Chapter 143 - 141 Where the Night Breaks

Chapter 143: Chapter 141 Where the Night Breaks

The violet gradually faded across the large window.

For a while, a strip of green still remained above the mountains, thinner than before, interrupted by gaps where the darkness regained its depth.

Selena finished her drink and set the cup on the saucer.

Sebastián continued watching until the last luminous fold became difficult to distinguish between the sky and the reflection of the lamps.

She picked up her phone, checked the time, and put the tablet inside her bag. Her movements retained the calm that had accompanied that moment.

—We can leave —she said, standing up and adjusting the strap over her shoulder.

Sebastián set down his cup and stood up in front of her.

Selena picked up the beanie and gloves she had put away when they entered, but stopped before putting them on.

—First, we need to adjust the equipment for the ascent. There’s a mountaineering and rescue shop that stays open all night.

He moved the chair slightly aside to clear the way for her.

—What equipment?

Selena held the beanie between both hands.

—A back-carry harness. My back will rest against yours, facing the opposite direction. The straps must keep me stable while you use your arms to climb.

Sebastián watched her for a moment and then directed his gaze toward the bag.

—We need to make sure the support doesn’t restrict movement.

—We’ll check —she replied, putting on the beanie—. We’ll also buy a cap for you and suitable footwear. I brought your glasses, gloves, and face mask. We’ll put them on when we finish preparing.

Selena adjusted the scarf over her mouth and put on her gloves.

Sebastián waited while she checked that the table was clear.

After paying, they left together.

The cold reached their faces as they left the shelter of the café. Over the streets, the lights had completely taken over the places where the afternoon brightness had previously remained.

Selena headed toward the shop, and he walked beside her, matching her pace as she descended the slope.

The establishment was located near a road that led toward the mountain routes.

A sign advertised continuous service for hikers and rescue teams. Through the glass, backpacks, cold-weather clothing, and stands where equipment was arranged by size could be seen.

A saleswoman greeted them beside the counter.

Selena explained what they needed, and the woman showed them a carrying model composed of two separate pieces, designed to be joined at the back.

The selection and fitting took little time.

The saleswoman checked their measurements over their clothing, selected the sizes, and adjusted the straps until each section sat securely without preventing them from breathing or bending their legs.

She showed them the supports and connections, and Selena paid particular attention to the part that would support her weight.

Sebastián raised his arms and moved his shoulders while wearing the carrier section.

Afterward, they chose two pairs of lightweight technical boots, with grippy soles and secure fastenings, and a plain black cap for him.

Selena paid and received the equipment inside a large bag, big enough to carry it to the place where they would finish putting it on.

A short distance away, they found an inn.

Selena requested a room for the night from the woman attending the reception desk, completed the registration, and took the key she slid across the counter.

They climbed a narrow staircase to a corridor illuminated by low lamps.

The room had a bed, a table beside the window, two chairs, and a small bathroom. The ceiling light made it possible to distinguish the clean surfaces and the space available to spread out the pieces.

Sebastián placed the shopping bag on the bed.

Selena closed the door and set her bag beside it before removing her gloves. She unwound the scarf, took off the beanie, and placed both items on a chair.

When she opened her coat, the black wool sweater she wore underneath came into view, with long sleeves and a tightly woven fabric. The garment followed the lines of her shoulders and waist with a simple fit that allowed every movement to be seen.

She retained the elegance of her figure even when she bent over to place the coat on the backrest, her loose hair falling to one side of her face.

Selena gathered those strands and brushed them aside before opening the bag.

The two parts of the harness, the boots, and the cap appeared on the bedspread.

The components shared wide, dark straps, flexible reinforcements, and connecting pieces gathered along the edges.

Sebastián’s section wrapped around his torso and fastened at the waist, where a padded belt would bear much of the load. On the back, it had a narrow panel that left his shoulders free and allowed his arms to move forward or rise.

Selena’s section incorporated a similar support for her back, accompanied by a seat band and restraints designed to keep her legs tucked in during transport.

When both parts were joined, the back panels would face each other, separated by a layer of padding. Two upper connections would stabilize their shoulders, while two others, lower down, would keep their waists close together.

The weight would rest on the lower support and be distributed between the belt and the carrier’s straps.

