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To the blood room.

I don't know how they will find Vlad, and if he'll be in any capacity to fight. His moods are so fickle that I simply cannot risk it.

Pursing my lips, I say a small prayer before I open the door.

Rifle under my arm, my stance ready as he'd taught me, I get on my haunches and I aim.

The three men are in formation, one ahead, two behind. I have the advantage that they haven't realized my presence yet, so I focus on the one ahead, since I'm thinking he might be the leader. Since they are all dressed in uniform, likely with bulletproof equipment underneath, myonlybet is the head.

Once I have a good aim, the rifle pointed at the back of his head, at the bare skin between his neck and his cap, I squeeze the trigger.

I reel backwards as the bullet flies towards its target, promptly embedding itself right where his skull meets the cervical vertebrae.

It's a split second where he falls to the ground, the other two men immediately on me as they bark some orders.

Blinking rapidly, I realize there's no time to lose. Not when they're also shooting at me. I barely have time to throw myself inside the room before bullets fly past the door.

Time is of essence as I have to quickly decide how to tackle this. The men will surely come to the room, and just like the hallway, it's an open field.

Trying to keep a handle on my panic, I realize that the only hiding place is… behind the door.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, situating myself behind the door and waiting for them to burst through. If I can take one down, then I can handle just one person, right?

I better hope so.

A few more seconds and the men almost tear down the door.

"We need to get to Kuznetsov." One notes while the other grunts, using his fingers to signal something.

I wait until they are further into the room before I announce my presence. Holding tightly onto the rifle, I aim, managing to nab one of them in his cheek.

Blood spurts out as he falls to his knees, his gun dropping to the ground, his screams of pain worse than a woman's. I don't even have time to consider that as I see the other aim at me.

Before I realize what I'm doing, I pull the door toward me, using it as a shield.

Bullets hit the steel door, and I'm grateful that Vlad's had the entire level custom made. It certainly made the difference between life and death just now.

Debating what to do next, I take a risk and I drop the rifle.

At this point it's all about timing, and taking the time to get the target right might cost me precious seconds. Wrapping my fingers around the hilt of a knife, I wait until the bullets quiet before peeking inside the room, immediately throwing the knife at him.

Missed.

Out of bullets, he's abandoning his own weapon and picking up the one of his fallen friend.

Shit!

Already on automatic pilot, I reveal myself once more, my sight clear as I make eye contact with him. He has a smug expression on his face, as if he's already won this, even though his partner is sitting in a blood bath thatIcaused.

I let my lips spread in a smile before I move my shoulder back, preparing for the throw. He smirks as he takes in my knife, probably expecting me to miss again.

Ah, but I have a surprise for him.

After all, if there's anything I know how to do well, that's survival.

And so I keep my smile on, my fingers tight against the hilt of the kunai, and I throw.

His lips are stuck in a perpetual smile as the tip of my knife lands right in between his eyes. He falls to the floor with a thud, but I can't even gloat in my win.