Moon Shadow：A werewolf's struggle

Chapter 17: Prelude to Betrayal

The night was dense with shadows as Lin Yue, Chen Xi, and the mysterious man navigated the hidden paths of the city. Streetlights flickered in the distance, but their route kept them in the quiet dark of the alleys. Each step echoed softly against the cracked pavement, and Lin Yue could feel the tension radiating from Chen Xi beside him.

“Are you certain this route is safe?” she asked, her voice low but edged with doubt.

The man nodded, though a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. “It’s the safest way I know. But we have to move quickly. They won’t be expecting an intrusion this deep into the night, but their patrols… they’re unpredictable.”

Lin Yue exchanged a quick glance with Chen Xi. His senses were on high alert, every sound amplified, every shadow suspect. “Then lead the way,” he said, his voice measured.

The man picked up his pace, guiding them down a narrow alley that led to an abandoned subway station. They stopped in front of the entrance, and the man pointed to the rusted metal doors, partially obscured by a tangle of ivy.

“Through here,” he whispered, stepping forward and pushing the doors open. The sound echoed, too loud in the stillness.

Chen Xi hesitated, casting a wary glance around the dimly lit interior. “This seems too easy,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Lin Yue nodded in agreement, his gaze narrowing. “The organization never leaves anything to chance. Stay sharp—there’s bound to be security measures somewhere.”

They descended the steps, every footfall stirring up dust from the long-forgotten floor. The man led them through a series of tunnels that twisted and branched like the roots of an ancient tree, the air growing colder and more stale as they went deeper. The silence was oppressive, only broken by the occasional drip of water from the ceiling.

After what felt like an eternity, Lin Yue’s ears picked up a faint sound—a low hum, just on the edge of hearing. He halted, motioning for the others to stop. “Hold on,” he whispered. “Do you hear that?”

They stood perfectly still, listening. The hum grew louder, accompanied by the distant, rhythmic thud of footsteps. Chen Xi’s eyes widened, and she pressed herself against the wall, gesturing for the others to do the same.

A patrol of guards in black uniforms emerged from the shadows ahead, their expressions grim, their weapons gleaming faintly under the dim emergency lights. Lin Yue barely dared to breathe as the guards drew nearer, their eyes scanning the darkness. He could feel his muscles tense, every instinct on high alert.

One guard’s gaze lingered on their hiding place, his eyes narrowing. Lin Yue’s hand tightened around his weapon, ready to strike. But the guard merely grunted, moving on as his companions followed, their footsteps fading into the depths of the tunnel.

Lin Yue exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing just a fraction. “Let’s keep moving,” he said in a low voice. “We don’t have much time.”

They continued down the corridor, finally reaching a thick metal door at the end of the passage. The man stepped forward, swiping a card across the electronic reader, and the door slid open with a mechanical hiss. Beyond it was a pristine, sterile hallway lit by the harsh glow of fluorescent lights.

Lin Yue’s senses were on high alert as they entered the lab. The room was filled with rows of servers, monitors flashing lines of code, and experimental equipment arranged with clinical precision. The cold, antiseptic smell permeated the air, and a strange, foreboding energy filled the space.

The man pointed toward a massive server against the wall. “All the data we need is in there. Their experiment records, research files… everything. If we can get it, we’ll know exactly what they’re planning.”

Chen Xi was already moving toward the server, her hands working quickly as she plugged her device into the terminal. “Give me a few minutes,” she murmured, her fingers flying over the keys.

Lin Yue positioned himself near the door, every nerve in his body attuned to his surroundings. He could feel the weight of the building around him, an oppressive silence broken only by the faint hum of the servers. He knew that any wrong move could mean the end.

The faint sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor, and Lin Yue’s gaze snapped toward the door, his body tense. “Someone’s coming,” he whispered, his eyes narrowing as he listened to the approaching steps. “Chen Xi, how much longer?”

“Almost there,” she replied, her voice tight with concentration. She didn’t look up, her fingers moving faster as the data transfer inched closer to completion.

Suddenly, a shrill alarm blared through the lab, and red emergency lights flashed to life, casting an ominous glow over the room.

“They’ve found us,” the man said, his face pale as he glanced at the door. “We have to get out—now.”

Lin Yue’s eyes flashed, his form seeming to blend with the shadows as his powers surged within him. “I’ll hold them off,” he said firmly, his voice calm and controlled. “Chen Xi, finish the download. I’ll buy you time.”

With a nod, Chen Xi focused on her task, her fingers a blur across the keyboard as she worked to complete the data transfer. Lin Yue stepped into the hallway, his gaze fixed on the approaching guards. As they rounded the corner, he launched himself forward, his body moving with predatory speed and precision. The first guard barely had time to react before Lin Yue’s fist struck, sending him sprawling.

The remaining guards raised their weapons, but Lin Yue was already a blur, dodging and weaving with supernatural agility. He struck down one guard after another, his movements precise, each attack a calculated blow.

In the lab, Chen Xi’s screen flashed as the download completed, and she quickly disconnected her device. She turned toward the door, her expression tense as she glanced at Lin Yue. “It’s done!”

Lin Yue nodded, his gaze fierce. “Then let’s get out of here.”

They sprinted down the corridor, the alarms still blaring as more guards poured into the building. Lin Yue led the way, his movements fluid and swift as he navigated the maze-like halls. Chen Xi followed closely, her eyes scanning every corner, every shadow, as they dodged around turns and ducked through doorways.

Just as they reached the exit, a group of guards appeared, blocking their path. Lin Yue’s eyes narrowed, his body coiling like a spring. “Stay behind me,” he said, his voice cold and steady.

He launched forward, a blur of movement as he struck the first guard, disarming him in a single, swift motion. The others moved in, but Lin Yue was faster, his attacks relentless, each movement calculated to take them down with minimal effort. Within moments, the path was clear.

They burst through the exit and into the night, the cool air filling their lungs as they sprinted away from the building. Behind them, the alarms continued to blare, but they didn’t look back. Lin Yue’s mind was already racing with their next steps, each thought sharp and focused.

After several blocks, they slowed, ducking into an alley to catch their breath. The man leaned against the wall, his face drawn, his breaths coming in gasps. Lin Yue studied him, his expression unreadable.

“Why did you help us?” Lin Yue’s voice was low, his gaze piercing. “You knew the risks, yet you guided us here.”

The man looked up, his eyes shadowed with something unreadable. “Because I’ve lost as much to them as you have. More, maybe.” His voice was laced with bitterness. “They took everything from me—my family, my freedom. I won’t rest until they’re gone.”

Chen Xi’s gaze softened, though her eyes held a fierce resolve. “Then we’re on the same side. If we have any chance of stopping them, we’ll need allies—people who know their weaknesses, who can help us take them down.”

The man nodded, a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes. “There are others like me—people who’ve lost everything to the organization. They’re scattered, hiding in the shadows, but if we reach out, they might join us.”

Lin Yue’s gaze hardened as he looked back at the distant building, its red lights still flashing in the night. “Then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll bring them together, use everything we have to break the organization apart.”

Chen Xi nodded, her expression resolute. “We’ve made it this far, Yue. We’ll see this through to the end.”

As they turned to leave, Lin Yue felt a newfound strength within him, a fierce resolve that burned brighter than any fear. The path before them was dark and treacherous, but with allies by their side, he knew they had a chance—a chance to reclaim everything the organization had taken and to forge a future free from their control.