In this way, Selena would remain supported against Sebastián’s back, facing the opposite direction, while he kept his hands free.

She extended one of the side connections and checked its fastening with her fingers.

—These pieces keep us together —she said, placing it back on the fabric—. The seat will support my weight. When we reach the top, we can separate the two parts and continue moving, each with our own.

Sebastián ran his hand along the edge of the panel assigned to him.

He flexed the material and let it return to its shape before releasing it.

—We’ll test it here.

Selena nodded.

She sat on the edge of the bed to replace the boots she had worn during the trip. She adjusted the new footwear, placed both feet on the floor, and checked that she could bend her ankles comfortably.

Sebastián did the same in the chair near the table.

Their previous pairs went into the shopping bag, alongside the space reserved for the garments they would leave in the room.

Then Selena opened a compartment of her bag and took out a slim case, a dark face mask, and a pair of durable gloves.

She placed them beside Sebastián, who had just stood up.

—They’re yours —she said, opening the case to reveal the glasses—. The lenses make it difficult to read your eyes. The face mask covers the lower part of your face, and the gloves prevent us from leaving fingerprints when we touch surfaces.

Sebastián took the glasses and checked how they rested before putting them on.

The dark lenses concealed the red of his irises.

He adjusted the face mask, put on the cap, and picked up the gloves. The durable fabric fit snugly over his fingers without restricting their movement; he opened and closed his hands once before letting them rest at his sides.

Selena prepared her own set of glasses and face mask.

She gathered her hair, secured it under a dark beanie that fit more snugly than the one she had worn on the street, and adjusted the edges until they remained firmly in place.

The scarf and the first beanie remained beside the coat.

When she put her gloves back on, the small items she had brought were already distributed between them.

She put away the empty case and separated the phone and tablet from the garments that would remain there.

Each of them put on their part of the harness over their clothing.

Sebastián secured the belt, adjusted the straps over his torso, and tested the movement of his arms again.

Selena adjusted hers in front of the room’s mirror. Her fingers moved from one fastening to another, gathering the loose ends so that no strap was left hanging.

Then she turned toward him and checked the space between the back panel and his shoulders.

—Turn around for a moment —she requested, keeping one hand near the upper connection.

Sebastián turned his back to her.

Selena checked the carrier’s fastenings and briefly tugged on each connection to make sure it remained secure.

He waited until she withdrew her hands and looked at her again over his shoulder.

—Is everything all right?

—Yes —she replied, lowering her hand toward the belt—. Now let’s test it with my weight.

They positioned themselves facing opposite directions, with Sebastián looking toward the wall and Selena toward the center of the room.

The panels met between their backs, and the side connections closed around that shared support.

Sebastián bent his knees enough to make it easier for her to settle onto the seat band.

Selena gradually transferred her weight to the support while adjusting the leg restraints.

Once she was settled, her knees pointed toward the room, in the opposite direction from his, and her boots remained raised above the floor.

Sebastián slowly straightened up.

Tension entered the straps, and the lower support kept Selena elevated against his back. The padding distributed the contact along both panels, while the upper fastenings prevented her from pulling away when changing position.

Selena felt how the weight of her legs no longer depended on support from the floor.

She remained firmly supported, with her torso stable and her arms free at her sides.

He took two short steps inside the room and raised his hands above his head.

His shoulders were able to follow the movement. Selena remained aligned with his back, facing the opposite direction, without her legs intruding into the space he needed to move forward.

—Does any part bother you? —Sebastián asked, lowering his arms.

She took a breath and moved her shoulders slightly before answering.

—No. I can breathe and move. The restraints keep me in position.

Sebastián remained still while Selena checked the support beneath her weight once more.

Through the straps, she could perceive the stability with which he held her. The test had not altered his breathing rhythm or required him to continually correct his balance.

She finished gathering a loose end and rested her hand on the side connection for a moment.

—We can use it like this —she said.

He bent his legs to lower her carefully.

Selena placed her boots on the floor before releasing the fastenings that joined both components. Each kept their harness on; the connecting pieces remained gathered close to their bodies, ready to be linked again before the ascent.

Selena put the phone and tablet in her bag, gathered the strap, and secured it against the side of the harness so it would remain stable during the climb.

Sebastián checked that the gloves allowed him to move all his fingers and turned his attention back toward the door.

