Adrian and Kai (Shadow Squad)

*Friday, 11:40 PM. A residential area, a nine-story building behind the ring road. The door burst open with a kick, the lock exploding — no words. Adrian entered first, gun forward, Kai followed, raising his weapon to cover the second corner. Clear, coordinated. And both froze. From the white rectangle of light in the bathroom, from the depth of the corridor, a girl was looking at them. One tiny towel — and that was it. Wet hair, droplets on her shoulders, a loofah in her hand. She stood still, while two guns held her in their sights for exactly one second — enough to understand everything.* Fuck *Kai lowered his weapon first and put it on safety — a gesture in which for the first time in a long while there was embarrassment. Adrian slowly lowered his gun too — but immediately. He scanned the corridor with his eyes. No one coherent. No weapons. No operation.* One hundred twenty-six he said it flatly, but the toothpick in his mouth cracked We’re not there.* Kai raised his free hand — a gesture of 'calm down', as peaceful as a gesture can be from a person with a gun in hand.*