Killing Grimm; Graveyard of Gods

Chapter 2, Unique Blessed Gems.

"This is a restricted area, ID and permit, lady."

Lisa took a wobbly step back, her heart racing with fear. However, it wasn't fear that would paralyze her; it was the kind that sharpens a veteran infiltrator's instincts. She quickly composed herself, her mind racing through her options. She initiated an act, a trick she had perfected over years of espionage.

Smiling calmly, she flushed her cheeks and slanted her eyes, giving the guards the impression they were being seduced by a fox spirit. She staggered forward, mimicking the gait of a drunkard stumbling out of a taxi.

When she was close enough, she deliberately fell towards the guards. The one nearest to her immediately lowered his gun and caught her before she hit the ground. He inhaled sharply, greedily drawing in her scent. Her body felt boneless in his arms, causing him to lower his guard completely. The nerdy look, he thought, must be a facade.

He was right, but before he could react, a sharp pain in his abdomen startled him. His eyes widened in horror as he looked down to see a dagger strapped to his stomach. He opened his mouth to alert his comrade, but Lisa twisted the blade, forcing him to swallow back his scream.

The second guard, fed up with his teammate’s behavior, called out, “Hey man, let the girl go so we can do our jobs.”

When there was no response, he approached and tapped his ally's shoulder. The corpse fell limply to the ground, revealing Lisa standing behind it, her eyes cold and calculating.

"What the—"

Before he could finish, a sharp pain pierced his neck. He gurgled and choked on his own blood, grasping at the wound as his body collapsed, convulsing on the floor until he succumbed to death.

"Well, that was a close one, eh, Lisa? But now we’re behind schedule. Get moving," Jacky's voice crackled through the comm in her ear.

"Yeah, sorry it took so long," Lisa replied, stepping over the bodies and approaching the iron door. The door was coded and locked, resembling something out of a high-security bank vault.

"If you would do the honors, Wacky," she said into the comm.

"Already did," Jacky replied. The door emitted a metallic sound, and the code inserted itself. The steel doors opened with a bang.

Lisa smiled sweetly, as if she hadn't just taken the lives of two men. She skipped into the secret lab, humming a jolly tune.

“There it is,” she whispered, her eyes lighting up as she gazed at a small, gray gem. It was encased in a glass cube designed for maximum security. The gem was unassuming in size, something that could fit comfortably in her hand, but its potential was immeasurable.

She walked up to the cube and raised her hands towards the gem.

"Careful, Lisa. You touch that and we're done for," Jacky's voice warned through the comm.

She smiled grimly, the beautiful gem was the culmination of her life's work, the key to changing her fate. A thin layer of glass was all that stood between them.

Without hesitation, she lifted her short mini skirt and retrieved a small chip hidden in a place known only to her. She placed the chip on the glass cube. The glass lit up with thin green light beams, which swam around the cube until they formed an intricate pattern around the chip.

Moments later, the glass cube shook and opened up from all sides, revealing the gem. Lisa grabbed it eagerly, feeling the cold chill emanating from its transparent surface. A mix of excitement and deep contrition washed over her.

"Alright, Lisa. Time to leave," Jacky’s voice brought her back to reality.

"Sure," she replied, securing the gray gem under her skirt. As she turned to leave, she noticed a crimson glow from the corner of her eye.

It was another gem, but this one was jet red. Dark crimson blood seemed to flow within it, radiating a chilling aura. Anyone who looked at it would feel its boundless killing intent.

“There’s another one,” Lisa said, completely absorbed by its brilliance.

"Really? Is it another unique gem? What color is it?" Jacky asked, his breath quickening.

"It’s red," Lisa replied, still transfixed.

"That’s just an ordinary Blessed Gem. You can buy as many as you want on the black market," Jacky said, sounding disappointed.

"No, this is different. It’s more of a crimson blood," Lisa insisted, feeling an inexplicable pull towards it.

"Yeah, like the color red, Sherlock. Come on, get out of there already," Jacky urged.

As Lisa prepared to leave, she noticed a small, illusionary figure within the gem.

"Jacky, I think there’s someone inside the Blessed Gem," she said, astonished.

"No, Lisa. A person can’t fit inside such a small object," Jacky sighed deeply.

"I don’t think it’s a person, but it looks like one," Lisa argued, her curiosity piqued.

Jacky was losing patience. "Lisa, we don’t have time for this. The next security check will begin any moment now, and we—"

BOOM.

The door outside was kicked open by men in black, interrupting Jacky and startling Lisa.

"Halt, this is a restricted area," a commanding voice shouted.

Lisa’s heart raced as she clutched the gem tighter. She glanced around the room, searching for an escape route. Her mind worked frantically to devise a plan. The men in black, armed and ready, spread out, scanning the room for intruders.