Chapter 122

Chapter 122

The storm raged around them.

Rain hammered against the aircraft.

Lightning flashed through dark clouds.

The ocean below churned violently.

And somewhere behind them

Ares was coming.

Not with missiles.

Not with fighter escorts.

Personally.

The realization chilled everyone.

Because missiles could be avoided.

Explosions could be survived.

But a monster designed by the Program itself?

That was another matter entirely.

Inside the cabin, tension stretched to its breaking point.

The radar screen displayed a single aircraft.

Closing fast.

Far too fast.

Every second brought it closer.

02:47:11

The countdown continued.

Uncaring.

Merciless.

Damon stared at the approaching signal.

"What exactly is he capable of?"

Nobody answered immediately.

Because the answer was complicated.

And horrifying.

Finally Isabella spoke.

"He doesn't stop."

Silence.

"He doesn't hesitate."

Another pause.

"He doesn't feel guilty."

The room grew colder.

Because they all knew what guilt was.

Every survivor of the Program carried it.

Like scars.

Like chains.

Apparently Ares didn't.

Luca's expression darkened.

Because Isabella was right.

Ares wasn't broken by the Program.

He was perfected by it.

Or at least that was what Vale believed.

"Ares doesn't think like normal people."

Everyone looked toward Luca.

He rarely volunteered information.

Especially information connected to his past.

Yet now

He seemed determined.

Determined to prepare them.

Before it was too late.

"He only cares about completing objectives."

Nova frowned.

"Everyone says that about professional killers."

Luca shook his head.

"No."

His voice was quiet.

Dangerously quiet.

"You don't understand."

Silence.

Then:

"He once continued a mission after being shot six times."

Nobody moved.

Nobody blinked.

Because that sounded impossible.

Then Luca continued.

"He killed three armed guards while bleeding out."

A pause.

"He completed the assignment before collapsing."

The room remained completely silent.

Because nobody knew how to respond.

Cassian eventually found the words.

"I officially hate him."

"Good."

Luca didn't smile.

"Keep that feeling."

That answer somehow made everything worse.

A sudden impact rocked the aircraft.

Hard.

The cabin lights flickered.

Several warning alarms activated simultaneously.

The pilot's voice exploded through the intercom.

"He's on us!"

The radar flashed red.

Everyone rushed toward the nearest screen.

The distance had vanished.

Ares' aircraft was directly above them.

Impossible.

How had he closed the gap so quickly?

Then Hale zoomed the external camera feed.

And everyone saw him.

Standing on the wing of his aircraft.

Standing.

On the wing.

In the middle of a storm.

Lightning illuminating him against the darkness.

Rain crashing against him.

The sight looked unreal.

Like something pulled from a nightmare.

A tall figure dressed entirely in black.

Motionless.

Watching.

Waiting.

Even through the camera feed

His presence felt wrong.

Predatory.

Ancient.

Dangerous.

The cabin fell silent.

Because nobody expected a human being to do that.

Then Ares moved.

And things became worse.

Much worse.

He jumped.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Nobody breathed.

Nobody spoke.

Because surely

Surely

Nobody could survive that.

The distance alone should have killed him.

The wind should have thrown him into the ocean.

The impact should have shattered every bone in his body.

Instead

He landed on their aircraft.

The entire jet shook violently.

Metal screamed.

People stumbled.

The sound echoed through the cabin.

Like something enormous had landed on the roof.

Which, technically

Something had.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

Cassian sounded personally offended.

A loud metallic thud echoed overhead.

Then another.

And another.

Footsteps.

Heavy footsteps.

Walking across the aircraft.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

As though Ares had all the time in the world.

As though he wasn't hanging thousands of feet above the ocean.

The sound made everyone's skin crawl.

Because it wasn't hurried.

It wasn't desperate.

It was confident.

A predator approaching prey.

Damon stood.

Immediately.

Everyone noticed.

"No."

Luca's response came instantly.

Damon looked at him.

"What?"

"No."

The answer was firmer this time.

More emotional.

More desperate.

The reaction surprised everyone.

Including Luca.

For a moment neither man spoke.

Then Luca finally said it.

"He's coming for me."

Silence.

Because everyone knew it was true.

Ares had called Luca by name.

Not Damon.

Not Isabella.

Luca.

The mission had always been personal.

The realization settled heavily over the cabin.

Then another metallic crash echoed through the aircraft.

Closer.

Much closer.

The ceiling above them dented inward.

Several inches.

Everyone immediately backed away.

Instinctively.

A second dent appeared.

Then a third.

Ares wasn't looking for a door.

He was making one.

The metal groaned.

Bolts snapped.

A section of the ceiling tore open.

Wind exploded into the cabin.

Rain followed.

People grabbed onto nearby seats.

Equipment scattered.

The aircraft lurched violently.

And through the opening

A figure dropped into the cabin.

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Ares landed effortlessly.

Not stumbling.

Not slipping.

Perfectly balanced.

His dark clothing soaked with rain.

Water dripping from black gloves.

Cold gray eyes scanning the room.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Because now he was real.

Not a voice.

Not a radar signal.

Not a story.

A man.

A very dangerous man.

For several seconds nobody moved.

Then Ares spoke.

His gaze fixed entirely on Luca.

Ignoring everyone else.

Ignoring weapons.

Ignoring threats.

Ignoring Damon.

"Luca."

The name sounded almost familiar.

Almost warm.

Which somehow felt more disturbing than hatred.

Luca stepped forward.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Placing himself between Ares and the others.

The movement didn't go unnoticed.

Especially by Damon.

Ares tilted his head slightly.

Studying him.

Then something unexpected happened.

He smiled.

A small smile.

The first genuine expression anyone had seen from him.

"You survived."

Not an accusation.

Not anger.

Approval.

The realization unsettled everyone.

Then Ares looked past Luca.

Toward Damon.

And for the first time

Interest appeared in his eyes.

Real interest.

Dangerous interest.

He studied Damon carefully.

Like a scientist examining a specimen.

Like Vale.

Exactly like Vale.

Then he spoke.

"So you're the one."

Damon's grip tightened around his weapon.

Ares smiled again.

And said the words that made Luca's blood run cold.

"Vale was right."

Silence.

Then:

"You're worth destroying the world for."

Outside the storm raged harder.

And ahead

The island waited.