The office building was buzzing with activity as Marcus gathered the group for a final meeting before setting their plan into motion. The weight of the moment was evident on every face—no one spoke unless necessary, and every movement seemed purposeful, deliberate. Marcus stood at the center of the room, flanked by Kate, Chris, and Daniels. He surveyed the group, his sharp eyes pausing on each person as if committing them to memory.
"This is it," Marcus began, his voice steady but firm. "We've been backed into a corner, and this plan is our way out. I won't lie to you—this is dangerous, but it's the best option we have to end this once and for all."
Kate stepped forward, her expression resolute. "The goal is to make the ruffians think they're attacking us at our weakest. Once they're inside the station, we'll burn it to the ground with them in it. We've divided into four teams. Everyone has a critical role, and we'll need to act quickly and precisely.and remember: the goal is to eliminate the ruffians without losing anyone. If things go south, prioritize survival."
Daniels adjusted her rifle strap, her face unreadable. "We'll make it work."
Marcus and Carl were the first to leave, their truck rumbling softly as it rolled out of the lot. The others watched them go in silence, the weight of their responsibility heavy on their shoulders.
Inside the cab, Marcus kept his eyes on the road, scanning for any signs of movement. Carl, seated beside him, tightened his grip on his rifle.
"You think this will work?" Carl asked after a long stretch of silence.
Marcus's jaw tightened. "It has to. We don't have another choice."
As they neared the ruffian base, Marcus slowed the truck and pulled it off the road, hiding it behind an overgrown cluster of bushes. They exited quietly, their movements deliberate. Marcus carried the radio and a small container of gasoline, while Carl carried the kindling they'd gathered earlier.
When they reached a spot near the warehouse, Marcus turned to Carl. "Let's get to it."
Carl nodded and began stacking the kindling against an old wooden fence. Marcus poured the gasoline over it, the acrid smell burning their nostrils. With a strike of a match, the pile ignited, flames roaring to life.
Marcus pulled out the radio and pressed the button. "Kate, we're at the base. Stick to the plan."
Kate's response crackled through the radio. "Understood. Be careful."
Marcus hesitated for a moment, then turned off the radio and stowed it in his pack. He glanced at Carl, who was watching the growing fire with a wary expression.
"Let's move," Marcus said, patting Carl on the shoulder. "We've done our part."
Meanwhile, Kate and Amelia moved swiftly through the darkened streets toward the station. Each carried two large canisters of gasoline, their weight making the journey slower than they'd have liked. The station loomed ahead, its dark silhouette a stark reminder of what they were about to do.
"Do you ever think about how much this place has been through?" Amelia asked quietly, her voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps.
Kate glanced at her. "All the time. But it's not the building that matters—it's the people. We can rebuild somewhere else."
Amelia nodded, her grip tightening on the canisters. "I just hope this works."
"It will," Kate said firmly, more to reassure herself than Amelia.
When they reached the station, they wasted no time. Moving in silence, they poured gasoline around the perimeter, making sure to coat every potential entry point. The smell was overwhelming, but they pushed through, focused on the task at hand.
As they finished, Amelia checked her crossbow, ensuring the fire arrow was ready. "We just wait now."
Kate crouched behind a nearby wall, scanning the area for signs of the ruffians. "They'll come. Be ready."
On the rooftop of a nearby building, Daniels and Henry settled into position. The view of the station was clear, and they had a good vantage point to cover the area.
Daniels adjusted her scope, her expression serious. "You ever think about what you'll do when this is over?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Henry shrugged, keeping his eyes on the street below. "Haven't thought that far ahead. Just focused on getting through today."
Daniels smirked. "Fair enough."
They fell silent again, the tension building as they waited for the fire.
Back at the office building, Chris paced nervously while Carla and Victor kept watch over Morrison and the kids.
"You think they'll be okay?" Chris asked, his voice tight with worry.
Carla didn't look away from the window. "They know what they're doing. They'll be fine."
Victor added, "They've made it through worse."
Chris nodded, but his anxiety was evident. He glanced at Morrison, who was seated in the corner, his hands bound. "What about him? Think he's gonna try anything?"
Carla's gaze hardened. "Not with us watching him."
At the station, Kate crouched behind the crumbling wall, her pulse drumming in her ears. Every breath felt like thunder in her chest. Beside her, Amelia adjusted her crossbow, her eyes locked on the station's entrance.
"They're moving," Kate whispered, her voice barely audible over the distant crackle of flames and the occasional metallic groan from the station structure.
