Dmitri's Strike (9)

The sky darkens as midnight arrives. Leaving Ivan’s body in the sauna room, Aria and the soldiers quietly make their way towards the kitchen of the inn. She looks around to make sure that there is no one around and presses something on the wall.

It jerks open, sliding aside to reveal a long tunnel. Leo steps out of the tunnel, facing the soldiers.

“We have only one hour to evacuate the people from the inn,” he states. “I have already emptied the village.”

“The innkeepers are still catering to the delegation!” One of the soldiers replies. “But it will not take them long to go to bed.”

“Tell your soldiers to start escorting the people out of this place!” Leo hisses. “Tell us when to strike.”

“Understood.”

Leo turns to Aria and adds, “You must leave this place.”

Aria throws her arms around him and gently kisses his lips.

“Be careful,” she whispers. She hurries out of the tunnel with some of the soldiers while Leo leads the others towards the dining hall.