She cast one last glance at the garments on the chair, put away the key, and approached him.

—I’m ready —she said, stopping beside the entrance.

Sebastián opened the door and waited for her to leave.

The corridor light fell upon the dark straps of both harnesses as Selena crossed the threshold.

Behind them remained the coat, scarf, and footwear from the journey.

She closed the room, checked the lock, and accompanied him toward the stairs. The connecting pieces remained gathered beside their waists as they descended, still separated and prepared to be linked when they began the climb.

Upon reaching the foot of the stairs, Selena approached the counter.

The woman who had given them the room looked up from the register and listened to her request for a car without a driver. The inn had rental vehicles available for guests.

The arrangements took a few minutes.

Selena completed the formalities, paid for the service, and received a key with the number of the side parking lot.

Sebastián waited beside the exit, attentive to the people passing through the reception area.

The car was a gray sedan parked beneath one of the courtyard lights.

Selena opened the driver’s door and arranged her bag before sitting down. Sebastián occupied the adjacent seat.

The pieces of both harnesses remained gathered against their clothing as they fastened their seat belts.

She checked the route on her phone, secured it in front of the dashboard, and started the engine.

They left the courtyard onto a street where a few vehicles were still passing, and the last lights of the open businesses stretched across the sidewalks.

The journey was brief.

The facades intended for visitors fell behind them, and office buildings, service entrances, and shops with their shutters down appeared.

Selena drove without rushing, following the directions to a public parking lot that remained open throughout the night.

There were other cars between the painted lines and an illuminated entrance leading to the street.

She left the sedan in one of the available spaces, turned off the engine, and put away the phone.

Sebastián got out while she collected her bag.

Selena locked the car and checked the lock before turning her gaze toward the nearby buildings.

—It’s close —she said, pointing toward the street that continued beyond the entrance.

He followed the indicated direction and positioned himself beside her.

They walked for a few minutes, the sound of their boots blending with the distant murmur of traffic.

The wind swept through the spaces between the buildings and reached the uncovered parts of their faces. Selena kept her bag secured against the side of her harness; the connections remained gathered beside both their waists.

The branch came into view above the smaller buildings as they approached the next corner.

Its twenty floors rose in a broad structure of straight lines, with large glass surfaces separated by metal frames and bands of dark concrete.

Some offices remained illuminated; others reflected only the neighboring buildings.

From the sidewalk, the gaze had to travel upward several times before reaching the edge of the roof outlined against the sky.

Selena slowed her pace upon recognizing it.

They continued along the opposite sidewalk and rounded the corner until they stood facing the rear of the building.

There, a metal door provided access from a service alley. One camera protruded above it, and another occupied the corner of the building, aimed toward the side passage.

The light above the entrance made it possible to distinguish the edges of the door and the surface of the nearby pavement.

She raised a hand to stop Sebastián before they advanced toward that space.

On the other side of the block, the recessed section of a facade formed an alcove from which they could observe the rear of the building at a sideways angle.

Selena moved into that shelter, allowing the protruding wall to conceal her position from the monitored entrance.

He followed her and stopped beside her.

—There’s one above the door and another at the corner —Selena said quietly, briefly pointing out both positions.

Sebastián raised his face toward the devices.

From there, he could distinguish their mounts and the orientation of their housings without approaching the alley.

Selena lowered her hand beside her bag and remained still, her gaze moving over the door, the side passage, and the cameras covering that area.

Beside her, he continued the same observation.

Between them and the building lay the width of the street; above the entrance, the rows of windows continued rising until they disappeared into the darkness.

Sebastián remained beside Selena for a few more seconds.

Then he turned his attention away from the cameras and examined the low buildings behind them.

His gaze settled on the succession of rooftops before returning to the height of the branch building.

—I know how to get up now —he said quietly, pointing toward the interior of that block—. Come with me.

Selena followed the direction of his hand.

She lowered her face slightly to observe the passage between the buildings and then stepped out of the shelter.

—All right.

They retraced their steps along the sidewalk and took a narrow passage that led them away from the street facing the branch.

The lights fell behind them as they advanced between low buildings, until they stopped beside the fourth one, counting from the building they intended to reach.

There, two windowless walls enclosed a dark alley.

