The brick walls of the underground water channel were slippery with slime. The sound of running water echoed in the narrow space.
Vikram led the way, his Prana sensing the electrical hum of the security systems above. He stopped at a rusted iron ladder that led to a grate in the floor of the mill.
"There's an active camera right above the grate," Vikram whispered, looking up through the iron bars. "Rhea, can you loop it?"
"Give me three seconds," Rhea's voice came through their earpieces. "Looping... now. You're green."
Vikram pushed the heavy grate open and climbed out, Rohan following closely behind. They were inside a vast, derelict warehouse. Huge rusted looms stood like sleeping beasts in the darkness.
Footsteps echoed down the metal catwalk above.
"Two guards," Rohan whispered, reaching for his stun baton.
"I've got this," Vikram said.
He breathed in, activating his shadow-fold. He vanished from Rohan's sight. He climbed the stairs to the catwalk silently, the air around him freezing.
The two Malhotra enforcers walked past, their searchlights cutting through the dust. Suddenly, Vikram materialized between them. Before they could react, he drove a Prana-infused left hook into the first guard's stomach, then spun and delivered a sweeping kick to the second guard's legs.
Both guards fell silently to the metal catwalk. Vikram dragged their bodies into the shadows.
"Clear," Vikram whispered into his radio. "Rohan, move up."