Silent Flames

[2 weeks after Qevrols Fran's incident]

𝚂𝚌𝚎𝚗𝚎: Thüringer Wald

The kid sat outside in the woods in the middle of the night, his damaged body illuminated by the soft glow of a kerosene lamp. Blood stained his torn shirt, but he showed no emotion as he pulled a bullet from his abdomen with heated pliers. Bandaging the wound with practiced efficiency, he remained resolute and unyielding while a rifle leaning on the seat beside him.

Amidst the flickering fireflies, he contemplated the weight of his past and the uncertain path that lay ahead. He remained a solitary figure as the night progressed, his soul alight with the embers of his past. In the quiet darkness, he found solace, strength, and a relentless resolve to confront the shadows that surrounded him.

Amelie's heart raced as she approached the motionless figure, her every movement carefully calculated to avoid detection. She had finally found the boy they had been searching for, the one responsible for Qevrols' demise. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her, her instincts warning her of the danger that lurked within the stillness.

With utmost caution, Amelie closed the distance, her steps like whispers in the night. She blended effortlessly with the darkness, becoming one with the shadows that surrounded her. As she neared, the boy's form remained unmoving, his focus seemingly fixed on the task at hand.

Meanwhile, the boy finished tending to his wounds, changing into a black t-shirt and cleansing himself of the bloodstains with dew collected from leaves. A vintage phone chimed, its ring jarring against the night's silence. The boy answered, his voice calm and composed.

"Hello," he greeted.

A voice on the other end responded, speaking in an unfamiliar language. "Hello Hffiy, Macam mana kat Europe?" (How are you doing in Europe?)

"I'm doing quite well, Husin," the boy replied, lifting one leg and resting it on a log.

"I dah dapat apa yang saya nak from Qevrols," (I've obtained what I wanted from Qevrols.) he continued, revealing a necklace that had once belonged to the deceased. "I'm sure my work here is done. Saya balik nanti." (I'll be back soon.)

Husin acknowledged his words, mentioning a new mission that had surfaced. The boy listened intently, his attention focused on the conversation.

Amidst their discussion, a notification beeped on his phone. He bid farewell to Husin, their conversation coming to an end.

"I'll talk to you later, bye," the boy said.

"Alright, bye," Husin responded before they disconnected.

"So, how long are you going to stay there?" he asked, referring to Amelie's hidden presence.

The air around them grew tense as they faced each other, the weight of their encounter palpable in the darkened night.

Amelie stealthily emerged from the shadows of the bushes, revealing herself to the boy. She pointed her MP5K directly at him, her gaze unwavering.

"So, you're aware of my presence?" she questioned, her voice dripping with suspicion and determination.

The boy remained composed, his eyes locked on her as he replied, "I know you're here."

Amelie couldn't help but express her frustration. "I heard you went charging into Qevrols' mansion the other day. You must be pretty reckless to walk straight into a hail of bullets."

His response was curt, "Where are the others?"

Amelie's voice turned icy. "They're not with me."

A sudden surge of NawOps, Natchwache Operatives, emerged from the surrounding bushes, numbering around thirty. The sight caught Amelie off guard.

"What? What's the meaning of this?" she exclaimed, her confusion seeping into her words.

Madison, one of the operatives, stepped forward, her Sig MCX Spear leveled at the boy. "We're here to teach you a damn lesson for thrashing all of us the other day."

Kelly, standing beside Madison, added to the tense atmosphere. "You better tell us who you are before we pull the trigger."

The boy stood defiantly, unruffled by the menacing presence of the operatives. "You wouldn't dare. If you were going to shoot, you'd have done it already."

Enkoth, feeling the need to escalate the situation, fired a warning shot into the air. "We're not messing around, kid!"

But the boy's confidence only grew. "If you're not messing around, then you wouldn't be standing here," he retorted, his words tinged with unyielding resolve.

In the midst of the standoff, a beep emanated from a mysterious device in the boy's possession. His attention briefly shifted, acknowledging the incoming signal.

"Seems like they're catching up," he muttered cryptically.

Amelie demanded answers, urgency in her voice. "Who are 'they'? Explain yourself."

Yet, the boy brushed off her pleas, his hand inching closer to the rifle resting by his side.

Ami, Amelie's sister, spoke up, her voice tinged with concern. "Put that weapon down, kid!"

The boy's gaze hardened as he issued a chilling warning. "All of you better turn around and head back to where you came from."

Tensions soared, the heavy silence foreshadowing an impending storm.

Without warning, an RPG rocket tore through the air, landing with a devastating explosion among the group. The impact sent Amelie and the others flying, their bodies crashing onto the ground. Coughing and disoriented, they quickly regained their footing, their eyes scanning the surroundings for the source of the attack.

Their attention was drawn to a horde of armed men clad in dark paramilitary uniforms. These adversaries were equipped with tactical ballistic vests, helmets, and some even wielded formidable ballistic shields. It became evident that their primary target was the boy. The NawOps swiftly reacted, attempting to return fire, but the paramilitary operatives displayed exceptional skill, suppressing their efforts with relentless precision.

Realizing the odds were against them, the operatives made a strategic decision. With the paramilitary forces focused on their relentless assault, they seized the opportunity to retreat, following the boy's instructions to the letter. Through the chaos and the cover of the forest, they disappeared into the shadows, leaving the boy to fend for himself against the relentless paramilitary assailants.

Amidst the chaos and confusion, the NawOps dashed through the dense forest, their senses heightened and adrenaline coursing through their veins. The crackling of branches beneath their feet and the rustling of foliage accompanied their hasty movements. The urgent thumping of their hearts resonated within their chests, matching the rhythm of their desperate escape.

Echoes of gunfire reverberated through the trees, intermittently punctuated by the thunderous boom of explosions. They could still hear the faint sounds of the boy engaging in a fierce battle with the paramilitary men, his relentless determination resonating through the air. Each shot fired and every clash of metal served as a chilling reminder of the danger lurking behind them.

Guided by instinct and the familiarity of the terrain, they maneuvered with precision, navigating through the labyrinthine maze of the forest. Shadows danced around them, the moonlight casting an eerie glow upon their strained faces. They pressed on, their resolve unyielding, as they raced against time to find sanctuary and make their way back to the safety of their base.

In the midst of the darkness, their survival instincts kicked into high gear, propelling them forward through the treacherous terrain. They remained silent, their breaths shallow, acutely aware that any noise could betray their presence. Step by cautious step, they fought their way through the dense undergrowth, their hearts pounding in sync with the distant sounds of the boy's valiant struggle.