Wrong Turn 3/3

—They look military, maybe they are in some kind of training —exclaimed Ethan, watching the uniformed team approaching the tower from a distance. They carried complete tactical equipment, moving with precision and coordination, which made their professional training evident. Surely they would have functional communication equipment, thought. That would be his salvation.— And what do we expect? They must have a radio, we can ask for help —said Jessie, her voice excited, almost desperate to see the opportunity to escape that nightmare.Ethan, keeping calm, looked at her for a moment and then replied firmly:—I will go. You guys stay here, we don't know who you are or what you are doing.Jessie opened her mouth to protest, but Ethan's determined gaze silenced her. He had already made the decision. Carly, who was sitting on the floor with a pale face and a lost look, said nothing. He only nodded slightly, knowing that his energy was too depleted to argue.Ethan adjusted his shirt stained with dirt and blood, ran a hand over his face, trying to clear himself, and began to descend the long metal staircase that creaked under his weight. Each step resonated in the empty structure, accompanied by the sound of the wind whistling through the rusty bars.  Finally, after a few minutes, he felt the firm floor under his boots. The air at the base of the tower was denser, loaded with the smell of wet earth and pine.When his feet touched the ground, the soldiers had already seen him. Ethan raised a hand in greeting, but barely took a couple of steps toward them when, in a synchronized movement, the military raised their weapons and aimed it directly at the chest. The red lasers danced on his torso, reflecting the obvious threat.— Identify yourself! —shouted what appeared to be the team leader. His voice resonated authoritatively, as if he did not accept hesitation.Ethan's heart sped up. Holding his hands up, he tried to control his breathing while speaking calmly, without making sudden movements.— I'm Ethan Morgan! Banshee, Pennsylvania Police Officer. —He took a breath quickly before continuing —. My friends and I were attacked by a ... —hesitated for a moment, looking for the right words to describe what they had seen without sounding crazy —. A tribe of cannibals, a kind of wild group that lives in these mountains. We barely managed to escape. We take refuge in the tower, but we are trapped here. We have no way to communicate with the outside.The military kept their weapons up, without letting their guard down. The man in front of him was identical to the actor David Boreanaz de Bones although a little older, with a hardened face, he observed him carefully. There was something in his gaze that indicated that he was not willing to easily trust strangers.— Where are the people you are talking about? —asked harshly, without taking his eyes off Ethan's eyes.—Up in the tower —Ethan replied, with a slight nod to the metal frame behind him.The leader did not look away from him, and after a tense silence, he gestured with his hand.—Alpha 2 and Alpha 3, go up to the tower and corroborate the story —ordered in a firm voice.Two of the soldiers moved quickly, holding their weapons up as they headed toward the base of the ladder. Ethan saw them begin to climb with military efficiency, each covering the other's advance. His steps were firm and precise, and soon disappeared into the shadows of the upper levels of the tower.The team leader kept his gaze fixed on Ethan, studying him as if he could read every lie or truth in his words. Time passed slowly, the silence only broken by the wind and the occasional creaking of the tower. Ethan stood motionless, his hands still raised, hoping Jessie, Carly, and Daria were fine and made no hasty movement.The air felt colder, as if the tension froze everything around it. Ethan knew that any false move could be interpreted as a threat. His only option was to remain calm and wait for the soldiers to corroborate his story.The minutes passed like hours, until finally, the military radios crackled with static.—Alpha 1, here Alpha 3. We confirm three civilians in the tower. They seem in shock, but they are alive. The story agrees —the soldier's metallic voice was heard from the leader's earpiece.The man in front of Ethan nodded slightly, though he didn't let his guard down entirely. He lowered his weapon a little, but was still in a position ready to react to any threat.—Well, Mr. Morgan —said the leader — They are lucky to have come across us. I'll call the base to ask for instructions, don't move.Ethan nodded, feeling the weight of the situation continue to press on his shoulders. Although the military no longer pointed it out directly, the tension did not diminish. There was no room for error.The team leader, whose badge on the tactical vest said Sergeant Hayes, retreated a couple of steps, staying at a safe distance. He pulled out his long-range radio and adjusted the frequency before speaking.—Here Sergeant Hayes, Alpha 1. Situation in the northeast perimeter of the mountain. We have found a civilian. I repeat, a civilian, who claims to have been attacked by a group of hostile cannibals. I request instructions to proceed. Two of our men are verifying the information with other civilians in a nearby tower.The radio emitted a few seconds of static, the thud of the wind filling the void while Hayes waited for the answer. Ethan could feel the eyes of the other soldiers still on him, ready to act if the situation twisted.Finally, a voice echoed from the other end of the line, clear and authoritative.