Four shadows moved across the rooftops opposite it.
Cassie's breath came out in shallow puffs behind her mask as she crouched beside Nia on the adjacent rooftop. Below them, the Central compound spread out maze. Dylan was already gone from sight, a blur in the dark.
"Remind me again why we're doing this?" Liam whispered, adjusting his gloves.
Cassie didn't answer. She leapt.
Her boots hit the next roof clean and she rolled, catching the lip of a vent. Liam cursed under his breath and followed. Nia landed soundlessly beside them.
"Third patrol moving east." she murmured, checking the timer on her wrist. "We've got forty seconds."
Dylan reappeared at the far end of the roof, one hand raised to motion them down. He'd already taken out the two sentries by the service hatch, both unconscious and leaned neatly against the wall.
"Let's move." Dylan said flatly.
They dropped into the darkness one by on. The passage below was narrow, lined with pipes and flickering lights.
Liam whispered, "What kind of place keeps prisoners under the damn headquarters?"
"The P.O.A of course." Dylan replied, leading the way through the maintenance corridor.
After five turns and one quiet takedown of a patrolling officer. They reached a bulkhead door, beyond it was the Containment Wing.
Cassie stared through the observation glass. Behind the reinforced cells, she could see movement.
"What the hell..." she whispered. "Why are there demons in prison?"
"Our agencies don't just hunt demons, Cassie." Dylan said without slowing. "We study them."
Lia. looked back at one cell, where something with too many teeth smiled through the bars. "I wonder who studies this things."
They moved fast after that. Dylan stopped at the door. Cell #031 and pressed his hand against the glass slot.
"Here." he said quietly.
Cassie peered in.
Kyle sat in the corner, knees drawn up to his chest and his face buried between them. His hands were clasped behind his head, trembling slightly.
"Damn..." Liam muttered. "They really just left him down here."
Dylan didn't answer. He took out a key in his pocket and unlocked the door.
Cassie rushed in first. "Kyle... hey. We came to get you out."
Kyle looked up slowly. He blinked as though not believing what he saw. "Cassie…?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's me." she said, kneeling beside him. "C'mon, we gotta go."
He lurched forward, arms wrapping around her shoulders. His voice cracked when he whispered, "Thank you."
Cassie froze... then hugged him back. "You can thank me when we're outside."
"Hey." Liam hissed from the door. "We gotta go now."
Cassie nodded, helping him get up.
They sprinted through the corridor.
"Left corridor, up the maintenance lift." Dylan ordered.
They were halfway to the exit when a voice cut through the noise.
"Captain Garrett."
The group froze and then they turned.
At the end of the corridor stood Chairman Owen Yamada, immaculate as always in his black coat, hands clasped behind his back. Beside him stood Malik Hork.
"I knew this day would come." Yamada said, stepping forward. "But honestly, you're late than I expected. You never change, Dylan."
Dylan exhaled, lowering his hood and mask. "You know I wouldn't let my subordinate rot in here over a misunderstanding."
Yamada gave a slow nod. "I understand. Truth be told, I felt the same. I've gone over the reports and I believe we made a mistake keeping him here."
Cassie blinked. "Wait, does that mean… he's free?"
Yamada looked at her and nodded once. "Yes. That's what it means but... he'll be under South Division from now on, until we fully understand him."
Dylan's head snapped up. "What?" His voice carried an edge he rarely let anyone hear. "Kyle is a member of my Division, Owen!"
Yamada's expression softened. "I know he is and I know you, Dylan. You cherish your people because you see their potential before anyone else does. But this isn't about that... it's about maintaining order in the organization."
He stepped closer. "According to the Elmore Road report you gave me. He nearly killed an S-rank demon that two of your top squad members couldn't. That makes him more stronger than them both and If he ever goes rogue… your Division wouldn't be able to contain him."
Yamada's gaze hardened. "I know you could but given your current state of mind, you wouldn't."
Dylan clenched his fists. "So you want to send him to a Division that'll treat him like a demon the moment he loses control? That's what you're saying?"
"Well, until we truly know what he is..." Yamada replied, "he's classified as one. I'm sorry, Dylan but this is the best way to protect both him and us."
Malik stepped forward, tone businesslike. "Let's go, Kyle."
Kyle looked at Dylan, confusion crossing his face. "Captain…?"
Dylan didn't speak at first. His eyes softened and for a brief moment, his hand twitched.
"Go." he said finally. "And do what they say, until we find a way to get you back."
Cassie opened her mouth to argue but Liam caught her arm, shaking his head.
Malik guided Kyle past them down the corridor, his footsteps fading. Yamada followed after a pause, nodding once to Dylan before turning away.
The four of them stood there long after they were gone.
Cassie broke the silence first. "So that's it? We just let them take him from us again?"
Dylan didn't look at her. He stared at the now-empty hall. "Let's go home." he said, stepping forward.
The group followed behind him.