As soon as he was discharged from the hospital, Kael called for an emergency meeting. They had to strategise, to figure out who their enemy was and how they were planning to attack.
As they sat around the table, Kael noticed that Alia was unusually quiet. He nudged her. "What's on your mind?"
Alia sighed. "I just can't believe this is happening. We're fighting for justice, for good, and yet there are still people who want to stop us, to hurt us."
Kael nodded in agreement. "I know. But we can't let them win. We have to keep fighting, no matter what."
Suddenly, the room was filled with loud, pounding footsteps. The door burst open, and Kael's heart skipped a beat as he saw who was standing in front of him.
It was his own team, but they were pointing guns at him. Kael's mind raced as he tried to figure out what was going on.
"What's happening?" he demanded, his voice hoarse.
One of the soldiers, a man Kael had known and trusted for years, stepped forward. "It's over, Kael. You've been exposed."
Kael's heart sank as he realised what was happening. This whole time, he had been working with someone who was secretly working against him, who had been feeding information to their enemies.
He looked around the room, seeing betrayal in the eyes of his comrades. Alia was shaking her head, her eyes filled with tears.
Kael knew that he was in grave danger, that he had to act fast. He pulled out his gun, but it was too late. The traitor had already fired, and the bullet hit Kael in the chest.
He fell to the ground, feeling the darkness creeping in around him. As he gasped for air, he saw the faces of his team blur together, their voices fading into the background.
And then, there was nothing.
The next thing Kael knew, he was lying in a small, rundown room. His head throbbed and his chest ached, but he was alive.
He looked around, feeling disoriented. The room was bare, with a single window covered in grime. Kael got to his feet, stumbling towards the window.
As he peered through the glass, he realised with horror that he was in a prison cell. He was alone, trapped, with no way of contacting anyone on the outside.
Days turned into weeks as Kael languished in the prison cell. He had no idea where he was, who had put him there, or if anyone was looking for him.
It was during one of these long, lonely nights that Kael saw a glimmer of hope. A small mouse scurried across the floor, the first sign of life he had seen since he was imprisoned.
Kael felt a spark of determination ignite within him. He was not going to give up, to let his capture defeat him. He was going to escape, to fight back, to continue his mission.
With newfound resolve, Kael started to plan. He studied the layout of his cell, the routines of his guards, and the weaknesses in the prison's security.
It wasn't going to be easy, but Kael was determined. He had a mission, and he was going to fulfill it, no matter the cost.
And as he lay down on the cold, hard floor, Kael wondered what awaited him on the other side of his prison walls. Would he be able to escape? Would he be able to continue his mission, to fight for justice and freedom, even in the darkest of places?
Only time would tell.
Chapter seven:
Days turned into weeks, and Kael spent his time studying the patterns of the guards, observing their routines and listening in on their conversations. He carefully crafted a plan for his escape, and as he waited for the perfect opportunity, he honed his skills and kept his mind sharp.
One day, Kael heard a commotion outside his cell. He stood up, his heart racing, wondering if his moment had finally come.
A guard rushed past his door, shouting into his radio. "Code Red! We've got a riot in Cell Block C!"
Kael's heart leapt in his chest. This was it. He sprang into action, using a makeshift tool he had been crafting to pick the lock on his cell door.
As he emerged into the corridor, chaos reigned around him. He could hear screams and shouting, the sound of gunfire echoing in the distance.
Kael darted towards the sound, moving quickly and quietly, using every trick he had learned over his years as a soldier. He had to find a way out, to escape before his captors realized he was missing.
He moved through the prison, dodging guards and prisoners alike, until he found himself in a dimly lit hallway that led to an exit. He breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a surge of adrenaline rush through his body.
As he approached the door, he heard footsteps behind him. He turned, raising his weapon, ready to defend himself.
But it wasn't a guard or a prisoner who came towards him. It was Zyra, his former assistant, her face shining with relief.
"Kael!" she exclaimed, running towards him. "I thought I'd never find you."
Kael's heart skipped a beat as he saw her, wondering how she had managed to track him down. "What are you doing here?" he asked, torn between gratefulness and suspicion.
Zyra smiled at him, a warmth in her eyes that he had never seen before. "I came to help you, Kael. I heard about what happened, and I couldn't just sit back and do nothing."
Kael felt a surge of emotion well up in his chest. He had always known Zyra to be a kind and helpful assistant, but he had never realized how much she cared about him and his mission.
Together, they made their way towards the exit, dodging guards and prisoners as they went. Kael felt a sense of exhilaration rush through him as they burst through the doors and into the open air.
But his sense of triumph was short-lived. As he looked around, he realized that they weren't in a city or a town. They were in the middle of a desolate wasteland, surrounded by nothing but sand and rock.