The dimly lit room was stifling, the air thick with fear and the acrid smell of smoke. Two soldiers huddled together in the shadows of the crumbling building, their breaths shallow and eyes darting nervously.They clutched their weapons tightly, though deep down they knew it wouldn't make much of a difference.
"Did you see what they did to Marco?" one of the soldiers mumbled, his voice shaking. His hands trembled, the memory of their comrade's fate still fresh in his mind. "That kid… ended him quickly."
The second soldier glared at him, his expression a mix of frustration and fear. Without a word, he clamped his hand over his companion's mouth. "Shut the fuck up," he hissed, his whisper fierce. "You trying to get us killed?"
They were part of a squad, ten soldiers sent to secure the town. Confidence had accompanied them when they first arrived, bolstered by numbers and experience.