CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN – A DREARY COLD WORLD

As the adrenaline faded, the full weight of what had just happened hit her. She'd been made. She'd killed - not in the heat of battle or in self-defense, but in a brutal, animalistic frenzy. Cassie felt her stomach heave, and she barely made it to a corner before retching. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, the events of the night replaying in her mind. It took her several hours to compose herself enough to make the call to Anya for extraction. By the time she was safely back at Sergei's compound, Cassie felt hollow, drained of everything but a bone-deep exhaustion. Sergei was waiting for her, his face grim as he took in her battered appearance. "Report," he said simply. Cassie recounted the events of her mission in a monotone, her voice devoid of emotion. When she finished, Sergei was silent for a long moment. "You did well," he finally said. "The information you gathered will be invaluable. Get some rest. We'll debrief fully tomorrow." Cassie nodded numbly, turning to