Amelia gave a tight nod, her fingers steady as she notched the fire arrow. "I count eight. Maybe nine," she muttered.
Kate squinted through the binoculars. "Nine confirmed. All armed. One's got a shotgun slung over his back. Stay sharp."
The ruffians grew bolder, stepping out of cover as their curiosity overtook their caution. One of them, a burly man with a scarred face, gestured for the others to spread out. They fanned toward the station's doors, their weapons at the ready but their attention split between the station and the distant plume of smoke.
"Hold," Kate hissed, gripping Amelia's arm when she started to raise her crossbow.
Amelia froze, her lips pressing into a thin line. "What are we waiting for?"
Kate's gaze flicked back to the station. "For them to commit. We need every last one inside before we strike. No loose ends.
The ruffians moved into the station cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the empty halls. The leader, the scar-faced man, barked orders as his team swept through the ground floor, finding nothing but eerie silence and the faint scent of gasoline that lingered in the air.
"Smells off," one of them muttered, his voice tinged with unease.
"Focus," Scarface snapped, his hand tightening on his rifle. "you heard from the radio, They left, but we can't take chances."
As the last ruffian stepped inside, Kate gave a sharp nod. "Now."
Amelia raised her crossbow, her hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She took a breath, aimed at the gasoline-soaked wall, and loosed the arrow. The projectile flew true, its tip igniting midair before embedding itself into the wood.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, an explosion of flames erupted, roaring to life as the fire hungrily devoured the fuel-soaked walls. The station became an inferno in seconds, the flames climbing higher and higher, painting the night in shades of orange and red.
Shouts of panic erupted from inside. The ruffians scrambled, their silhouettes barely visible through the thick smoke. "It's a trap!" someone screamed, their voice cutting through the chaos.
One ruffian kicked open a side door, coughing and wheezing as he stumbled out, only to be met by a bullet from Daniels' rifle. The man crumpled to the ground, his weapon clattering beside him.
On the rooftop, Daniels chambered another round, her face a mask of cold focus. She lined up her next shot, exhaling slowly as she squeezed the trigger. Another ruffian fell, his body collapsing in the doorway as flames licked at his boots.
"Good shot," Henry murmured, keeping watch with his binoculars.
Daniels didn't respond, her attention already shifting to the next target. "One trying to climb out the second-floor window. He's mine."
Henry scanned the area below. "Got a runner heading east. You take the window; I'll handle him."
Daniels adjusted her aim, tracking the man as he dangled precariously from the window ledge. "Good luck." Her rifle cracked again, and the man's grip faltered. He screamed as he fell back into the flames.
Amelia loaded another fire arrow, her hands moving quickly. "They're panicking. A few more, and they're done."
Kate scanned the area, her pistol ready. "Stay alert. If any get past Daniels and Henry, they're ours."
As if on cue, a ruffian burst from a side door, his shirt singed and his face streaked with soot. He raised his pistol, eyes wild, but Kate was faster. She fired twice, the shots ringing out sharply in the night. The man collapsed, his weapon falling from his lifeless hand.
"Nice shot," Amelia said, not taking her eyes off the station.
Kate nodded, her jaw tight. "Let's finish this."
Inside the station, the remaining ruffians were trapped, the fire cutting off every escape route. The air was thick with smoke, and the heat was unbearable. They shouted for help, but no one came.
Scarface, his face twisted with rage and desperation, banged on a locked door. "We're not dying here!" he roared, turning to the few survivors. "We fight our way out!"
Before they could act, a beam above them gave way, crashing down in a shower of sparks and flame. The last of the ruffians were consumed, their screams swallowed by the roar of the fire.
As the flames continued to consume the station, Kate and Amelia retreated to the rendezvous point. Daniels and Henry joined them shortly after, their expressions grim but satisfied.
"It's done," Daniels said, slinging her rifle over her shoulder. "No survivors."
Kate nodded, glancing toward the blazing station. "Let's take their cars and get back. Marcus needs to know."
Back at the office building, the group reconvened, their faces etched with exhaustion. Marcus met them at the entrance, his expression a mixture of relief and sadness.
Kate stepped forward, her clothes singed and her face streaked with soot. "It's over. The ruffians are gone."
Marcus nodded slowly. "And the station?"
Kate hesitated. "It's...gone too. But we saved everyone. That's what matters."
Marcus placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm. "You made the right call. We'll rebuild. Together."
The group stood in silence, the weight of their actions settling over them. They had won, but the cost was high. The station was gone, but for the first time in weeks, they could see a glimmer of hope on the horizon.