~Eliana~
I woke up to the lingering warmth of Jamal's body. The
sheets, tangled around my legs, still carried his scent—a mix of sweat, smoke,
and something distinctly him. My skin hummed, sensitive to every shift in the
air, every memory of his hands on me, his mouth tracing fire along my skin.
Last night still burned in my mind. The way he held me, the
way we clung to each other like the world outside didn't exist, like we weren't
about to throw ourselves back into war. For a few stolen hours, there was no
past, no blood, no fear. Just us.
I turned, expecting to find him beside me, but the bed was
empty. A sigh left my lips. Of course, he was already gone. I stretched out my
limbs, soreness creeping into my muscles, reminding me of just how real last
night had been.
The cold air prickled my bare skin as I slid out of bed,
grabbing a shirt to wrap around me before heading to the bathroom.
The dim light flickered as I turned it on, and for a moment,
I just stood there, gripping the edges of the sink. My reflection stared back
at me. My hair was a mess, the faintest marks of last night still visible along
my collarbone. But my eyes—those held something different. Something fierce.
Scott.
The name alone made my stomach tighten.
I sighed, trailing my fingers along the cold porcelain of
the sink. You better be holding up, Scott.
My cousin had always been a coward. I loved him, but I knew
him too well. He had a sharp mind, could talk his way out of almost anything,
but when it came to standing his ground? He cracked. Every damn time.
Even back when we were kids, I was the one throwing punches
when we got cornered, while Scott looked for the nearest exit. And now, knowing
he was locked away in some facility, facing things worse than I could imagine…
I could only hope he hadn't completely lost himself.
"We're coming for you," I murmured, watching my own resolve
harden in the mirror.
Shaking off the weight in my chest, I turned toward the
shower. The pipes groaned as I twisted the knob, releasing a weak stream of
lukewarm water. I stepped in anyway, letting it cascade over me, washing away
the exhaustion clinging to my skin.
The warmth loosened my stiff muscles, but my mind remained
restless, flickering between memories and what lay ahead. I ran my hands
through my hair, exhaling deeply.
Focus.
I scrubbed away the remnants of last night—the sweat, the
scent of Jamal, the momentary escape. By the time I stepped out, toweling off
quickly, I felt clearer, more grounded.
I dressed swiftly, slipping into my underclothes before
grabbing my boots. The combat suit hadn't arrived yet, so I made my way out,
heading toward the armory.
A soldier intercepted me as I passed through the main hall,
handing me my combat suit—sleek, reinforced fabric designed to withstand the
worst.
I nodded in thanks before making my way to Lily's room. She
wasn't housed near the main sleeping quarters but in a secured section with the
other rescued children. The moment I entered, I spotted her sitting on the edge
of her cot, her small fingers gripping the fabric of her blanket like it was
armor.
The second she saw me, her face brightened, but her eyes
held something deeper—something fragile.
I knelt beside her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"We'll be back soon, okay? And we won't be alone."
Lily hesitated, then threw her arms around my neck,
squeezing tight. "Promise?"
I hugged her back just as fiercely. "Promise."
I kissed her forehead before standing, giving her one last
reassuring smile before stepping out.
I suited up on my way to Jamal, adjusting the reinforced
fabric over my arms and legs. The gloves fit snugly as I pulled them on,
feeling the weight of what was coming. By the time I reached him, he was
fastening the last strap of his gear, the tension in his shoulders
unmistakable.
"How we looking, J?" I asked, flexing my fingers.
Jamal glanced up, a slow grin spreading across his lips.
"Not as ravishing as you, tigress."
Heat flushed through me, but I covered it with a scoff,
elbowing him lightly. "Focus, Romeo."
He chuckled, but something flickered across his face—just
for a second. His shoulders tensed, his expression darkened, like he'd just
heard something terrible.
A chill crawled up my spine. "Jamal?"
He didn't answer right away. He just exhaled slowly, rubbing
the back of his neck. Whatever had just crossed his mind, he wasn't going to
share it.
I decided not to push. Not yet.
A group of soldiers approached, carrying advanced weapons
with sleek, metallic designs. One of them handed me a compact rifle, explaining
its functions with the efficiency of someone who had done this a hundred times.
Jamal tested the weight of his own weapon, nodding in
approval before locking eyes with me. "You ready for this?"
"Always," I said, gripping the rifle tighter.
Malik stood near the transport vehicles, waiting. As we made
our way over, Jamal's pace slowed again, his posture tight, his thoughts
distant.
Then, he stepped onto the platform, facing the gathered
soldiers. His voice was steady, commanding as always.
"There's an underground facility deep beneath the ruins of
London. Access is limited, security is tight. It's built to keep people out,
but more importantly, to keep those inside from ever seeing daylight again."
His jaw tightened. "Two of our people are there—Steven and Michelle."
My stomach twisted.
My grip on the rifle faltered slightly before I forced
myself to tighten it. Two.
The air around me felt heavier, the weight of reality
pressing down on my shoulders. He didn't say Scott.
He didn't say Maggie.
I already knew the answer before he even spoke the next
words, but when they left his lips, it still felt like a punch to the gut.
"Scott and Maggie were flown to a facility in the United
States."
I went still.
For a moment, I barely heard the rest of his speech. The
voices around me blurred, my heartbeat loud in my ears.
Scott wasn't here. He was thousands of miles away.
I clenched my jaw, willing myself not to react, not to let
the anger and helplessness crawl their way up my throat. It wasn't like I could
argue. Not now. Not when we were about to roll out.
Jamal's gaze flickered to me as he finished his speech. A
moment passed between us—silent but heavy. Then, he turned back to the
soldiers.
"Move out."
I exhaled, adjusting my grip. No time for hesitation.
This was war.
And we were just getting started.