The resistance fighters moved swiftly through the forest, the weight of the stolen supplies heavy on their backs, but the burden of what lay ahead even heavier on their minds. Luca led the group, every step calculated, every sound in the night scrutinized. The captured German officer, his hands bound and his mouth gagged, stumbled along, his fear evident in the way his eyes darted nervously in the moonlight.
As they distanced themselves from the depot, Luca's thoughts were clouded with uncertainty. They had the supplies they needed to sustain the resistance, but the capture of the officer—an unexpected turn—posed a new problem. What did this man know? Could he hold the key to the Germans' next move? Or would he be nothing more than a liability?
After several hours of navigating the thick forest, they reached a small, hidden valley where the resistance had established a temporary camp. The camp was nestled between steep hills, concealed from any passing German patrols. Luca glanced around, relieved to see familiar faces among the few resistance fighters left behind to guard the base.
As they entered the camp, Enzo appeared from the shadows, bloodstained but alive. He wiped sweat from his brow and gave Luca a quick nod.
"The distraction worked," Enzo said, his voice tired but satisfied. "They didn't know what hit them. We lost two men, but the rest made it out. What about you?"
Luca motioned to the bags of supplies they had brought. "We got what we needed. But there's something else." He gestured toward the German officer, now seated roughly against a tree, hands still bound. "We captured him. He's an officer, might have valuable intel."
Enzo's brow furrowed as he eyed the prisoner. "Risky move. He could slow us down—or worse, lead the Germans right to us."
Sophia stepped forward, her gaze sharp. "We have to take the chance. If he knows anything about their plans, it could save lives."
Luca nodded. "I'm inclined to agree. We interrogate him, see what he knows. If he's useless, we decide what to do next."
The camp was quiet, the only sounds the crackle of the fire and the rustle of the trees. Luca motioned for the others to gather around as they set up a small area for the interrogation. The officer sat rigidly, his eyes darting between Luca and Enzo, knowing that his fate hung by a thread.
Luca crouched in front of him, removing the gag from the officer's mouth but keeping his hands tied. The man gasped for air, his face pale with fear and exhaustion.
"What's your name?" Luca asked in German, his tone cold but calm.
The officer hesitated, clearly weighing his options. "Hauptmann Erich Müller," he replied, his voice trembling slightly.
"You know why you're here, Müller," Luca continued, his eyes locked on the officer's. "We need information. Tell us what the Germans are planning, and you might live to see another day."
Müller's eyes flickered with defiance for a moment, but he quickly realized his position. "I know nothing of value," he said, his voice tight. "I'm just an officer overseeing the supply lines. I don't know about military strategy or troop movements."
Luca narrowed his eyes. He had seen enough of war to know when someone was lying. "You're more than just a supply officer. Men like you don't get stationed in key locations like Messina without being trusted by your superiors. So don't insult me by pretending you don't know anything."
Müller swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to the ground. Silence hung in the air, thick with tension.
Enzo stepped forward, his voice a low growl. "Tell us what we want to know, or we'll drag you back to Messina ourselves—see how long you last when your own men find out you've been talking to us."
The threat was enough to break Müller's resolve. His face paled even further, and his voice came out in a hoarse whisper. "Alright... alright. I'll tell you what I know."
Luca leaned in slightly, the campfire casting flickering shadows across his face. "Speak."
Müller took a deep breath, clearly terrified of what might happen if he said too much. "There's a new division arriving from the mainland in a few days. They're sending reinforcements to Sicily—to reinforce the northern coastline and prepare for a counteroffensive. The Germans are planning to drive the resistance into the mountains, cut off your supply lines, and root you out once and for all."
Luca's heart sank. A counteroffensive meant their time was running out. If they didn't act soon, the resistance would be cornered, outmanned, and starved of resources. But Müller wasn't done.
"There's more," Müller continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "They've been intercepting communications from British and American forces in the Mediterranean. The Germans believe an invasion is imminent—a full-scale landing. They think the Allies are planning to retake Sicily."
Luca exchanged a glance with Enzo and Sophia. The possibility of an Allied invasion had always been a distant hope, but to hear it confirmed from a German officer's mouth brought a new sense of urgency.
"If that's true, we need to survive long enough to help the Allies when they arrive," Sophia said quietly, her mind already working through the implications.
Müller's eyes widened in sudden panic. "You can't... you can't let me go back. If the Germans find out I told you this, they'll kill me."
Luca stood slowly, his expression unreadable. He turned to Enzo and Sophia, his voice low. "We'll need to verify what he's saying. If he's telling the truth, we might have a chance to prepare."
"And if he's lying?" Enzo asked, his eyes cold.
Luca's jaw tightened. "Then we deal with him accordingly."
As they stepped away from Müller, leaving him under the watchful eye of a few resistance fighters, Luca's mind raced with the new information. If what Müller said was true, their fight against the Germans was about to become much more dangerous—and much more important. They would need to regroup, form a strategy, and find a way to survive the coming storm.
But the thought of Antonio lingered in the back of his mind. His brother was out there, somewhere in the midst of all this chaos, fighting for the other side. And Luca knew that eventually, they would face each other again—this time, with no room for hesitation.
As the night wore on, Luca gathered his closest comrades—Enzo, Sophia, Matteo—and they huddled together by the fire, discussing their next move.
"We can't stay here much longer," Enzo said, his voice grim. "If Müller's right, the Germans will be sweeping through this region soon. We need to find a new base of operations."
Sophia nodded. "We could head toward the mountains, where the terrain will be in our favor. But supplies will be an issue."
Luca stared into the flames, his mind churning. "We need to split our forces. One group will take the supplies to a safe location in the mountains. The other will stay behind and disrupt the German advance as much as possible. We hit their supply lines, sabotage their movements. Make it impossible for them to mount a full counteroffensive."
"And what about Müller?" Matteo asked, glancing toward the bound officer.
Luca's expression darkened. "We keep him alive for now. He may have more to tell us. But if we find out he's been feeding us lies..."
Sophia's gaze hardened. "He won't make it out of here alive."
The camp was quiet again, the weight of the war pressing down on them. Luca felt the weight of leadership like never before. He had to make decisions that would not only affect the survival of his men but also the future of Sicily itself.
And somewhere out there, Antonio waited. His brother, once a companion, now a bitter enemy. The war between them was far from over.