65 65 Trouble

Chirping crickets, the rustle of leaves from the wind, and occasional howling owls sounds as they continue to walk through the forest. Excited, nervous, it's nerve-racking. Knowing she might meet her parents. Even if it's a little hope or maybe disappointment at the end, she'd take the risk. In this second chance, no one can stop her. Luckily, she's not alone. Staring at the broad back and faint smell of soap from her man holding her hands, thankfully her blushing cheeks can't be seen from the dark.

Arrow wearing night goggles suddenly stopped and gestured suspicious movement ahead. A faint sound of breaking twigs approached them, and at the same time, everybody raised guns pointing at the location. Bella also held her breath while observing the surroundings.

"It's me." Whispering from the lush bush then a thin boy came out wearing a camouflage suit with a sniper rifle at the back and a small binocular hanging on his chest. His face is covered with black and green paint and dirt, and his eyes are round and big.

Everybody sighs of relief and puts down their arms, aside from Core who's guarding at the back.

He salutes at Dean, " Dash has seen Master." Dean only nodded.

"They all left, we checked the surrounding area and Enyo is inside."

"Good job." His lowest voice still sounds sexy. She shakes her head from the absurd distraction. Dash noticed the girl with a ponytail behind his master. Her face is also covered with paint, but it doesn't hide her small face. Her eyes staring straight at him kinda remind him of his master, like peeking deep in his soul, sending chills on his back.

"This…."

"It's Mistress Isabella," Arrow said in a low voice.

He widens his already big eyes in shock and salutes at their legendary mistress! "Dash has seen sister-in-law!" While Bella covers her mouth preventing her from making a sound almost choked from her saliva from the sudden attack. Dean only nods in satisfaction.

"Just Bella will do." She whispered.

He peeks at him, "Yes, sister-in-law!" She sighed, looking like it won't change for a while.

Everybody put on gas masks with night vision. The couple whose bodies were conditioned by the space water had only gas masks.

Dash walks ahead leading them to what looks like an abandoned mine. Arrow waved to stop. Hugo briefly paused at the entrance and slowly went into the mine. After a while, he peeks outside and gestures 'all clear'. The group went in aside from Dash who will keep on guard outside. Little did he know, in a large tree not far away from him, a pair of eyes were watching.

Though the mine looks abandoned, there were signs of recent activity like footprints, used ropes, and shovels leaning on the wall. The greyish walls are supported by large wood columns. On the floor is a single track with an empty steel cart. From the report, it's not clear what they were digging.

After a while, they reached a large area, where the tracks were divided into three separate tunnels. A dim light slowly emerges from the tunnel on the right.

"Master!" Enyo saluted. Dean nodded.

"I got this far."

"Good." The group is divided into three teams. Hugo, Arlo, Axel, and Ares took the first tunnel. Then Jet, Arrow, Enyo, and Core went to the second. Dean thinks it's better this way so, in case of emergency, they won't expose the space. He held her hands as they walked to the third. The others were already immune, but Enyo was still in shock. When they walked for a while, he couldn't take it.

"Was that sister-in-law?" he whispered. The three nodded while still on alert.

"But…." Arrow placed his hands on his mouth, swallowing the words he wanted to ask. He almost slipped! In the past, rumors were circulating. Although it was known he's a germaphobe, some think he swings the other way….Well, this proves them wrong.

He's been away from the base for a long time because of the missions, so didn't believe the news when he read about it in the group chat once. It was deleted right away….Anyway, whatever, he'll support him all the way.

They call him boss or master, but he treats them like family. Just like their benefactor, General Jin. Orphans like him were given a chance to live. Although it's bloody, he doesn't regret it. With their help, he was able to avenge his family and friends.

His village was one of those that was ransacked by the rebels during the war. His grandparents along with the villagers were killed right away. Men who fought along with his father were executed on the spot. Kids like him and all the women left were brought to the cave deep in the mountain. Starved, beaten, and enslaved along with them. He saw his mother, sister, cousins, and aunties abused in front of his eyes before they slashed their necks one by one like pigs. Until General Jin rescued them, like a light in their dark days.

After the battle, he found him. His eyes were lifeless, covered with blood, holding a knife and stabbing the dead bodies. They were shot dead, but he continued to stab every single one of the rebels. His comrade wants to stop him, but General Jin let him continue until he was too tired to move. They didn't leave until all the villagers were properly buried.

It took him years to come out of the dark. Sometimes he thinks that if they were rescued earlier, maybe some of his family would still be alive. It's a bit shameful to ask for more because he knows they were only rescued luckily. The team was lost in the mountain and found the cave by accident.

Moving on, he studied, trained, but has nightmares once in a while. Not truly cured, but can control his emotions. When the time came and was asked what he wanted to do. Right then, he chose to follow General Jin and serve his family. He could've been a soldier of the country, but he didn't want to be away from his idol.

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While they were exploring, Dash is fighting for his life. After running, he rested in a huge tree trunk holding his bleeding arm and leg. A strange thing happened after the group left. He was checking the area when he was suddenly attacked and wounded by an unknown weapon. Not only that, he didn't see anybody. If it wasn't for the rabbit who scared him, dodging to the side, he'd probably be facing King Yama by now. He's muddy all over from running and falling.

Applying the life-saving plasters, stops the bleeding for now. But the cut was deep, and he didn't have enough sleep for days. He feels a little weak from the blood loss. The communication seemed blocked and couldn't warn the others. His position is still near the mine and trying to find the culprit.

Angrily thinking it's the first time somebody slipped on his watch. While reflecting on what to do next, there's the sound of breaking twigs and walking. But even with night vision, he can't see anything. 'Dammit!' He cursed, blaming his bad luck because he's sure of what direction it's coming from. With his quick thinking, switched his goggles with a thermal scan. A shadow reflects on the goggles, holding something like curve knives, slowly approaching.

However, he noticed it walked slowly and seemed searching based on its body movements. 'Good, It looks like he can't see me for now' He raised his gun with a silencer and waited.

"Pew!" 'S***!' He's a bit dizzy and only shot its shoulder. He almost missed! It's bad, it exposed his position! The shadow ran in his direction.

'Not Good!' "Pew! Pew!Pew!" He shot it in the waist, hip and legs. Until it fell on its knees. It stared at him, then limped in the other direction. Only then Dash sighed of relief.

He also followed the shadow. While limping, he saw something glowing on the spot where it fell, glowing yellow liquid. He took the leaf stained with it and placed it in a plastic bag and continued to follow drips. He can see the mine but the drips already vanished. Looking at the bag, it's not glowing either. He kept it in the bag and took the phone to contact Dean. "BOOOOOM!"

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Jet, Arrow, Enyo, and Core's tunnel was a dead end. Before separating, Dean instructed they must return to the entrance if they can't find anything. The phones and walkie-talkies don't work, so he also left a coded message in the open area. When they were almost at the entrance of the mine, "BOOOOOM!" They dropped to the floor. Hearing a rumbling sound, they stood up hurriedly and ran as fast as they could.

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Hugo, Arlo, Axel, and Ares' tunnel was also a dead end, but it was longer. They were resting in the large area before retreating when, "BOOOOOM!".

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The couple is standing at the end of the tunnel and looking at the broken bridge. They are still thinking about how to cross and reach the tunnel ahead when, "BOOOOOM!".