Footprints
"We need to be faster, but more careful this time, Caleb," Amber said, her voice steady but with a hint of concern.
Cal turned to face her, his posture tense. They stood in her small kitchen, the dim light of the city outside a stark contrast to the charged silence between them. His arms were crossed, jaw set.
"I know," he replied, his tone measured, his gaze focused on the map spread out between them. "But this place is different. It's not just a front. There's something bigger going on, I can feel it. This can't just be another dead end."
Amber stepped closer, her eyes never leaving his. "Which is why I need to be there with you. I'm not just going to sit back and wait."
He glanced at her, the tension in his jaw tightening slightly. "I need you in one piece, and we both know you're not exactly the heavyweight around here."
She raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips despite the slight sting of his words. "I may not be able to bend steel or spit out bullets, but I'm not useless, Caleb."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, clearly conflicted. "I'm not saying you're useless, but we have to be smart. Get us in, make sure they don't see us coming. That's all I'm asking."
Amber crossed her arms, her smile fading as she met his eyes with determination. "I know what I'm doing. I'm not going to get in your way. But you need to stop underestimating me."
He held her gaze for a moment longer, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Just… stick to the plan."
She nodded, the tension between them easing slightly. They turned back to the map, reviewing the details of the target location—a high-end bar with a treasure trove of information stashed inside.
---
The bar was alive with the soft murmur of conversations, the clinking of glasses, and the hum of jazz music playing softly in the background. It was a place of luxury and sophistication, the kind of establishment that catered to the city's elite.
Amber had arrived first, blending seamlessly with the upscale patrons. She was dressed elegantly, her hair pinned up, a calm confidence in her posture as she made her way to the bar. From the corner of her eye, she saw Caleb enter, his broad frame cutting a path through the crowd. He was dressed sharply in a dark suit, his expression unreadable.
You almost look handsome when you aren't dressed like a zombie. She gave him a light smile as she projected the thought. Their bond psychically had strengthen significantly with how often she's been speaking through her telepathy to him.
He gave her a barely perceptible nod as he made his way toward the VIP section. A burly guard stood at the entrance, his eyes narrowing slightly as Caleb approached.
"You got an invitation?" the guard asked, his voice gruff.
Caleb didn't miss a beat. "I'm here to see a friend."
Amber's heart raced as she moved closer, brushing past the guard, her fingers barely grazing his arm. She pushed the thought into his mind, making him believe that Caleb was a high-end VIP.
The guard blinked, his expression shifting to one of respect. "Go right in, sir."
Caleb nodded and slipped past him, his gaze flicking briefly to Amber before he continued down the hallway. She exhaled quietly, relief flooding through her.
She made her way to the bar, keeping a discreet eye on him. They were in, but that was just the first step.
---
The underground den was a world apart from the bar above. It was luxurious but held an undercurrent of danger and secrecy. Guards were positioned discreetly around the room, their eyes scanning the crowd.
Caleb moved slowly through the room, his eyes taking in every detail. He needed to find the back room, where Rusty had promised crucial information was kept. He stopped briefly at a roulette table, pretending to be interested in the game, but his mind was elsewhere.
You could make easy money using your powers, couldn't you? He followed the pill as it rolled and settled onto twenty-four black.
Probably not so helpful at roulette, but I try my best not to rely on my powers. She said cheerfully, almost expecting him to be proud. Especially when it comes to money. Too many ways to go full super villain or king pin.
Cal didn't feel pride, but admiration. Having such a manipulative ability and still not giving into such enticing temptations gave him comfort about her being around. An anxiety that if he couldn't stop himself he'd need somebody who could.
Amber, seated at the bar, watched him carefully. She reached out with her mind, gently probing the surface thoughts of the people around her. Most were preoccupied with the games, with money and alcohol. But she could feel the tension among the guards, the alertness that told her they were ready for trouble.
Everything okay? she projected again, her thoughts reaching Caleb like a whisper.
He didn't react outwardly, but she felt his response. Without a hitch. I'm heading toward the back.
Amber didn't answer. She moved quietly. Her abilities were empathic, telepathic—close-range. If she touched someone, she could push a thought or blur their focus, but only simple things. Too much and their mind rejected it.
She watched as he made his way toward a narrow hallway, slipping past a group of men who were too drunk to notice him. She focused on the guards, her heart pounding as she monitored their emotions. They seemed relatively calm, but one guard's anxiety suddenly spiked as he looked around the room.
—
Caleb reached the end of the hallway, his eyes narrowing as he saw the locked door ahead. He glanced around, making sure no one was watching, then clenched his fists.
You sure you're okay by yourself? Amber's thought came through, a hint of anxiety in her voice.
He smirked. "Just a little knock."
Without another thought, he stepped forward and drove his fist into the doorframe. The lock snapped with a loud crack, and the door swung open, the wood splintering where his knuckles had connected. It wasn't subtle, but it worked, and hopefully muffled by the sound of the music outside the hall.
He slipped inside, closing the door behind him. The room was small, cluttered with files and a large safe in the corner. He quickly began snapping photos of the documents with a small camera, his hands moving with practiced efficiency.
Outside, Amber sensed a sharp rise in anxiety from the same guard as he noticed the broken door. Her heart raced as she sensed his confusion and fear.
Caleb, quick—someone's coming! Her thought came in urgently.
