Next Day – Morning Meeting
The Shield's members gathered in the dimly lit hall, tension crackling in the air. Wick stood before them, his usual confident aura shadowed by a heavy, unspoken burden.
Wick's voice was calm, almost too calm.
"I'm stepping down as the leader," he announced, sending a wave of stunned silence across the room. "Because of me, a traitor was allowed into the Shield."
A ripple of disbelief spread among the members. Whispers broke out.
"Who?" someone finally asked, almost in a whisper.
Wick's eyes, cold and unreadable, scanned the room before he spoke the name that shattered the silence.
"Shristi."
Vaibhav's heart dropped. What?! His mind raced. How did he find out so quickly? But then again, it was Wick — unmatched, unpredictable. Vaibhav couldn't shake the chill crawling up his spine.
---
Scene Shift – Late Night, Unknown Location
Yuja stood under the pale moonlight, speaking in hushed tones with Jimmy. The air between them was thick with mistrust.
"You must have heard," Jimmy said, voice low. "Shristi's been exposed."
Yuja smirked slightly, brushing her hair back. "I know. We don't need her anymore."
Jimmy narrowed his eyes. "But... the intel she provided — it was different. Accurate. Too accurate."
Yuja's face tensed for a brief second before she masked it with a smile.
"That's impossible. Maybe... maybe she's playing both sides."
Jimmy pulled out his phone and scrolled before showing her a message.
"Then explain this. Shristi sent me a recording... Wick's voice, telling her she doesn't have to fear anyone because he would protect her."
Yuja stiffened.
"That's just because I was manipulating him!" she snapped, her voice rising slightly.
Jimmy's gaze hardened. "Or maybe you're manipulating me."
Before Yuja could respond, a soft click echoed nearby. Someone hidden in the shadows stepped forward — their presence dark and menacing. A voice, distorted but clear, broke the tension.
"She's lying."
Yuja's phone buzzed violently in her pocket. She fumbled to check it — her face paled.
The masked figure continued, cold and steady.
"The messages we intercepted... they were from her. She's the Black Cat. She's the one who sabotaged our plans."
Jimmy's last ounce of trust shattered. His jaw clenched in rage as he stepped back from Yuja, betrayal burning in his eyes.
Yuja, realizing she had been exposed, looked around desperately for an escape — but it was already too late.
---
Next Night – Abandoned Building
Vaibhav struggled against the ropes binding him to the chair, panic hammering in his chest. His vision was blurred, and a black cloth covered his face. His ears caught faint footsteps approaching.
The cloth was yanked off. Blinding light made him squint — and when his vision cleared, his blood ran cold.
Standing before him were Vivek and Rahul, faces twisted into cruel smirks.
"You?!" Vaibhav gasped, disbelief flooding him. "Why... why did you kidnap me?"
Vivek knelt to Vaibhav's eye level, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Because you interfered too much, Vaibhav. And I don't like how you were becoming Wick's little favourite."
Vaibhav shook his head, fury building.
"So it was you... You were behind everything. I thought — I thought Shristi was leaking information..." His voice broke with betrayal. "But she was loyal all along."
Vivek chuckled darkly.
"Exactly. You were easy to fool. Your doubts made our work even easier."
Rahul crossed his arms, his voice cutting through the heavy air.
"You're not important enough to be a threat. But we needed to send a message."
Vaibhav swallowed hard, staring into the faces of the men he once trusted.
"A message?"
Vivek's smile twisted into something venomous.
"That the Shield's time is over. One by one, we'll break you. And tonight... we start by taking away your precious cards."
Rahul leaned closer, whispering coldly,
"Tell your king... his kingdom is crumbling."
As Vaibhav struggled, shouting in rage, they disappeared into the shadows — leaving only fear and broken trust behind.
---
To be continued...