Evie sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers anxiously twisting the hem of her shirt. Four days. It had been four agonizing days since she last saw her brother, Jarad. The silence from him was deafening, and it gnawed at her every waking moment.
Her comm device lay on the bed beside her, its blank screen taunting her. Jarad had been clear—no contact unless absolutely necessary. But what counted as necessary? Didn't he understand what this silence was doing to her?
Her thoughts spiraled, each worse than the last. She imagined him hurt, alone, or worse. She couldn't bear the idea of losing him—not again.
The soft knock on her door snapped her from her thoughts. She quickly snatched up the comm device, tucking it under her pillow.
"Come in," she called, forcing an even tone.
The door creaked open, and Rhea stepped inside. Her dark hair was pulled back, and her expression was one of quiet concern.
"Still no word?" Rhea asked gently, her eyes scanning Evie's face.
Evie shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Nothing. I don't even know if he's okay."
Rhea stepped closer, her voice calm but firm. "Jarad's strong. You know that better than anyone. If anyone can survive, it's him."
Evie frowned, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I hate this. Sitting here, waiting, doing nothing. What if he needs me?"
Rhea hesitated, her expression flickering with something Evie couldn't quite place. "You need to trust him, Evie. He's always come back before."
"This is different," Evie muttered, looking away. "I can feel it."
For a moment, silence hung between them. Then Rhea placed a hand on her shoulder. "Get some rest. Worrying yourself to death won't help him. Or you."
Evie sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I'll try."
---
Scene: Rhea's True Intentions
Rhea closed Evie's door softly behind her and let out a slow breath. She walked down the dim hallway, her footsteps light and measured. Her hand slipped into her jacket pocket, fingers brushing against the cold metal of the communicator concealed there.
Once she was sure she was alone, she activated it.
A crisp, commanding voice answered on the other end. "Report."
"She sent nothing yet," Rhea said, keeping her voice low. "But she's close. Desperate. It won't be long before she reaches out to him."
"Good," the voice replied. "Make sure she does. And when she does, ensure the message is traceable."
Rhea hesitated, guilt stirring in her chest. "She's just a kid. She doesn't know anything."
"She's a liability," the voice snapped. "And liabilities must be managed. Do your job."
The line went dead. Rhea clenched her jaw, slipping the communicator back into her pocket.
For the first time in years, doubt gnawed at her resolve.
---
Evie sat on her bed, staring at the blank screen of her comm device. Rhea's words echoed in her mind, but they didn't ease the ache in her chest.
She couldn't just sit here. Not anymore. With trembling hands, she picked up the device and began typing.
"Jarad, I know you said not to contact you, but I'm scared. I just need to know you're okay. Please."
Her finger hovered over the send button. Her heart raced, but the thought of not knowing was worse than the risk. She pressed it before she could change her mind.
The screen blinked, confirming the message had been sent. Evie let out a shaky breath, clutching the device to her chest.
She didn't notice the faint sound of footsteps retreating from her door.
---
In a darkened control room buried deep within the Orphanage's sprawling compound, a technician hunched over a monitor as a stream of data scrolled across the screen. The faint glow of the screen reflected off their glasses, the only light in the room aside from the steady blinking of red warning lights.
"We've got it," the technician muttered, their voice low but sharp. "Message sent from the Dome. Traceable origin."
Dr. Cadmus strode into the room, his white coat trailing behind him. He didn't bother hiding the irritation etched across his face. "Well? Spit it out."
The technician adjusted their headset, bringing up a map on the screen. "The message was short. Personal. Likely sent by the sister—Evie."
"Was it to Jarad?"
"Yes, sir. No direct location provided, but the signature on the other end suggests he's hiding somewhere on the outskirts of the Dome."
Cadmus leaned over the technician's chair, his eyes narrowing. "Forward the details to the Director. I want a team dispatched immediately. No mistakes this time. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
Cadmus straightened, smoothing his coat as he stepped back. "And monitor Evie closely. If she sends anything else—or if she suspects anything—notify me immediately."
The technician nodded, already typing furiously.
---
Back in the Dome, Rhea watched Evie from the corner of her eye as the younger girl paced in her room. Evie's worry was palpable, and Rhea's stomach churned with guilt she hadn't felt in years.
She shouldn't care. This wasn't personal. It never had been. But Evie's fear, her unshakable loyalty to her brother—it was harder to ignore than she'd anticipated.
Rhea stepped into the room, her voice softer than before. "Evie, you need to get some rest."
Evie shook her head. "I can't. Not until I know he's okay."
Rhea hesitated, then sat down on the edge of the bed. "You trust him, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
"Then trust that he'll come back to you," Rhea said. The words felt like ash on her tongue.
