The trees stood tall and still, their trunks fading into the white veil that clung to the ground.
Fog blanketed the forest like a shroud – thick and endless – curling between roots and branches with ghostlike grace.
Step. Step. Step.
Footsteps echoed in the middle of the forest. Leaves rustled beneath every step.
The forest was silent… except for the sound of those slow, deliberate strides.
The fog grew even thicker, clinging to tree trunks and branches, making it nearly impossible to see with the naked eye.
Suddenly–
Tck!
A red line sliced through the mist.
Then another. And another.
Ten red beams cut through the fog in total – lasers, humming softly, sharp as razors in the gloom.
And then–
A figure emerged from the haze.
Clad in a carbon-black tactical suit, reinforced at the joints and woven with lightweight ballistic fibres. No logos. No ranks. Just one mark: a single silver insignia on the left shoulder:
SHINRA
The figure's face was concealed behind a mask, molded with dual filters on either side of the jaw and two glowing red lenses over the yes – dim yet unmistakable, like something not quite human. The mask hissed with each breath, a soft exhale vanishing into the thick mist.
The figure stepped out of the fog and into clearer view, now standing at the edge of the forest.
Ahead of him lay a broad, open field – and in the distance…
…an isolated barnhouse, old but intact, sitting like a forgotten secret on the land.
The figure lifted a hand to his chest-mounted walkie-talkie.
Tsshhh…
"Agent 007, this is Agent 049…"
CHARACTER INTRODUCTION
Name: Unknown
Codename: Agent 049
Species: Human
Age: Unknown
Hair Colour: Unknown
Eye Colour: Unknown
Height: 6'1
Weight: 180lbs
Occupation: Agent
"…we have finally arrived at the barnhouse. Waiting to proceed."
There was a short pause.
Then–
"Proceed, Agent 049."
"Roger that."
Agent 049 turned back toward the fog-choked forest and raised his hand, giving a signal.
Then – shadows stirred.
Nine more agents – clad in the same gear, faceless, silent, efficient – emerged from the mist one by one.
The Japanese Task Force. Codename: SHINRA.
SHINRA advanced toward the barnhouse, tactical rifles raised, barrels pointed forward.
Each member kept exactly five metres apart, spacing their movements with practiced precision.
The only sounds were the soft crunch of boots on dirt and gravel, the steady rhythm of synchronized steps.
Silence wrapped the scene otherwise – thick, tense, waiting.
Then–
"Agent 049…"
A voice crackled through the comms, slightly muffled by the speaker's mask.
Agent 049 turned his head slightly toward the voice.
"What is it, Agent 139?"
CHARACTER INTRODUCTION
Name: Unknown
Codename: Agent 139
Species: Human
Age: Unknown
Hair Colour: Unknown
Eye Colour: Unknown
Height: 6'0
Weight: 179lbs
Occupation: Agent
"C-Can you remind me why we're here?" Agent 139 asked, his rifle still trained on the barnhouse.
Agent 049 blinked, baffled even through his mask.
"What?! Were you not listening to the mission briefing, Agent 139?"
"I-I was! I mean… I did. But I kind of forgot most of it…"
"Is anyone surprised?" another agent muttered from nearby.
Agent 139 turned sharply.
"Shut up, Agent 084!"
CHARACTER INTRODUCTION
Name: Unknown
Codename: Agent 084
Species: Human
Age: Unknown
Hair Colour: Unknown
Eye Colour: Unknown
Height: 6'2
Weight: 184lbs
Occupation: Agent
Agent 049 sighed behind his filter, the sound faintly hissing through the comm.
"Fine. I'll repeat it." He gestured subtly toward the barnhouse as they moved.
"This property used to be home to a family of five – two adults, three children. Well-known in the area. Locals used to get all their supplies from them."
He paused briefly behind a hay bale.
"Then… they vanished. Supplies stopped coming. People got suspicious."
Agent 139 tilted his head.
"So what happened?"
"The police went to investigate. And they ended up dead."
Agent 049 emerged from behind the hay bale.
"Slaughtered. No survivors."
Agent 139's eyes widened behind the mask.
"Killed? You think it was–"
"A mutant." Agent 049 confirmed. "We're sure of it. Possibly the same one that wiped out the family."
Processing the information, Agent 139 turned back toward the barnhouse, his grip tightening on his weapon.
"Sh*t…" he muttered.
Agent 049 nodded.