Above one of them, the edge of a flat concrete roof could be distinguished; the other buildings extended in succession toward the street, forming the route Sebastián had identified.

He checked the height of the roof and turned toward Selena.

—Let’s connect the harnesses.

She released the pieces gathered beside her waist.

Sebastián turned his back to her and bent his legs while Selena brought her panel close to his.

The connections fastened on both sides. Her fingers checked the firmness of the joints before she settled onto the seat band.

When he straightened up, she remained elevated, back to back, with her legs tucked toward the opposite direction from the one Sebastián would advance in.

The bag remained secured at her side.

Selena finished settling into position and placed one hand firmly on the side restraint.

She felt him adjust his position beneath their combined weight and then bring his fingers to the back strap of his cap to tighten it a little more.

—I’m going to jump. Keep your mouth closed during the bursts of momentum.

She pressed the edge of her glasses against the bridge of her nose.

—I’m ready.

She closed her lips behind the face mask.

Sebastián’s back descended as he bent his knees. The pressure increased beneath the seat, and a brief burst shattered the silence of the alley.

Two thin cracks opened in the pavement as his boots left it.

The ground fell away beneath Selena’s boots.

Her fingers tightened around the strap, and the cold air struck the uncovered part of her face. For an instant, her breathing stopped.

They reached the height of the roof as the momentum weakened, and Sebastián absorbed the landing with his legs bent.

The impact against the rooftop was low, contained in that descent which Selena felt travel through the support before he straightened up again.

The first stride came immediately afterward.

Sebastián crossed the rooftop, gaining speed, his foot placements measured according to the space remaining before the edge.

Selena watched the place they had just left recede into the distance. She had barely recovered her breath when he lowered his body again and released another burst of force against the roof.

A sharp crack sounded behind them.

They passed over the third building and reached the second.

The void appeared beneath Selena’s tucked-up boots. She tightened her abdomen and pressed her shoulders firmly against the panel.

Sebastián landed without coming to a complete stop, bending his legs and allowing his forward momentum to continue into the following strides.

The wind caught the edge of his cap.

Selena brought one hand to her forehead, held the fabric in place with her palm, and rested her fingers against the upper part of her glasses. Her other hand remained clenched around the side strap.

Before her eyes, the rooftops receded so rapidly that she could not focus on their details.

Sebastián reached the edge of the second building.

His knee bent during the final push, and the concrete creaked beneath his boot before they were both launched toward the branch building.

The street lay below.

Selena managed to distinguish the illuminated pavement between the buildings and then felt Sebastián draw his body inward to prepare for contact with the wall.

They had reached approximately the height of the fourth floor, above the cameras monitoring the entrances.

The rear surface was smooth.

Sebastián’s hand reached it first. His gloved fingers sank into the concrete and created a small handhold, accompanied by a rough cracking sound.

Almost simultaneously, the tip of one boot penetrated farther down.

His arm bent, his knee drew inward to absorb the contact, and before the movement could come to a stop, Sebastián pulled against the handhold and extended his leg again.

The ascent resumed abruptly.

Selena clenched her jaw.

The seat supported her during that new rise while a little dust fell behind her boots.

Sebastián had pushed away from the wall to gain several meters of height. When his speed began to decrease, another hand and another boot found the surface.

The concrete yielded under the pressure once again.

A brief contact, a flexion, and the next burst of momentum launched them upward.

Small fragments fell from the indentations he left in his wake.

Each foothold was established upon touching the wall and received the force necessary to continue the ascent. Sebastián linked those contacts without allowing himself to fall between them, staying close to the wall and regulating each burst of momentum with Selena secured to his back.

His muscles tensed beneath his clothing before releasing the next push.

She kept one hand on her beanie and glasses.

The cold reached her fingers through her gloves, but she felt the pressure of the straps and the shift of weight beneath the seat more clearly.

The rooftops they had crossed moments earlier were now farther and farther below.

She looked toward them only once. Her stomach tightened, and she raised her gaze again toward the distant buildings.

She pressed her back firmly against the padding and synchronized her breathing with the brief intervals between bursts of momentum.

Sebastián continued holding her with the same firmness with which he had supported her weight in the room, although the ground had now become a distant strip between the lights.

The upper edge appeared above his head.