Evie sighed, sitting down beside her. "I just don't know what I'd do without him."
For a moment, Rhea said nothing. Then she reached into her pocket, her fingers brushing against the communicator. She hesitated, her decision weighing heavily.
"Evie," she said finally, her tone cautious, "if things ever feel...off, promise me you'll be careful. Watch who you trust."
Evie frowned, her gaze snapping to Rhea. "What do you mean?"
Rhea forced a smile, standing quickly. "Nothing. Just—be safe. You never know who might be watching."
Before Evie could press further, Rhea turned and left the room, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
---
Miles away, Jarad leaned against a wall in the dimly lit base, his comm device buzzing faintly in his pocket. He fished it out, frowning as he read the message from Evie.
"Jarad, I know you said not to contact you, but I'm scared. I just need to know you're okay. Please."
He sighed, his chest tightening. He hadn't wanted her involved—not like this. But the fact she'd sent the message meant she was desperate.
Toni's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Everything okay?"
Jarad slipped the device back into his pocket. "Evie's worried."
Toni raised an eyebrow. "She reached out? That's not good. If they trace it—"
"They won't," Jarad said firmly, though doubt gnawed at him. He didn't want to consider the possibility that the Orphanage might already be closing in.
Toni crossed her arms. "You sure about that? We've been lucky so far, but luck runs out, Jarad."
Jarad pushed off the wall, his expression hardening. "Then we make our own luck. Evie's all I've got. I'm not letting them get to her."
Toni nodded, but her face remained grim. "We'll need to move faster. They're not going to stop until they have us all."
"Let them come," Jarad said, his voice cold. "They'll regret it."
"WE'VE BEEN FOUND OUT" Leon's voice rang out from the Control room which made everyone to stop what they were doing and rush over to where he was.
"What do you mean we've been found out?" Frieda's voice broke the lingering silence after Leon's call
"I mean exactly what I said, we've been found out..did anyone get a message of some sort" Leon replied
"Shit" Jarad whispered a silent curse
"Jarad, that better not be what I'm thinking" With an irritated look on his face Leon said
"I'm sorry guys, I think I'm the reason we were found out, Evie sent a message to my phone so it seems someone is tracking her device too" Jarad voiced out
Evie sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt in anxious loops. Four days. Four agonizing days since she'd last seen her brother, Jarad. The silence from him was suffocating, gnawing at her every waking moment.
Her comm device lay on the bed beside her, the blank screen like a taunt. Jarad's instructions had been clear—no contact unless absolutely necessary. But what counted as necessary? Didn't he understand what this silence was doing to her?
Dark thoughts crept into her mind, each one worse than the last. She pictured him hurt, abandoned, or worse. The idea of losing him again twisted her stomach into knots.
A soft knock at her door broke her spiraling thoughts. Quickly, she snatched the comm device and slipped it under her pillow.
"Come in," she called, forcing her voice to steady.
The door creaked open, and Rhea entered. Her dark hair was pulled back, her expression calm yet tinged with quiet concern.
"Still no word?" Rhea asked, her eyes scanning Evie's face.
Evie shook her head, her voice barely audible. "Nothing. I don't even know if he's okay."
Rhea stepped closer, her voice measured and soothing. "Jarad's strong. If anyone can survive, it's him. You know that."
Evie's frustration bubbled to the surface. "I hate this—sitting here, waiting, doing nothing. What if he needs me?"
Rhea hesitated, her expression flickering briefly with something Evie couldn't place. "You need to trust him, Evie. He's always come back before."
"This time feels different," Evie muttered, looking away. "I can feel it."
Rhea placed a hand on her shoulder. "Get some rest. Worrying won't help him—or you."
Evie sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I'll try."
---
Closing Evie's door softly, Rhea exhaled, her calm facade slipping for a moment. Her footsteps were light as she moved down the dim hallway, her hand slipping into her jacket pocket to grip the cold metal of a concealed communicator.
Once she was alone, she activated it.
"Report," came a crisp voice on the other end.
"She hasn't sent anything yet," Rhea said quietly. "But she's close. Desperate. It won't be long before she contacts him."
"Good. Make sure the message is traceable when she does."
Rhea hesitated, guilt stirring in her chest. "She's just a kid. She doesn't know anything."
"She's a liability," the voice snapped. "And liabilities must be managed. Do your job."
The line went dead. Rhea clenched her jaw, slipping the communicator back into her pocket. For the first time in years, doubt gnawed at her resolve.
---
Back in her room, Evie stared at the blank screen of her comm device. Rhea's reassurances replayed in her mind, but they did nothing to ease the ache in her chest.
She couldn't sit idle anymore. Her hands trembled as she typed:
> "Jarad, I know you said not to contact you, but I'm scared. I just need to know you're okay. Please."