—Here Central Base. Received, Alpha 1. Proceed with caution. If the civilian reports are correct and the hostile group represents a threat, it has the green light to neutralize them. I repeat, if the threat is real, eliminate any hostile force. Prioritize the safety of civilians.Ethan felt a chill run down his back. Although he was relieved that they were at least taking him seriously, the order to "neutralize" it left no room for doubt: they were prepared to end anything the military considered a threat. Sergeant Hayes turned down the radio and looked at him again, his eyes scrutinizing Ethan, as if trying to measure whether he could really trust what he was saying.—Morgan, the situation is clear. —The sergeant's tone was direct, bluntly —. We are going to investigate what is happening in these mountains. If what you say about cannibals is true, we will finish them off. But I warn you, if there is any attempt to deceive us or if it turns out that this is some kind of trap, we will not hesitate to act.—What I told you is true —Ethan replied calmly, but with an air of urgency —. Those ... those people are not normal. They are violent, savages there should be more than twenty of them, I can take them to their camp without problem.Hayes looked at him for a second longer, then turned to his team.—Very well, gentlemen. We change targets. We have an order to investigate and, if the threat is real, eliminate the hostile ones. Alpha 5 secures civilians in this place.Ethan felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. At least Daria, Jessie and Carly would be safe under the protection of the military, but he knew the worst was yet to come. It was not over. Those cannibals were still out there, waiting for their next chance to attack.Sergeant Hayes, with his cold, calculated gaze, walked one step closer to Ethan.—You come with us. If you know these mountains and those ... cannibals, you will be useful to us. But I warn you: if you try something strange, I will not hesitate to leave you behind.Ethan nodded, knowing he had no choice. He was caught between two forces, and the only way out was to go ahead with the military.—Understood The team prepared quickly, adjusting their weapons and checking the equipment. The military began to retreat, still cautious, and Ethan followed them with his eyes as they prepared for what came next.— Call me Jason, take this is for you.Jason didn't say much more and took a multifunctional backpack off his shoulders to give it to Ethan. In it was an HK417 model rifle with an inserted 16-inch barrel and a bulletproof vest hanging outside. Inside was a complete set of tactical accessories and ammunition, a Fast tactical helmet with Comtac-I headphones.—Well we have work to do team move. —said one of the soldiers next to Hayes, a man of medium and strong completeness, his vest tag placed the last name "Perry".—Alpha 5 will stay with them. Superiors demand that if the threat is real, everyone be neutralized. We have to prepare an ambush.Jason continued speaking in a firm tone and then gestured back. The two members of his team nodded, ran down the hill and began to prepare.Ethan nodded quickly to show that he understood. He kept his gun around his waist and put his belongings in the hiking bag, and handed it to Daria. She hung it on her back.— Be careful, I'll be waiting for you! —Daria yelled before kissing him hard.Under the guidance of the last SEAL, Ethan accompanied Daria, Jessie, and Carly to the tower staircase. The girls came up first, giving a farewell gesture and thanks to Ethan, who had done the impossible to keep them safe. Their looks said more than words; they knew they owed him life.Once they were safe in their seats, Alpha 5 climbed up next to them. A place like this was the easiest to defend against threats.Ethan quickly put on his gear, adjusted the backpack, and installed a red dot sight on his HK417. After checking again, he looked at Jason and nodded, indicating he was ready.Jason, seeing the speed of his movements, nodded with satisfaction.—It seems like you have a lot of experience, have you had military training? —asked calmly, watching Ethan's skillful hands as he adjusted his equipment.Ethan looked at him askance, without responding immediately, focused on verifying his weapon, but SEAL did not expect an answer.—I just want to warn you something —the soldier continued, his tone serious and direct —. From now on, you are under my command. You will abide by everything I order you, understand?Ethan looked up, finding the leader's eyes, which left no room for doubt. He nodded firmly.—Understood.Ethan nodded once more, firmly. He had no interest in trying to impress the SEALs. He knew perfectly well who they were: elite soldiers, experts forged in the most brutal fighting, men who had survived dangerous situations together. It was time to get going with Ethan leading the way.Ethan was in front, guiding the team through a narrow, meandering path that led back to the cannibal village. The dense vegetation surrounded him, but his eyes kept seeing the surroundings.