The pounding of my heart echoed in my ears as we moved through the narrow corridor. Each step felt heavier, the air thick with the weight of what we were about to face. Our mission was clear, but nothing ever went as planned.

"Team A, status?" I asked through the comms as I moved forward, my boots echoing off the concrete floor. Sasha’s voice came through immediately, sharp and calm.

"Clear on our end. We’re securing the back rooms," she reported. "No sign of movement yet, but the traffickers are definitely in there. We need to move fast."

I nodded to myself, relieved that at least one part of the operation was running smoothly. "Keep me posted. We’re almost to the front."

As we approached the main area, the sound of muffled voices and music echoed in the distance. The club was still operating, unaware of the storm heading their way. My team and I moved like shadows, quiet and swift, but I could feel the tension tightening in my chest.

We had to get to the girls, and we had to do it fast.

I motioned for Aakar and Rudra to move ahead, scanning the rooms as we passed. The first door we approached was locked. I didn’t hesitate. Aakar was already at the door with his tools, working to disable the lock.

"We’re losing time," Rudra muttered, keeping his eyes on the corridor. He was right. Every second counted.

The door clicked open, and we entered swiftly, clearing the space. Empty. But the smell of stale alcohol and sweat lingered in the air, and I knew we weren’t far from where the girls were being held.

Suddenly, a sharp sound pierced the silence. A guard turned the corner, spotting us before I could react. His hand moved toward his gun, but Aakar was faster. With a swift motion, Aakar took him down, the guard collapsing in a heap.

"Clear," Aakar muttered as he holstered his weapon, but the tension in his voice was evident.

I motioned for the team to move deeper into the building. We were getting closer. I could feel it.

But then, a sound—louder this time. More voices. We hadn’t expected so many traffickers to be here. They must’ve heard the commotion from the guard we’d taken down. I immediately signaled for everyone to take cover.

"Back up!" I hissed into the comms, my voice low but urgent. "This isn’t going as planned. We need backup now."

Aakar and Rudra positioned themselves, weapons raised, as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. The traffickers were closing in on us fast. Too fast.

"We’ve got to move!" Rudra shouted, his eyes scanning the hallway.

I didn’t hesitate. "Aakar, cover the rear. Rudra, with me. We’ll push forward and get to the girls. Sasha, hold your position—don’t move until we have the all-clear."

Sasha’s voice came through, tight with tension. "Understood. But we need backup ASAP."

The situation was spiraling out of control. We were outnumbered, and they were starting to fight back. Shots rang out as the traffickers fired on us from the far side of the room. I barely had time to duck behind a pillar before a bullet ricocheted off the wall just inches from my head.

I gritted my teeth, adrenaline surging through my veins. This was no longer just a rescue mission—it had turned into a fight for survival.

I tapped into the comms again, my voice steady despite the chaos. "Chief, we need backup, now. This place is swarming with armed guards. We’re not going to make it without reinforcements."

The chief’s voice crackled through the comms. "Hold tight, Araina. Backup is on the way. Nikhil’s team is in position, and Vikrant’s team is ready. Stay alive. We’re coming."

"Understood," I replied, trying to keep the fear from creeping into my voice.

I motioned for Aakar to push forward, and Rudra followed close behind. We had no choice but to fight our way to the girls. Each room we cleared felt like an eternity, the sound of gunfire and shouted commands filling the air.

Finally, we reached the holding area. It was smaller than I expected—two rows of cages, each holding a girl. My heart clenched as I looked at their faces. Fear, desperation... and hope. They saw us and froze, but when they realized we weren’t the traffickers, they started to move, reaching out for us.

"We’re here," I said softly, my voice filled with urgency. "We’re getting you out of here."

But the traffickers were closing in. They had to know we were here by now. I didn’t wait for confirmation from the team. "Aakar, take the left. Rudra, stay with me."

I moved quickly to the cages, unlocking the first one with a swift motion. The girl inside was trembling, her face pale, but her eyes were filled with relief.

"Come with me," I urged. She didn’t hesitate, following me as we moved toward the exit.

But then—bang. The sound of a door bursting open, followed by a barrage of gunfire.

"We’ve got company!" Rudra yelled.

The traffickers were closing in faster than I expected. I shoved the girl toward the exit. "Run!"

Aakar’s voice came through the comms. "We’re holding them off, but we need to move now, Araina!"

With a final look back, I led the girl out, adrenaline pumping through me as the sound of gunfire echoed behind us. The rest of the girls were being ushered out by the team. But just as we reached the exit—another explosion rocked the building.

"Back up is here!" Rudra shouted, his voice filled with relief.

The sound of reinforcements hitting the scene was like music to my ears. Vikrant’s team arrived just in time, weapons raised, neutralizing the traffickers in seconds.

"We’ve got you covered," Vikrant’s voice came through the comms, sharp and commanding.

The reinforcements pushed forward, and I breathed a sigh of relief. The girls were safe, the traffickers neutralized. But the job wasn’t done yet.

As we moved toward the extraction point, I looked at my team, sweat and dirt covering our faces. We’d done it. We’d rescued the girls.

But I knew this wouldn’t be the last time we’d face danger. And next time, we’d be ready.