Her finger hovered over the send button. Her heart raced, but the uncertainty of silence was worse. With a deep breath, she pressed it.
The screen blinked, confirming the message was sent. Evie clutched the device to her chest, unaware of the faint sound of footsteps retreating from her door.
---
Miles away, Jarad leaned against a wall in the dimly lit base. His comm device buzzed faintly in his pocket. Pulling it out, his heart sank as he read the message.
> "Jarad, I know you said not to contact you, but I'm scared. I just need to know you're okay. Please."
He exhaled heavily. He hadn't wanted her involved—not like this.
Toni's voice broke his thoughts. "Everything okay?"
"Evie's worried," he admitted.
Toni raised an eyebrow. "She reached out? That's not good. If they trace it—"
"They won't," Jarad said, though a seed of doubt gnawed at him.
Leon's voice cut through the tension, sharp and urgent. "We've been found out!"
Jarad and Toni rushed to the control room, where Leon stood by the monitors. Frieda followed close behind, her face tense.
"What do you mean we've been found out?" Frieda asked.
Leon turned, his face grim. "Someone traced a signal. Did anyone send or receive a message?"
Jarad clenched his jaw. "Evie contacted me."
"Damn it, Jarad!" Leon snapped. "You knew the risks!"
"I didn't ask her to!" Jarad shot back. "She's scared and alone. I couldn't just ignore her!"
Frieda interjected, her voice calm but firm. "What's done is done. We need to move now before they close in."
Toni nodded. "I'll pack the essentials. Leon, check the perimeter."
Jarad's fists clenched. He wouldn't let the Orphanage hurt his sister. Not again.
"They want a fight?" he muttered under his breath. "We'll give them one."
---
Leon's voice sounded urgent in the open room
"Multiple signals, closing fast! At least three vehicles, maybe more."
Jarad cursed under his breath and stuffed Evie's comm message into his pocket. His mind raced, trying to focus on the immediate threat.
Frieda adjusted her rifle strap, her sharp gaze locked on Jarad. "We've got to move, Jarad. They'll have us boxed in if we wait too long."
Leon's voice came through again, more urgent this time. "You don't get it. These aren't just scouts. This is a full strike team. If we don't find a way out now, we're toast."
Toni tightened the straps on her tactical pack, her expression grim but resolute. "Leon's right. Running's not going to cut it this time. They've got the upper hand, and they know it."
Jarad straightened, his jaw set. "Then we take the upper hand back."
Leon spun around from his spot at the makeshift control panel, disbelief etched on his face. "You're not serious. You want to fight? Against them? Do you have any idea what kind of firepower they're bringing?"
Frieda snorted, a small grin tugging at the corner of her lips. "Good. Let them bring it. Saves us the trouble of hunting them down later."
Leon threw his hands up in frustration. "Of course you'd say that. You're the one who gets a kick out of this madness!"
Frieda leaned casually against the wall, her confidence unshaken. "Oh, come on, Leon. You know you'd miss me if I wasn't here to drag you into 'madness.'"
Toni cut in, her tone sharp. "Focus. This isn't the time for banter. Jarad, what's the plan?"
Jarad's gaze swept over the room, his mind clicking into place. "We can't outrun them, not with their tech. But we can funnel them into a choke point and even the odds. Frieda, set up with your rifle and take out their spotters before they get a visual on us."
"Now you're talking," Frieda said, already moving to grab her sniper gear.
Jarad turned to Leon. "You're our eyes and ears. Get the drones online and give us a layout of their movements. If we know where they're coming from, we can set up traps."
Leon muttered under his breath, "Yeah, because I totally signed up to be bait in a death trap." But despite his grumbling, he was already typing commands into the system.
"Toni, you're with me," Jarad continued. "We'll handle close-range combat and plant the last set of explosives. If things go south, those charges are our fallback."
Toni nodded firmly. "Got it. Just don't go playing hero and leaving me to clean up the mess, alright?"
Jarad allowed himself a brief smirk. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Leon looked up from his console, his voice tinged with both urgency and worry. "We've got maybe three minutes before they're at the outer perimeter. Whatever we're doing, we need to do it now."
Jarad's expression darkened, the weight of Evie's safety pressing on his shoulders. "We're not letting them take us. Not this time. We make our stand here."
Frieda snapped a magazine into her rifle and gave a low whistle. "Finally. Let's remind these bastards who they're messing with."
Leon sighed, shaking his head. "You're all nuts. But if we're doing this, we'd better make it count."
Jarad's voice dropped, steady and commanding. "We will. We always do."
As the team sprang into action, the air grew thick with tension and determination. They were outnumbered and outgunned, but they'd been through worse—and this time, they were fighting for more than survival.