The moon hung high in the inky sky, casting a ghostly glow over the barren landscape. Arun lay prone on a rocky outcrop, his sniper rifle cradled in his arms like a lover. Beside him, Sid, his spotter, scanned the horizon with a pair of high-powered binoculars, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow.
Arun's heart thudded in his chest as he adjusted the scope, his fingers steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. They had been tracking their target for weeks, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And tonight, that moment had finally arrived.
"Any sign of movement?" Arun whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustle of the wind.
Sid shook his head, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Not yet," he replied, his voice low and tense. "But they should be passing through any minute now."
Arun swallowed hard, his mouth dry with anticipation. He peered through the scope, his breath fogging up the lens as he focused on the dirt road below. Every nerve in his body was on edge, his senses heightened to the slightest sound or movement.
And then, like a shadow emerging from the darkness, their target appeared. A lone figure, cloaked in black, walking briskly along the road with a small escort of soldiers flanking him on either side.
Arun's heart skipped a beat as he adjusted his aim, his finger hovering over the trigger. This was it. The moment they had been waiting for.
"Target on sight, 30G 46A, 32," Sid murmured, his voice barely audible over the pounding of Arun's heart. "Take the shot."
Arun held his breath as he lined up the crosshairs, his finger tightening on the trigger. Time seemed to stand still as he waited for the perfect moment, his body poised like a coiled spring ready to unleash its deadly force.
And then, with a steady exhale, he squeezed the trigger.
The crack of the rifle shattered the silence of the night as the bullet sliced through the air with deadly precision. Arun watched with bated breath as their target stumbled forward, a crimson blossom blooming on his chest.
But before he could celebrate, chaos erupted around them. The enemy soldiers, alerted by the sound of gunfire, swarmed into action, their shouts echoing across the valley like a chorus of angry demons.
"Time to go," Sid said, his voice urgent as he grabbed Arun by the arm and pulled him to his feet. "We've got company."
Arun nodded, his heart still pounding in his chest as he slung the rifle over his shoulder and followed Sid into the darkness.
"We need to get to higher ground," Sid whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of their own footsteps. "We'll have a better vantage point from there."
Arun nodded in agreement, his mind racing as they plotted their escape route. They darted between boulders and crept through dense underbrush, their movements guided by instinct and training.
But even as they climbed to higher ground, the enemy was hot on their heels.
As Arun and Sid reached the higher ground, the rocky terrain provided some cover, but they knew they couldn't stay there for long. Bullets whizzed past them, kicking up dust and debris, as the enemy closed in on their position.
"We need to keep moving," Sid shouted, his voice strained with urgency. "They're gaining on us!"
Arun nodded grimly, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of a way out. They were outnumbered, outgunned, but they refused to give up without a fight.
With Sid leading the way, they scrambled over jagged rocks and through narrow ravines, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they dodged incoming fire. But no matter how fast they ran, the enemy seemed to be everywhere, their figures silhouetted against the moonlit sky like specters of death.
Arun fired off a round from his rifle, the recoil jolting through his body as he took down one of their pursuers. "We can't hold them off much longer!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of gunfire.
"We need backup now! Where the fuck is the extraction team!?"
"We can't contact them now! Don't use the radio! The extraction point should be a few hundred meters ahead!" Sid exclaimed as he ran across the terrain.
Arun gritted his teeth as he nodded in agreement with Sid. They couldn't risk giving away their position with radio signals, not when the enemy was so close on their heels.
With Sid leading the way, they pushed forward, their movements fueled by sheer determination of enjoying their favourite whisky, Black Wolf, after the extraction.
Every step was agony, every breath a struggle, but they refused to falter. They had come too far to let themselves be taken down now.
As they neared the extraction point, Arun's heart leaped with relief at the sight of the waiting helicopter. Its blades churned the air as it hovered above the rocky terrain, hope in the midst of chaos.
"We're almost there," Sid gasped, his voice hoarse with exertion. "Just a little farther."
But just as they reached the clearing where the helicopter waited, disaster struck. A sudden burst of gunfire erupted from the trees, catching them off guard and sending them sprawling to the ground.
"ANF FUD DAKAKK!!!!!" they heard the enemy screams!
Just then Arun felt a searing pain lance through his side as a bullet grazed his ribs, and he cried out in agony as he clutched at the wound. Beside him, Sid groaned in pain as blood stained his clothing, a gunshot wound marring his leg.
"We're not gonna make it," Arun muttered, his vision swimming with pain and exhaustion. "We're sitting ducks out here."
But even as despair threatened to consume them, a voice crackled over the radio, cutting through the chaos like a lifeline.
"DELTA! DELTA! This is the extraction team," the voice said, calm and steady despite the chaos unfolding below. "We've got you covered. Hold tight. OVER!"
With renewed hope, Arun and Sid dragged themselves towards the anticipating helicopter, their limbs heavy with fatigue. Bullets whizzed past them, kicking up dirt and debris, but they refused to give up.