"That's why the local police called in Prime Minister Irahara. Now it's our job – SHINRA: Special Human Intervention and Response Agency – to finish it. We cleanse what the law can't."
"Do you think we can kill it?" Agent 139 asked.
"Absolutely." Agent 049 answered with steely confidence. "We've been killing mutants for ten years. One more isn't going to stop us."
"I see…" Agent 139 nodded. Then a thought struck him. "Wait – speaking of killing mutants… I remember we were given orders not to kill one in particular. Someone called… the 'Mutant Thief'?"
"Yes." Agent 049's tone turned serious. "The Mutant Thief. An S-Ranked mutant who went missing nine years ago.
"Why aren't we allowed to kill him?" Agent 139 asked, eyebrows furrowed behind the visor.
Agent 049 sighed again.
"Because…" he said, voice low. "The Prime Minister wants him alive – for something called 'Project Zero'."
"Project Zero?" Agent 139 repeated, curiosity rising.
"I don't know the details," Agent 049 admitted. "But whatever it is… it sounds important."
Then–
The SHINRA agents halted.
Boots stopped in unison.
They were now standing directly in front of the barnhouse.
The SHINRA agents all looked up at the barnhouse.
It stood like a forgotten relic – abandoned and left to rot. Boards were splintered and broken, the nails blackened with rust. The once-bright red paint had long since peeled away, flaking like scabs from old wounds.
The roof sagged in the middle like a weary spine, and the loft window above stared out across the field like a blind, empty eye.
"This place… is in bad shape," Agent 084 muttered, his voice low.
"Yeah…" Agent 049 replied, nodding. He turned to the rest of the agents.
"Alright, masks off."
One by one, Agent 049 and the others reached up and pulled off their masks.
He hiss of pressure seals gave way to the soft exhale of breath in open air.
Agent 049's brown eyes locked on the barnhouse with sharp focus and unshaken resolve.
"Let's head in."
He took one step forward–
But then–
"Wait!" another voice called out.
Agent 049 stopped and turned his head to the source of the voice.
CHARACTER INTRODUCTION
Name: Unknown
Codename: Agent 111
Species: Human
Hair Colour: Unknown
Eye Colour: Red
Height: 6'0
Weight: 181lbs
Occupation: Agent
"According to the report, this barnhouse has three entrances," Agent 111 explained, stepping forward.
"The front door, obviously. A backdoor. And a hatch that leads to the basement. I suggest we split into teams."
Agent 049 nodded, impressed and in agreement.
"Good call. We'll separate."
He pointed to the agents around him.
"084, 111, 139 – you're with me. We'll take the front."
He turned to the rest.
"069, 123, 164 – go around to the backdoor. 095, 165, 222 – check the basement hatch."
The agents gave sharp nods in response.
"Yes, sir!" they said in unison.
Without hesitation, they dispersed – disappearing to reach their designated positions.
A Few Minutes Later…
Group 1 – Agent 049, 084, 111, and 139 – stood in front of the main entrance, rifles raised, eyes sharp.
Then–
Tsshhh…
The walkie-talkie crackled to life.
"Group 2 is ready at the backdoor."
"Group 3 is ready as the hatch."
Agent 049 gave a curt nod, then pressed the button on his walkie-talkie.
"Alright. On my count… Three… Two… One… Breaching! Breaching!"
BANG!
Agent 084 slammed his boot into the front door.
The old wood gave way with a groaning crack as it burst open.
Agents 049, 111, and 139 swept inside with calculated precision, rifles aimed ahead, eyes scanning every shadow. Agent 084 follows them from behind.
As Group 1 entered the barnhouse through the front door, Agents 049, 084, 111, and 139 moved in with disciplined precision, rifles raised, eyes scanning every angle.
The interior was a wreck.
What had once been a cozy, lived-in home now looked like the scene of a nightmare. The living room was a complete mess – furniture overturned, glass shattered, and a crimson smear stretched across one wall in the unmistakable shape of a person. A final struggle immortalized in blood.
Bloody footprints marked the wooden staircase, trailing upward – a silent clue that someone, maybe one of the family members or a wounded officer, had fled upstairs.
The bathroom door was half-open, light flickering in and out, casting stuttering shadows across the hallway.
Agent 049 reached for his walkie-talkie.
Tsshhh…
"Group 2 and 3, what's your status?"
Seconds passed.
Then–
"Kitchen is clear!" came Group 2's reply.