His hand reached the top of the wall and closed around it. One final push raised his hips enough to allow him to swing his legs over.

His boots found the rooftop terrace, and Sebastián bent his knees, absorbing the landing before straightening up.

A guard turned toward the sound.

His eyes found Sebastián while he still had Selena secured to his back.

The man began to raise a hand.

Sebastián closed the distance in two strides.

His fist shot out in a short movement and struck the man’s face with controlled force, enough to extinguish the guard’s reaction.

His knees gave way.

Before he could fall against the rooftop, Sebastián caught him by the uniform with his free hand.

The man’s arm hung limp at his side.

He had lost consciousness from that single blow; Selena remained elevated against Sebastián’s back.

He lowered the guard beside the terrace wall, supporting his torso until he left him lying against the concrete.

Then he turned toward the open space and bent his knees.

Selena loosened the restraints around her legs, lowered her boots until they found support, and gradually shifted her weight off the seat.

Her fingers released the side connections once she was standing firmly.

The panels separated between their backs, and each gathered the pieces against their own harness.

It took her a moment to straighten up completely.

Under the light near the entrance, the skin visible between her glasses and face mask had lost its color.

One hand remained clenched around the band at her waist even after she finished adjusting the equipment.

Sebastián turned toward her.

—Are you all right?

Selena took a breath before answering.

Her chest rose beneath the sweater and fell with deliberate slowness.

—Yes. I’m afraid of heights.

He kept his attention on her face for a moment.

—Next time, I’ll be more careful.

Selena relaxed her fingers and approached the guard.

As she crouched beside him, she rested one knee on the ground and searched for the card attached to his uniform.

—Don’t worry —she replied, removing it from the clip—. If we need to do it again to complete the job, we will.

Her voice had regained its usual firmness.

The paleness remained, and a slight tremor ran through her fingers as she slipped her hand into her pocket; from it, she took out a round device.

She removed the radio from its holder, attached the piece to the back of its casing, and checked the brief pulse of light that confirmed it was working.

The disc was concealed when she returned the radio to its place, interfering with that unit’s communication.

Selena stood up and handed the card to Sebastián.

—We can continue.

He nodded and headed toward the stairwell entrance.

Selena accompanied him, allowing the rhythm of her steps to gradually restore stability to her legs.

When Sebastián passed the card over the reader, the lock released with a discreet click. He opened the door just enough to observe the interior, went through ahead of her, and held it until Selena entered.

The air in the stairwell was warmer than on the terrace.

A row of white lights illuminated the steps and landings, where the doors to each floor remained closed.

Sebastián began descending.

Selena followed behind him, with one hand near the railing and her bag secured against her side.

The upper door finished closing behind them, and the wind was replaced by the sound of their soles brushing against the steps and a faint hum of ventilation.

The number twenty was left behind.

They descended several more flights without encountering anyone.

At each landing, Selena observed the doors before continuing. Sometimes she slowed down to listen, but heard only the sounds of their own movements.

When she stopped beside one of the railings, she turned her face toward Sebastián.

—There should be more activity.

He remained still on the step below.

He listened toward the next landing and then directed his attention to the other side of the nearest door.

—I don’t sense anyone nearby.

Selena looked at the floor number. Her fingers tightened around the metal railing.

—People work here at night. There should also be cleaning staff.

She waited a few moments.

The light remained on above the entrance, motionless against the surface of the door.

—Let’s stay alert.

Sebastián responded with a brief nod and resumed descending.

From then on, he left more time between each step, stopping as necessary upon reaching the landings.

Selena followed him without adding to the conversation.

The doors passed by alongside the decreasing floor numbers. None opened, and no footsteps belonging to anyone else reached them.

Upon reaching the twelfth floor, she pointed toward the entrance.

—It’s here.

Sebastián approached the closed door but kept the card away from the reader.

He remained motionless as he concentrated his attention beyond the door.

He searched for breathing, the rustle of clothing, any variation that might allow him to distinguish someone in the nearby rooms. He extended his hearing as far as he could into the interior.

The hum of ventilation was still there.

—I don’t sense anyone on the other side either —he said—. Nor farther away, as far as I can perceive.

Selena approached close enough to observe the entrance without obstructing his movement.

—The office is on this floor.

He slightly lowered the hand holding the card.

