THE COST OF CONFIDENCE

Samantha's POV Everything stopped the minute Royce entered the room. In the little control room, the loud sound of the pistol cocking sliced through the air like a blade. < Every muscle in my body tensed as my heart hammered in my chest and I met eyes with the man tormenting us from the shadows for so long. Royce dominated the room with a cool, calculated presence that completely matched what I had envisioned—tall, forceful. His piercing, steely eyes swept over us and I could feel his might weighing down on me. He didn't need to utter a word to impose control; it was in his posture, in the nonchalant assurance with which he carried the rifle. He was deadly; we were simply into his trap. Alex whispered, "Drop the gun," with a calm, steady voice that belied the strain under it. His body stiff and ready to act, he had already positioned himself in front of me. Still, I knew we were behind. Royce was not the only one. Royce slanted his head slightly, as though he found Alex's directive funny. "Do you really feel you are in a position to demand?" His voice was smooth, nearly too quiet, as though he had everything under control. Alex stared Royce down as his jaw tightened without flinching. "We know what you are doing here. It's over. Royce's mouth opened to a frigid smile pulling at the margins. "Across?" Not sure, Alex. It is only getting started. Lila rushed forward, her face pale but resolved, before Alex could answer. "Royce, stop this. You do not have to do this. Royce's eyes turned to Lila, and for a minute I saw something flash—probably recognition. Alternatively was it disillusionment? "Ah, Lila." I ought to have known you would turn on me finally. Though there was no surprise in his subtle threat in voice. This was what he had expected. "I turned off you," Lila responded, her voice calm yet shaky. You left me with no options. Royce shook his head and laughed quietly. "Lila, there is always a choice. But you made the wrong one. Thick and stifling, tension buzzed in the air. Trying to escape this, my mind flew but there was nowhere. Royce was carrying all the cards when we were surrounded. "We know about the shipment," I answered, trying to keep my voice steady in spite of the terror chewing at my gut. "You cannot hide it anymore." Royce turned his eyes to me, narrowing just a little. And Samantha, what precisely do you believe you know? My heart thumping in my ears, I swallowed hard. "We are aware of your moving something hazardous. Something that might wipe out everything. Royce's smile got wider, wicked enjoyment shining in his eyes. "You don't think you have thought it all out? But you are overlooking the overall picture. "What's in the crates, Royce?," asked Alex, his voice sharp and cutting through the stress. Royce was silent for a minute, his gaze darting between us, computing. Then, although I knew it was far from done, he gently lowered the rifle with a slow, methodical motion. Royce replied, his voice cool and measured: "You're standing in the middle of something far bigger than yourselves." Moreover, you are not ready for it. Alex was tensing next to me, ready to strike if needed, but I knew that running in without a strategy would only get us dead. We had to play this gently regardless of how scary it seemed. Royce stepped forward, his eyes fixed on me. "You've blinded yourselves to the reality of this situation, so focused on exposing what you think is the truth, stopping me." "What reality?," asking My voice just above a whisper. The smile of Royce became malevolent. "The reality in which you are all only pawns in a much more expansive game. One I have been managing right from the start. Anger raging inside me, I closed my fists at my sides. Not your puppets, we are not You have no influence over us. Royce's eyes sparkled with something dark and menacing. Samantha, you have already shown how simple you are to work with. You have been moving precisely where I wanted you to from the time you entered this. Though I fought to let him see my anxiety, I felt a chill run down my spine. We will stop you. Royce laughed softly, austerely, without feeling. You are free to try. Abruptly, a piercing sound emanated from the docks below—the sound of a box falling—then the clear click of firearms being pulled. Realizing Royce was not merely playing mind games now, my heart shot into my throat. Whatever was in those containers, it was hazardous, and his troops were ready to employ it. Royce continued, "This is your last chance," his voice a subdued threat. "Walk away; possibly you will live to see another day." I turned to Alex and looked for some indication of what we ought to do. His eyes narrowed, his jaw fixed, but he had a flutter of uncertainty there. We lacked a match and were outgunned. Should we hang around, we might not survive. But Royce would win if we left now. "We're not walking away," I answered, my voice quivering slightly but then resolutely. Royce's expression stayed the same, but I sensed the smallest flutter of something—probably approval. Maybe it was only entertainment at our disobedience. In any case, I knew our choice was final. "Very well," Royce murmured, stepping back and still staring at my hand. "Let's see how far your will runs." He nodded sharply, gestured to his troops, and within seconds the sound of boots on concrete, guns fired, and the clear sensation of approaching peril permeated the room. Everything happened at once. Alex went first, his body a blur of movement as he pushed the closest guard off balance and grabbed the man's gun in a quick, deliberate action. With my heart thumping in my ears, I hid behind a crate as the first rounds bounced across the large cavernous area under the docks. Lila had vanished into the darkness, but I could still hear her calling something at one of Royce's guys. Though right now we had no time to consider, I had no idea what she was intending. Alex shot, the sound shattering the little area. Though there were too many of them, one of Royce's men fell to the ground. We lacked head-on ability to win this struggle. I looked across the far side of the room toward the control panel. Perhaps if I could just get to it, I could turn off the electricity and generate some kind of diversion. Though it was the only strategy I knew, it was a long shot. Alex! Over the gunfire, I yelled pointing at the panel. "I'm going for it!" His eyes went wide in panic, but he nodded and dove behind a stack of boxes to launch another shot. "Run!" I will cover it. I did not hesitate. Burning legs, I ran across the open area toward the panel from behind the containers. Bullets flew past me, gunfire filling the air, but I continued ahead driven by adrenaline. My hands shook as I stumbled with the buttons when I arrived at the panel. Before my eyes, the buttons and switches blurred; but, I forced myself to concentrate, to breathe. Royce yelled commands in the background, his voice icy and forceful, but I forced the sound aside, concentrating just on the current work at hand. At last I discovered what I was looking for—a big lever labeled "EMERGENCY POWER." I reached without thinking and grasped. The lights flickering then went out, blacking the whole room. Everything stopped for a second. The sound of my own rapid breathing emerged when the firing ceased and the shouts vanished. Then turmoil burst all at once. Royce's soldiers were scumbling and yelling at each other in bewilderment in the dark. Trying to stay out of sight, I ducked behind the panel, but the realization that this was only a little respite set my heart racing. Royce wouldn't get thrown off for very long. I was abruptly pulled into the shadows by a hand grabbing my arm. I gasped, ready to fight, but then I heard low, frantic Alex's voice. "We must relocate. These days. I nodded, my breath coming in short, harsh gasps as we negotiated the darkness between containers and machines, attempting to keep one step ahead of Royce's men. Although their footsteps reverberated about us, for now the darkness was on our side. Alex said, "We can't hold them off forever," as we caught our breath while stopped behind a big stack of containers. "We have to figure out our exit. I nodded while my mind flew. Lila mentioned another exit close to the far side of the docks. Once we can get to it—' The sound of feet became louder, nearer before I could finish. Realizing Royce's men were closing in, my heart shot into my throat. We were running short of time. Alex exclaimed, "We have to go," his voice sharp. "Now.