—We are close —Ethan murmured, his deep voice echoing in the silence of the group. He stopped for a moment, listening carefully. Nature seemed to be silent in his presence, as if everything was aware of the imminent danger.As they progressed, Ethan noticed some marks on the ground: large, uneven footprints that indicated the recent presence of the cannibals.—We are close —whispered —. Let's continue.Before long, they reached a hill that allowed them to see the village. The image was disturbing: cabins made of wood and branches, surrounded by a dense and dark environment. In the center, a steaming campfire illuminated the shadows of the figures that danced around, laughing and celebrating.Ethan felt that time stood still for a moment. The adrenaline ran through his veins as he planned his next move. There was no margin for error.—Be ready —he said, his voice firm and determined —. It is time to act.According to Jason's orders, the four SEALs dispersed and hid: two by the river on the left and two plus the forest on the right. Ethan stayed with Jason, and they both hid behind the rocks on the hill.The air was loaded with an acrid stench that mixed with the smoke coming out of the campfire in the center of the village. Ethan, Jason and the other SEALs were hiding behind a thick thicket, cautiously watching what was happening on the scene in front of them. The light of the fire cast dancing shadows that illuminated the faces of the cannibals, whose features were as wild as their actions.Around the fire, several cannibals were in a frenzy state, laughing and screaming, while others manipulated what appeared to be human flesh on a spit. The meat, raw and bloody, sizzled in the flames, sparking into the air and filling the environment with a disgusting scent that made Ethan writhe.—Alpha 3, do you have visual confirmation of the story Officer Morgan gave us? —Jason asked through the earpiece, his voice cold and calculating.—Confirmed —answered one of the SEALs, his voice serious just a whisper. Ethan could feel the tension between them. —The reports were true .... they are cooking human meat —said Jason, his incisive gaze fixed on the campfire. There was an air of determination in his tone —— What is the plan? —Ethan asked, his voice firm despite the horror he witnessed.Jason looked around, making sure everyone was ready. —First, we need to distract them. Alpha 2 and Alpha 3, occupy the fire positions. Once they are in place, we will attack.Ethan and the rest of the team nodded, knowing they had to do their part. With one last glance at the horrible scene in front of them, the team prepared to take action, their military training taking control of the situation, while the fire continued to crackle, witness to the darkness that surrounded them.Soon after, the sound of an engine in the woods, as loud as that of a tractor, was heard. Two Toyota trucks soon appeared, as damaged as those of the war in Syria, almost as ramshackle as the trailer Ethan had found at the gas station.A total of eight cannibals were traveling in the two trucks, along with two drivers, ten in total, as soon as they got out of the vehicles.—Fire —Jason ordered through the earpiece.With the explosion of two shots, they all came out of hiding and pulled the trigger in unison.Within seconds, Ethan fired two short bursts and realized that there were no moving targets.—Go ahead.At the captain's command, the three SEALs advanced towards the center. Every time they passed a corpse, they finished off with a shot to the head.Ethan followed Jason, secretly impressed by efficiency. It was worthy of a professional killing machine. However, he had performed quite well, managing to shoot down the driver of the first truck.— What the hell is this? —asked one of the SEALs, visibly upset. He lowered his mask, spat on the floor, and complained out loud.Another, younger team member was stunned. He touched the wound on his left shoulder, scratched by a crossbow arrow, and murmured:—I shot him at least three times in the chest.Although the battle was over quickly, several of those pain-free ogres managed to defend themselves before dying. At least four of them fired or attacked just before being eliminated. Even an arrow was shot, albeit without causing harm.Jason glared at them, but said nothing, probably because strangers were present.Ethan pointed his own head.—Try to hit them on the head as much as possible. They are like zombies, they don't feel pain.As the horror scene unfolded in front of them, they searched the surrounding houses but found no more highlanders, they must have been somewhere else, as according to Ethan there were more than twenty of them, Jason made a quick decision. He turned to the rest of the team, his face reflecting the seriousness of the situation.—We need support from the base, we cannot leave any alive. —Jason said, adjusting the earpiece and calling the operating room. The radio sizzled as it connected.—Base, here Alpha Team, on —said Jason, his voice firm and clear.—Alpha Team, here Base. What is the situation? —answered the captain's voice, echoing through the earpiece.—We have found visual confirmation of cannibals. We need a UAV to locate other highlanders who may be in hiding. There are indications that they are using cabins in the area. We need to know where —Jason explained, clenching his teeth while waiting for the answer.