every lingering glance in her direction set her nerves on edge.
She made sure no one followed, occasionally doubling back or taking unnecessary turns. The mory of Hector and his robot ARIA was still fresh in her mind, and she wouldn't put it past them to track her movents.
When she finally reached the house, she reasoned that people might now be watching it closely. With Matilda captured, they would likely be on high alert for any suspicious activity.
'Better this way,' she thought, moving silently around to the back. The window creaked slightly as she eased it open, but she managed to slip inside without making too much noise.
Her fingers found the familiar shape of the clock's hand in the dimness, and with a practiced motion, she triggered the chanism. The secret door swung open with a soft click.
The underground room was warm and dimly lit. Mara and Sakura rose from their seats as Cassandra's footsteps echoed down the stairs. Sakura's face broke into a relieved smile.
"Finally! We were starting to worry. You took longer than—" Sakura's words died in her throat as she noticed the bruise Cassandra acquired during her encounter with ARIA on her cheek. Her eyes darted past Cassandra to the empty stairway behind her. "Where's Matilda?"
Cassandra said nothing. Instead, she dropped the bag of supplies onto the table with a heavy thud. Neither Mara nor Sakura spared it a glance, their eyes fixed on Cassandra's face, reading the answer in her expression before she could speak it.
"No," Mara whispered, sinking back into her chair. "They didn't..."
"Tell us what happened," Sakura demanded, her voice tight with concern. "Everything."
Cassandra ran a hand through her hair, exhaustion suddenly weighing heavy on her shoulders. "It was a trap. Or maybe just bad timing. They were doing another sweep of the market—more n than usual. We split up so I could get the supplies while Matilda waited..." She paused, her jaw clenching. "Soone recognized her. By the ti I realized what was happening, they had her surrounded."
"Did you try to—" Sakura started, but Cassandra cut her off.
"Of course I tried. But soone stopped . A man nad Hector, with so kind of combat robot. ARIA." Cassandra touched the bruise on her face absently. "He claid to know Zafron, ntioned sothing about a crystal staff."
Sakura's head snapped up at that. "Crystal staff? Did he say anything else about it?"
"Just that Zafron owed him an update about it. Why? Does that an sothing to you?"
Sakura shook her head slowly. "Hector is a friend Zafron said will help us in the escape plan, but it isn't important now. We need to get Matilda out," Sakura said firmly, pushing away from the table. "Now. Before they can move her sowhere else."
"I agree," Mara added, standing as well. "I can help. I may not be as strong as you two, but I can still—"
"No," Cassandra said sharply. "You need to stay here with Zafron. If sothing happens to him while we're gone..."
"But I can fight!" Mara protested. "I'm not helpless!"
"This isn't about being helpless," Cassandra countered, her voice softening slightly. "Soone needs to stay with Zafron. If he erges from that cocoon while we're gone, he'll need you here. And if sothing goes wrong, if we don't make it back..." She left the sentence hanging.
Sakura stepped forward, placing a hand on Mara's shoulder. "She's right. We can't leave him alone. Not now."
Mara's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Fine. But promise you'll be careful. Both of you."
"We need to wait a few hours," Cassandra said as she stood up from her seat. "Right now, they'll be celebrating their victory. The place will be crawling with guards. But soon, they'll send most of them out to search for Zafron. That's our window."
Sakura walked closer, her expression focused. "How many guards do you think will stay behind?"
"Enough to make it interesting," Cassandra replied grimly. "But not impossible."
"The real challenge will be getting to wherever they're holding her. Raxus's mansion is like a maze. I've been there once," Sakura admitted quietly. Both Cassandra and Mara turned to look at her in surprise. "Before... everything. There's a service entrance on the east side. The guards there are usually less alert, especially during shift changes."
Cassandra studied the map more closely. "That could work. If we ti it right, we might be able to slip in undetected. But once we're inside..."
"We'll have to be quick," Sakura finished. "Find her and get out before they realize what's happening."
"And if they do realize?" Mara asked from her seat.
Cassandra's expression hardened. "Then we fight our way out. Whatever it takes."
They spent the next hour planning, discussing every detail they could think of. Sakura drew what she rembered of the mansion's layout, marking potential guard positions and escape routes.
"We should bring so of the dical supplies," Sakura suggested, her voice careful. "Just in case."
Cassandra nodded, trying not to think about why they might need them. "No need for much of that, my sli possesses healing power. Pack light. We need to be able to move fast."
As they prepared, Mara watched from her seat near Zafron's cocoon, her expression troubled. "I still think I should co with you," she said softly.
Cassandra paused in her preparations, turning to face her. "Mara, listen to . What you're doing here is just as important as what we're about to do. Zafron trusted you to watch over him. That ans sothing."
"I know," Mara sighed. "I just feel so useless sitting here while you're all out there risking your lives."
"You're not useless," Sakura assured her. "You're our backup plan. If sothing goes wrong, if we don't co back, you and Zafron will need to find another way. The resistance can't end with us."
The weight of those words settled over the room like a heavy blanket. They all knew the risks, knew that this rescue attempt could very well be their last mission. But none of them could bear the thought of leaving Matilda in Raxus's hands.
"Two hours," Cassandra said finally, checking her weapons one last ti. "We wait two hours, then we move. Sakura, you rember the route?"
Sakura nodded, her expression determined. "Every turn."
"Good." Cassandra turned to Mara. "If we're not back by sunrise..."
"I know," Mara interrupted, her voice steady despite the tears in her eyes. "I know what to do."
The room fell silent except for the soft sounds of preparation and the distant hum of the city above them. Each woman lost in her own thoughts, steeling herself for what was to co.
None of them voiced the fear that lingered in the air—the possibility that they were already too late, that Matilda might already be beyond their help. They couldn't afford to think that way. Not now. Not when so much depended on their success.
As they waited for the right mont to move, Cassandra found herself staring at the map, morizing every detail.
Her encounter with Hector and ARIA had shown her the cost of rushing in unprepared. This ti, she wouldn't make the sa mistake. This ti, she would be ready for whatever Raxus and his n threw at them.
'Hold on, Matilda,' she thought grimly. 'We're coming for you.'
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