Caleb barely had time to turn before the door burst open. The guard stood there, gun raised, eyes wide with shock. Without thinking, Caleb ducked to the side, waiting for the right moment as the guard hadn't actually seen him yet.
As the guard stepped further into the room, Caleb sprang forward, landing a heavy blow to the side of the guard's head. The man crumpled, but his body knocked over a shelf on the way down, sending papers and a lamp crashing to the floor.
Caleb muttered a curse under his breath. That was going to draw attention. He yanked the ski mask from his pocket, pulling it over his face as he heard shouts echoing down the hallway.
---
The first guard to burst into the room had no time to react before Caleb slammed into him, throwing him back into the hallway. He heard the shouts of more guards and knew he was out of time.
Amber's voice echoed in his mind, filled with panic. Shit! I can feel guards gathering and heading to you, get out!
He took a deep breath, adrenaline surging through his veins. He couldn't leave yet, not without finishing what he'd come here to do. But the sound of footsteps getting closer forced his hand.
He charged forward, grabbing the guard's gun and tossing it aside before landing a solid punch to the man's jaw. He spun, kicking another guard in the stomach and sending him crashing into the wall.
More guards were coming, and he knew he was trapped. He pushed through the hallway, shoving the fallen guards aside, his mind racing, worrying about Amber as he cut his way through the narrow space.
---
Amber watched the scene unfold from her seat at the bar, her heart pounding in her chest. The gunfire echoed through the room, and people began to panic, some ducking for cover, others rushing toward the exits.
She stood slowly, keeping her movements calm and deliberate, as if she were just another patron caught up in the chaos. She made her way toward the exit, her mind still linked to Caleb's, her thoughts a mix of fear and resolve.
Caleb what's going on? Are you okay? She began to follow the crowd, stopping and facing the door to the hall as they pushed past her.
"Leave now!" He accidentally yelled out loud. Amber still heard it loud and clear.
What about you? She couldn't hide her anxious expression anymore.
Just trust me! He snapped. Still worrying about him, she decided to let Cal to get out on his own. Trusting her partner's words.
She slipped through the crowd, her heart racing as she stepped out into the cool night air. The noise of the bar faded behind her, and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
---
Caleb finally emerged from the shadows of a side alley, his breath ragged, a faint smile playing on his lips despite the chaos they'd just escaped. He spotted Amber waiting a few blocks away, leaning against a lamppost, a look of relief washing over her face as he approached.
"You okay?" she asked, her eyes scanning him quickly for any sign of injury.
"Yeah," he panted, still catching his breath. "Just… need a minute." A crimson red began to bleed through his white undershirt.
Amber couldn't help but smile, a surge of adrenaline and excitement rushing through her as she confirmed through his thoughts that he'd gathered what they needed. "You did it, Caleb! We got them good!" She cheered.
She couldn't contain her excitement and playfully punched him in the shoulder. "Nice work, big guy."
Cal exaggerated a wince, rubbing his arm. "Hey, careful! That hurt."
Amber laughed, but then shook her hand, a look of mock pain on her face. "I think I actually hurt my hand."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "You've got to work on that punch."
She rolled her eyes, still smiling. "I'll leave the punching to you."
For a moment, the tension between them melted away, replaced by a shared sense of triumph and relief. They had done it, and even if it was just one step forward, it felt like a victory.
As the adrenaline began to fade, Cal pulled out his phone, showing her the photos he'd taken. "This is bigger than we thought."
Amber's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern as she scanned the images. There were lists of names, coded messages, and locations scattered across the city. It was an intricate network, more organized than they'd anticipated.
"This is…" she trailed off, her mind racing as she processed the information. "We're dealing with something much bigger than just a local crime ring, aren't we?"
Cal nodded, his expression grim. "They're not just trafficking people. This looks like a coordinated operation. Drugs, weapons, maybe even more."
Amber felt a chill run down her spine as she glanced back at the map they had marked up in her apartment. "How many more places like this are there?"
"Too many," Cal muttered, his jaw clenched. "We're just scratching the surface."
She looked at him, her hand resting on his arm, her touch grounding him. "What's our next move?"
He looked down at the photos again, his mind working through their limited options. "We need to get more information. Find out who's running this. We take them out, maybe it'll take the whole operation down."
Amber nodded, determination hardening her features. "And that's it? What if it's one of those 'cut the head off the snake' deals?"
"They'll run out of heads to grow back eventually I'm sure. A small humorless smile tugged at his lips.
She rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of amusement there, a reminder that even in the midst of all this darkness, they were still human. "Great. That's reassuring."
He pocketed his phone, his expression softening slightly as he looked at her. "You did good tonight, Amber. I'm… I'm glad you were here."
Her eyes widened slightly at the unexpected compliment, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words. She smiled, a hint of warmth returning to her eyes. "Thanks. I'm glad I could help."
"We should get out of here," Amber said, glancing around. "Before someone comes looking for us."
Cal nodded, the gravity of their situation still heavy on his shoulders. "Yeah. Let's go."
As they turned to leave, a thought nagged at the back of Cal's mind, a sense of foreboding he couldn't shake. A couple months ago he'd decided to stop some assaults and now it's already come to be facing a kingpin of crime.
But as he glanced at Amber, her determination and resolve shining through the weariness in her eyes, he felt a surge of hope.