—Received, Alpha Team. We are going to send a UAV to the area. Please note that it will take a few minutes. What else do you need? —asked the captain, the palpable concern in his voice.—Just make sure the UAV can stream in real time —Jason replied, keeping the focus.—Understood. UAV on the way. I'll be back in a few minutes with information on the location of the Highlanders. Base out —said the captain, cutting off the communication.While awaiting the arrival of the UAV, the team regrouped, analyzing the terrain around them. The atmosphere became tense, and everyone knew that time was running out.Soon after, the characteristic buzz of the UAV reached his ears. Jason watched him rise into the sky and begin to move accurately, searching for the highlanders hidden in the vast expanse of trees.—Base, here Alpha 1, report anything you find —Jason asked, feeling the urgency in every word.After a few minutes of silence, the radio sizzled again.—Alpha 1, we have located a group of highlanders. They are in a mine approximately two kilometers upstream from their current location, along with several cabins —voiced from the base.— Do you have a visual of your condition? —Ray asked, worrying echoing in his voice.—Not yet, but we are going to keep the UAV in the area to monitor. Ready to move quickly. They will need your support soon. Base out —answered the voice, cutting off the connection.Ethan was walking at a steady pace, surrounded by SEAL's Alpha team, Jason, in front, kept his eyes on him as the drone sent surveillance footage to his tablet. The team was on high alert; they knew that the cannibals were waiting in the mine, ready to attack.When the five SEAL members arrived they formed a semicircle as they surrounded the vast open area surrounding the mine entrance. Jason, Ray, Clay, Sonny and Trent were ready for battle. Ethan, although new to the operation with them, had been quickly integrated.—We split into positions, as we had discussed —Jason — Ray ordered, take over the rear. Clay, Ethan and Sonny, advance on the flanks. Trent, you with me downtown.Each assumed his role immediately. Ethan walked one of the flanks a clear view with his rifle, trying to hide his position. The mine was nearby and the wooden houses, which served as a refuge for the cannibals, were not far away.The SEAL voice came one by one through the headphones, indicating that they were all in position. The atmosphere filled with tension while they waited for the final order. Jason watched the images on the tablet for a moment before giving the order.— Alpha Team, permission to attack!The team acted with lethal precision. Ethan shot the first cannibal he saw, a burly man trying to get out of the mine. He fell to the ground before he could react. The other SEALs moved their bodies with agility, like shadows at night, eliminating the targets one by one.From the wooden houses, the frightened cannibals staggered out, some trying to defend themselves with rudimentary shotguns and crossbows, but had no chance at the lethality of the SEAL team. Ethan's shots rumbled, knocking down two cannibals trying to escape into the forest.Chaos reigned. The cannibals screamed as the bullets crossed the air. Jason led the assault, moving with brutal efficiency, eliminating any resistance with precise shots.—Go to the mine —Jason ordered, while Ethan and Sonny covered the team's flanks.The combat was fast and lethal. In a few minutes, the wooden houses were surrounded, and the remaining cannibals tried in vain to resist. One after another, they fell under SEAL fire. Ethan, from his position, spotted the last cannibal hidden in one of the houses. Only his head protruded from behind a half broken door, it was the old man who had given them all the wrong directions to send him to his family to eat them. He took a breath, adjusted his sights, and pulled the trigger. The head disappeared in a blood explosion, the blood debt had been paid.The SEALs moved smoothly, cleaning the wooden houses one by one. They did not need many words, their coordination was impeccable, the product of years of training and mutual trust. Finally, when the last houses were cleared, they all came out with grim expressions.—This is ... —Ray murmured, his voice contained, as he watched the dismembered corpses of the victims that the cannibals had hung inside the houses.Jason cursed under his breath and gave the order to collect the bodies and burn the houses. Ethan put away his rifle, joining the team as they sprayed gasoline inside the houses.—Burn it all —said Jason, his voice filled with pent-up rage.The flames began to consume the bodies and the houses, a necessary purge after the horror they had witnessed. Just as they were setting fire to the last house Ethan moved around stopping Clay from setting him on fire, and entered the place. Everyone looked at Ethan confused so they followed him curiously.