And a moment later–
"Basement is also clear!" Group 3 confirmed.
"Copy that." Agent 049 acknowledged, lowering the device.
He turned – and saw Agent 139 staring at a framed photograph on the wall of the living room, a soft smile on his face.
The photo was warm and vibrant, a moment frozen in time: two adults – clearly the parents – two teenagers, and a small toddler, all smiling together in front of the very same barn. It felt out of place here, like a memory that didn't belong to this version of the house.
Agent 049 approached quietly.
"139, are you okay?"
"Yeah," Agent 139 nodded, still gazing at the picture. "They just remind me of my family."
049 tilted his head.
"Oh yeah… your wife's pregnant, isn't she?"
"Yeah. Five months along."
Agent 049 placed a hand firmly on his comrade's shoulder.
"We're getting out of here alive," he said, voice steady. "You're going to see your wife and meet your child. I'll make sure of it."
Agent 139 turned to him and gave a grateful smile.
Then–
THUMP!
The sudden noise made all four agents flinch and raise their weapons.
"What was that?" Agent 111 said, eyes darting toward the source.
Agent 084's gaze snapped upward.
"It came from upstairs."
Together, the four agents approached the base of the staircase, moving slow, silent, rifles ready.
The hallway beyond the landing above was swallowed in shadow.
"S-Should we go up?" Agent 111 asked, glancing nervously at the others.
"Yes," Agent 084 responded confidently. "It's only one mutant up there. With the four of us, we'll take it down easily."
Agent 049 gave a quick nod and reached for his walkie-talkie again.
Tsshhh…
"Group 2 and 3, start making your way to the living room. Group 1 is heading upstairs."
He clipped the device back to his vest and turned his eyes to stairs.
One step.
Then another.
His boots creaked softly against the old wood as he led the team upward, cautious but determined.
Behind him, Agents 084, 111, and 139 followed – steady, silent.
Weapons raised.
Eyes sharp.
Hearts pounding.
As Agents 049, 084, 111, and 139 reached the top of the stairs, their boots creaked softly on the aged wooden floor. Agent 049 led the group, rifle raised, prepared to engage whatever had made the earlier noise.
He stepped forward slowly, eyes sharp, the barrel of his rifle tracking every shadow and corner.
But…
There was nothing.
Just a hallway with three doors, all closed. The atmosphere was thick with tension and the eerie silence that clung to the air like static.
Agent 049 lowered his rifle slightly and turned to the others, signalling them to move up.
Agents 084, 111, and 139 stepped onto the landing.
"What should we do?" Agent 111 asked, voice hushed beneath his breath.
Agent 049 studied the doors carefully.
"We check the rooms," he replied. He motioned to the doors with a quick nod and then pointed. "You two – check that one."
Agents 084 and 111 gave brief nods and moved toward the opposite end of the hall.
Crreeeaakkk…
Agent 049 slowly opened the first door, rifle raised and steady. Agent 139 moved just behind him, covering his flank.
The door creaked open fully – revealing nothing but an empty bedroom. Dusty, still. No signs of struggle. No movement.
Agent 049 scanned it thoroughly, then turned to Agent 139 and shook his head.
They exited quietly.
At the same time, Agents 084 and 111 stepped out of their room as well.
"Nothing?" Agent 049 asked.
"Yeah," Agent 084 nodded. "Room's clear."
The four men turned to the final door at the end of the hallway.
It stood there – heavier than the others. Its wood seemed darker, aged with time. Something about it felt… wrong.
The agents approached it slowly.
Agent 049 stepped up first, placing a gloved hand on the doorknob.
He gave it a twist.
Click-click.
"It's locked," he muttered.
Agent 084 narrowed his eyes, then slung his rifle across his back.
"Move." He stepped forward. "I'm going to smash this door out of the way."
Agent 049 hesitated, then stepped aside.
084 rolled his should back, bracing to kick the door–
SHUNK!
Agent 084 froze in place, just inches from the door. His body stiffened. Eyes widened in disbelief.
Agents 049, 111, and 139 – all watching from behind – stood paralyzed as shock rippled through them.
Then…
Blood began to leak from Agent 084's mouth and nostrils. A wet, sickening gurgle escaped his throat.
Slowly, painfully… he looked down.
And saw it.
A bone.
A long, jagged bone, from the other side of door in front of him, had pierced clean through his chest – protruding out from the centre of his torso like a spear made of death itself.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!