The night was thick with an uneasy silence as Luca and his team crept through the dense underbrush, their eyes scanning every shadow for signs of the enemy. The raid on the German supply depot was now in motion. Enzo and his team had split off, moving toward the main entrance where they would create a diversion. If all went well, their distraction would draw the majority of the German forces away, leaving the back of the depot vulnerable.
But Luca knew that nothing ever went exactly as planned.
At his side, Sophia moved like a shadow, her rifle in hand, eyes sharp and focused. Behind them, Fabrizio guided the group through a hidden path he had used to escape the German camp. Every step was taken with the knowledge that one wrong move could alert the enemy and turn this mission into a bloodbath.
"We're getting close," Fabrizio whispered, his voice barely audible over the faint rustling of the leaves. "The depot is just over that ridge."
Luca signaled for the group to stop, kneeling down behind a fallen tree to get a better look. He could see the lights of the depot now, flickering through the trees like the eyes of a predator waiting for its prey. The guards were visible, patrolling the perimeter with rifles slung over their shoulders. Fabrizio hadn't exaggerated—the Germans were prepared for an attack.
Sophia crouched beside him, her breath steady. "This won't be easy. There are more guards than we anticipated."
Luca nodded. "Enzo should be starting the distraction soon. We'll need to move quickly once the guards are drawn away."
The plan was simple but dangerous: Enzo would attack the front, causing chaos and confusion, while Luca's team slipped in through the less-guarded northern side. They had one chance to get this right.
Suddenly, in the distance, a series of gunshots rang out, followed by shouts in German. Enzo had begun the assault. Luca watched as several guards near the depot turned and sprinted toward the commotion, leaving their posts to reinforce the main gate. It was time.
Luca signaled for his team to move. They crept forward, staying low as they crossed the open ground between the trees and the depot's northern fence. The tension was palpable, every heartbeat echoing in Luca's ears as they approached the wire fence.
Fabrizio pointed to a small gap in the fence, just large enough for them to squeeze through. One by one, they slipped inside, hearts racing as they entered enemy territory.
Inside the depot, the sounds of battle from the front gate grew louder. Explosions lit up the sky, and Luca could hear the crack of gunfire as Enzo's team engaged the German forces. The distraction was working—most of the guards had rushed to the front, leaving the rear lightly defended. But "lightly defended" in war still meant danger.
Luca signaled to Sophia, who led the way toward a series of storage buildings near the center of the depot. The supplies they needed were in those buildings—ammunition, food, medical supplies—everything that would keep the resistance alive for the next few months.
"Let's move," Luca whispered, his voice barely carrying over the distant noise of the battle.
They advanced cautiously, ducking behind crates and equipment as they made their way toward the supply buildings. Two guards remained near the entrance, their rifles slung casually over their shoulders, unaware of the approaching danger.
Luca glanced at Sophia, and she nodded in understanding. In one fluid motion, she raised her rifle, taking out one guard with a silenced shot. The other guard barely had time to react before Matteo, one of Luca's best fighters, lunged forward, silencing him with a knife to the throat.
"Clear," Sophia whispered, her eyes scanning the area for any more threats.
Luca motioned for the rest of the team to move in. They reached the doors of the supply building and quickly forced them open, slipping inside. The sight of crates stacked high with weapons, ammunition, and other supplies was a welcome relief.
"Start loading," Luca ordered, keeping his voice low. "We don't have much time."
The team moved swiftly, filling their bags with as much as they could carry. Every second felt like an hour, the weight of the mission pressing down on them. Outside, the sounds of the battle raged on, but Luca knew it wouldn't last forever. The Germans would soon realize they were being flanked.
As the team worked, Fabrizio stood near the door, keeping watch. His face was pale, his hands shaking slightly as he gripped his rifle. Luca noticed his fear but said nothing—there was no time for reassurances.
Just as the last of the bags were filled, a noise from outside caught Luca's attention. He froze, signaling for the others to stay quiet. Footsteps—heavy and deliberate—were approaching the building. Someone was coming.
Luca motioned for Sophia to take cover behind a stack of crates. He and Matteo flanked the door, weapons ready. The footsteps grew louder, closer, until finally, the door creaked open.
A German officer stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room. He hadn't yet noticed the resistance fighters hidden in the shadows. Luca could feel his pulse quicken, but he remained perfectly still, waiting for the right moment.
The officer stepped further into the room, muttering something in German under his breath. Luca could see the insignia on his uniform—he was high-ranking, likely overseeing the depot's operations. If they could take him alive, he might have valuable information about German movements in the area.
Luca gave a slight nod to Matteo, who moved quickly, silently. In a flash, he was behind the officer, knife drawn. Before the officer could react, Matteo had him in a chokehold, the blade pressed against his throat.
The officer struggled, but Luca stepped forward, his voice cold and commanding. "Stay still, or you die."
The German officer's eyes widened in panic, and he stopped struggling, his breath coming in short gasps. Luca motioned for Matteo to lower the blade, but keep the officer restrained.
Sophia stepped out from behind the crates, her rifle trained on the officer. "What do we do with him?" she asked quietly.
Luca hesitated. Killing him would be the simplest solution, but there was something about the officer's presence that made Luca pause. They needed every advantage they could get, and this man might have information that could change the course of their fight.
"We take him with us," Luca decided. "He might know something we can use."
Sophia nodded, though Luca could see the doubt in her eyes. Capturing a high-ranking officer was risky—it could slow them down, make them more of a target. But Luca couldn't shake the feeling that this man held something valuable.
With the supplies loaded and the officer bound and gagged, the team moved quickly out of the depot, retracing their steps to the gap in the fence. The sounds of battle were fading now, and Luca knew they didn't have much time before the Germans realized what had happened.
As they slipped back into the trees, Luca's mind raced. The mission had been a success, but the war was far from over. They had the supplies they needed, but with each passing day, the enemy grew more dangerous—and Antonio's presence loomed larger in his thoughts.
As they disappeared into the night, Luca knew one thing for certain: this war was only just beginning, and the hardest choices were yet to come.