—Stay behind me. If I tell you to get out, run toward the stairs.

Selena glanced once at the route they had descended and turned back toward him.

—Understood.

The reader accepted the card.

Sebastián opened the door and entered first.

The hallway was illuminated.

Beyond the office doors stretched a work area with neatly arranged desks, chairs pushed in, and screens that retained a faint glow.

The floor was clean. He detected no dirt or signs of disorder as his gaze swept over the visible spaces.

He advanced a few steps and listened again.

Ventilation came from the ceiling grilles.

Beneath it, the floor seemed to have been reduced to nothing but lights and furniture.

Selena entered behind him.

She lingered beside the first area of desks, observing the unoccupied workstations. Then she indicated the continuation of the hallway with a gesture of her hand.

—At the end. Then to the left.

Sebastián followed that direction.

His boots produced a muffled sound against the carpet, and Selena walked close enough to speak to him without raising her voice.

He looked into a side room as he passed its open entrance.

It was also unoccupied.

When he returned his attention to the corridor, he adjusted his bag against his body and shortened the distance separating him from her.

The route ended before an oak door with a dark surface and a metal handle.

Selena pointed to the office sign.

Sebastián stopped in front of it. She remained behind his right shoulder, keeping clear the space he needed to open it.

Even at that distance, he sensed no one inside.

He kept his head slightly tilted for a moment and then brought his hand toward the handle.

His fingers began to press it.

His instinct warned him of danger.

Sebastián released the metal, wrapped his left arm around Selena’s waist, and pulled her with him toward the side of the entrance.

He crouched beside her against the wall at the very instant two energy projectiles pierced the door.

The wood opened into two clean perforations, surrounded by edges blackened by heat.

The flashes crossed the space they had just abandoned and struck the opposite wall of the hallway.

Selena placed one hand against the wall to steady herself.

The heat brushed against her exposed cheek.

In front of them, a thin trail of smoke began rising from the perforations.

—Stay down —Sebastián whispered.

He removed his arm from her waist and, from that position, drove his right fist into the part of the door within his reach.

The door buckled inward.

The blow tore the lock from its housing and shattered the wood into fragments that flew into the office.

Before the splinters finished falling, Sebastián moved in front of the opening, still crouched low, with his weight gathered over his legs.

Selena saw him brace his boots and covered her ears.

The floor cracked beneath the force of his push.

An explosive sound reverberated through the hallway, and Sebastián burst through the entrance among the suspended fragments of the door.

The office opened before his gaze in an expanse of light-colored walls, dark wooden furniture, and equipment with modern lines.

A large desk occupied the central area, facing the entrance. On one side of it, a bookshelf rested against the wall.

There was enough space to move around the furniture, but the distance separating him from the desk vanished in that same advance.

To the left of the desk stood a figure approximately one meter ninety tall, covered in a black and dark-blue mechanized suit.

The plates overlapped across the chest and descended in segments along the abdomen, closing around the sides. Others completely protected the arms, articulated through narrow gaps that allowed movement of the elbows and wrists. The reinforcements continued along the thighs, knees, and boots; violet accents ran along some of the joints.

The helmet fitted closely around the skull and ended at the front in a mask of rigid contours that concealed the entire face.

At the center of each palm protruded a short piece, with a narrow base and a pointed tip.

One of them was still aimed toward the entrance when the covered head turned toward Sebastián.

He threw his right fist with lethal intent, without restraining the strength of his body.

The figure reacted.

The left shoulder rotated, and the forearm moved in front of the blow before it could reach the helmet.

The impact produced a sharp explosion inside the office.

The plate received his knuckles and caved inward, deforming along the line of the forearm. The protected arm yielded toward the body, and the force drove the individual backward, his boots scraping against the floor. He collided with the bookshelf near the desk; the plates on his back struck the wood, and several books fell from the shaken shelves.

Sebastián planted his boots as he completed the blow.

The soles slid a short distance before finding purchase, and his knees bent to halt his advance. He remained leaning forward, his right fist still extended and his gaze fixed on the helmet.

In front of him, among the fallen books, the figure kept his left forearm at chest height, with the plate caved inward.

Both stood face to face.

________________________________________

END OF Chapter 141 The path continues...

New Chapters are revealed every

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