Chapter 9: Into the Fray_1

Amira slowly woke up and blinked against the faint morning light that was coming in.

Bella was curled up next to her, her breathing steady and her appearance gentle while sleeping.

At first, she just stood there and watched her. Being around Bella made her feel calm.

But when she looked at the clock, she had to face reality: it was already 6 AM.

She carefully got out of bed so as not to wake Bella up.

She stretched and felt the familiar, good pain from last night's tempering session.

She could feel her muscles getting stronger, the slight result of pushing her body to its limits.

After quickly putting on her workout clothes, she went outside to start her jog across the fields. The air was cool and crisp.

There was a soft mist over the land that made the farm look like it was from another world.

The grass felt cool under her boots. Outside, she could see some of her company members already working out in the morning.

They were laughing loudly as they ran across the field, making fun of and challenging each other.

She found herself smiling, the scene tugging her back to her own training days.

She remembered the sting of dawn's chill, the gruff commands that had driven her through endless drills.

She could almost feel the burn in her muscles, see her friends' flushed faces as they fought through every grueling session.

Even though it was hard, there was a strange comfort in the pain: a sense of pride and unity.

"Captain! Daydreaming, are we?"

The voice was warm, familiar, and laced with a teasing edge.

She looked up to see Kelly, leaning against a nearby fence with a lopsided grin.

Kelly, with his healthy, slightly chubby build, had always seemed an unlikely fit for their line of work.

But he'd surprised everyone with his flexibility and speed, outpacing even the most athletic of the squad.

Amira chuckled, shaking her head.

"Just… remembering," she replied, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.

Kelly shot her a look, feigning innocence.

"I bet you were thinking about all the hard times you put us through in training."

She joked back, "Maybe, but I also remember how you carried all that grief around with you every day."

"Hey, I came every day!" Kelly laughed and put his hands up to show that he was giving up, "Don't be so sarcastic."

"Are you running by yourself today, Captain?" Then he looked around, and his voice changed to sound interested, "Isn't Bella with you most of the time?"

"Bella's very good." She gave a shrug and bit her lip in a smile, "She doesn't need as much training as us."

Kelly smiled and nodded to show that she understood. He leaned closer and his voice dropped after a short pause.

"Captain, I heard some farm workers talking."

"It looks like a few hunters got lost near the grove. Do you think we should look into it?"

Her smile faded as she considered his words. Missing people weren't unusual in these times, but they couldn't afford to ignore anything that might pose a threat.

"Let's bring it up in the morning meeting," she replied finally, giving him a reassuring nod before jogging off to complete her workout.

Meanwhile, about eighty kilometers away, a military helicopter descended onto a barren stretch of land near the edge of the grove Kelly had mentioned.

The rotor wash stirred up dust and debris as Aiden and his squad of fifteen disembarked, their boots crunching on the rocky ground.

There was a very long stretch of silence, with only the faint sound of trees rustling in the distance.

As he moved, his eyes were searching the area as his team spread out around him.

As they moved in a formation they had practiced, each person took their place with their guns raised and ready.

"Sir, the area is clear." One of his men walked up to him and spoke in a low but sure voice, "We're ready to move."

He gave a nod and looked straight ahead to the grove.

"Leave these five men here to watch over the helicopter." he spoke and the rest of you on me, "Let's get our target"

The group moved forward, but the dry ground made it hard to hear their steps.

When they got close to the edge of the grove, one of the guys looked around and said something under his breath.

"That doesn't look like a grove...I think it looks more like a forest."

Aiden smiled dryly at him, his eyes still alert, "Trust me, nothing surprises me these days with everything that's been going on. Just pay attention."

They entered the thick of the trees, the shadows deepening as the canopy overhead blocked out much of the morning light.

It got darker outside, and the smell of dead leaves and wet dirt filled the air.

Small animals ran through the bushes. They looked like big rodents with bright eyes and teeth that weren't supposed to be that sharp.

The squad quickly dealt with them, and their motions were quick and almost silent.

One of the scouts ran back after a while, his voice barely above a whisper, "Sir, I saw a small makeshift house about 200 clicks to the north."

He nodded, and they changed their path, "Got it. Let's go that way."

As they got closer, the air became cold and still in a way that made you think something was hiding just out of sight.

One of the other people in the squad leaned in toward Aiden and spoke quickly, "Sir, the target is inside."

He looked at the makeshift building with narrowed eyes. Its walls were thrown together without much thought, and the top looked like it could fall off in a strong wind.

He quickly waved his hand, and his men spread out around the house, becoming invisible in the dark.

He took a slow breath and stepped forward. He stood tall and calmly at the same time.

In a strong but steady voice, he said, "Mr. Jefferson, come out and surrender yourself."

For a moment, silence hung thick in the air, each man holding his position.

Then, with a slow creak, the door opened, and a disheveled figure stumbled out.

Mr. Jefferson looked wild-eyed and wary, his gaze darting around like a cornered animal.

"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Jefferson's voice was hoarse, his shoulders sagging.

"I just want a safe place. I'm not looking to hurt anyone," He kept his tone of voice low and smooth.

"Yes, Mr. Jefferson, we get it." Our job is to help you find a safe spot where everyone is safe. He paused, and his voice stayed the same.

"Things will go smoothly if you work together."

But a flicker of panic crossed Jefferson's eyes, and before anyone could react, he turned and ran straight for the thick trees. Aiden cursed under his breath, adrenaline kicking in as he gave chase.

"Hold it right there!"

Just as he got closer, Jefferson turned around, his eyes gleaming with desperation. In an instant, a crackling bolt of energy burst from his hand, filling the air with a sharp electrical hum.

As the blue light tore through the air, Aiden barely had time to duck. He could feel the heat on his shoulder.

"Not happening, Jefferson," Aiden said in a low voice as he stood up.

He moved quickly and carefully as he lunged forward and caught Jefferson's arm, twisting it behind his back.

He quickly and expertly pushed him to his knees, and Jefferson's wild energy died out as he slouched in defeat.

"You're done," Aiden said, injecting Jefferson with a sedative to ensure he wouldn't cause any more trouble.

He glanced at his squad, giving them a quick nod. "Secure the area. We're heading back."

Cole slung the unconscious Mr. Jefferson over his shoulder with a grin, giving hum a thumbs-up.

"Got him, sir. He's out cold, but I'll make sure he doesn't slip off."

The job was over, so the squad moved back toward the helicopter.

But Aiden couldn't get rid of the uneasy feeling that was still in the air.

There was a sense in Jefferson's desperate and unstable behavior that they were only beginning to scratch the surface of a bigger problem.

Whereas, Amira had her team together in the meeting room back at the safehouse.

The people in her unit filled the room, and their faces were eager and focused.

She started once everyone was sitting down.

"Thank you all for getting here early," she said in a serious voice, "There are two main reasons for this meeting. First, we can't stay here indefinitely. Although it's safe for now, we don't know how long that will last. And second, as you can see, we're already at capacity."

She let her words sink in while she watched her team look at each other thoughtfully.

She nodded, feeling a surge of pride.

This was her team, her family, and together, they would face whatever challenges awaited them on the horizon.