—So what are you looking for? There's nothing here —Jason asked looking at Ethan The old man at the gas station had hidden gold, raising Ethan's suspicions. If that amount of gold came from somewhere, it must come from the nearby mine. He quickly connected the ideas: this house, the largest in the place, belonged to the leader of the cannibals, and would surely have a hidden personal reserve. Checking the small compartment hidden under the living room floor, his heart began to beat faster.Ethan reached out and lifted the lid off the box. The moment he did, his breathing became more hectic.Inside, a small pile of rectangular metal ingots, smaller than a palm, was carefully arranged. The golden glow was reflected in his eyes, which lit up with the enchanting glow of gold.—!Shit! —Ray exclaimed out loud.Jason and his team looked at the gold pile, unable to look away. The eyes of several of them reflected the brightness of the golden pieces. Ray, who was standing next to Jason, swallowed saliva, took one of the ingots, and inspected it closely. Her voice came out tense.—Each piece weighs about 50 ounces. Although not of the highest purity, each is worth about $ 75,000. There are 39 pieces in total, Jason here is a small fortune.Ethan said nothing else, simply took out five gold plates, and distributed them to each other. The Alpha team consisted of 6 people, so he put them on a table and divided them into five for each member. The SEAL team looked at the pile of ingots on the table, and at first, nobody said anything. The tension was palpable in the air. Jason, the leader of the Alpha team, crossed his arms, his eyes fixed on gold.—It is not an official mission —Jason said, with a mixture of doubt and caution — We should not touch it.Ethan, aware of the nature of what they were discussing, approached and calmly launched his argument.—I get it, but think about it. We are not in official mission territory, this is off-limits terrain. We have earned it. If we don't do it, others will come to take it.Jason frowned, still insecure. The other team members looked with some reluctance, but the glitter of the gold was beginning to gain their attention. Ethan stepped forward and dropped the last letter.—Listen, no one is going to ask for reports on this. There are no papers, there are no superiors behind us. If you want, I can get your part home, discreetly. There will be no questions. What we've been through here ... we've earned with sweat and blood.The room was silent for a few seconds. Jason sighed and finally nodded, as if accepting an inevitable reality. One by one, Alpha team members began to nod as well.Ethan said nothing else. He walked to the table and started pulling out the gold plates one by one, dividing them into piles for each team member. The Alpha team consisted of six people, but Ethan made it clear that there was more than just cold numbers at stake.—Each of us will have four pieces —Ethan said, while placing five small piles on the table —. Without me, they wouldn't have made it this far. So the extra piece is mine.Jason did not argue. The other five nodded repeatedly, with no encouragement for debate. Ray, happy and eyes shining, took four gold bars and put them in his bag.—My wife has always wanted to move to a bigger house —Ray said, excited — Now she can finally fulfill her wish.Sonny, the youngest on the team, was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling. He reached out to take his part, but Jason stopped him with a firm gesture.—Leave your part to Ray to save —Jason said, with a half smile —. I don't want you to spend all the money on a stripper.Ray laughed as he carefully guarded his part.—Don't worry, Sonny —Ray said, with a mocking smile — I will return it to you after you get married ... and I promise not to tell your wife where she has been.—Damn, then I can never get it back —Sonny frowned, but couldn't hide his excitement.Ethan, having done what he had to do, returned all his tactical equipment to them and indicated that they could take the backpack with the gold. Jason, who had watched the entire scene in silence, finally nodded to Ethan.—It's fair —Jason said, and then added with a bitter smile —. You can't imagine how many times we've risked our lives for less than this.Ethan simply nodded. I knew money was a touchy subject, but at the time it didn't matter. The rules were broken, and everyone knew it.SEALs and Ethan returned to the ranger tower, where a BlackHawk military helicopter was waiting for them, Daria, Carly, and Jessie sighed in relief at seeing Ethan safe and sound and ran to hug him.After a while the Alpha team boarded their helicopter, taking Ethan and the girls to the main camp of the cannibals, so that they left here by their own means since being a team of the navy they did not have authorization to operate, they had to call to the authorities, and give notice of what happened.Jason assured Ethan that his Captain would be in charge of handling the situation and notifying the authorities as necessary. Although the SEALs had been cold and cautious at first, over time their attitude towards Ethan changed visibly. There was something about him that earned respect, and in the end, the atmosphere became more relaxed.After exchanging hot goodbyes, the SEAL team boarded the Black Hawk helicopter. The noise of the blades cutting the air filled the environment for a moment, until the ship rose and disappeared on the horizon. Soon after, the soldiers withdrew, and silence reigned in the area again.After a while searching the houses Ethan found the steering wheel belonging to Francine's truck, since Daria's SUV had been ruined, after installing the steering wheel they left there.