nowledge that their enemies were no longer just rebels-they were everyone. Kandaran militias, foreign operative

nned the horizon through a broken window, her face tense. Orion sat against a wall,

're everywhere. The forest... the mountains... e

nalyzing every possible path. "We move east. There's a secondary safehou

e cracked. "Do you know what

ut to find out. But if we don't m

hum of engines. Ethan counted at least four patrols converging near their path. The

pered. "No mistakes. One w

ts. But just as they neared a narrow ridge,

re," sh

adly mine. They paused, hearts hammering. Beyond the ridge, a convoy of

it if we go that w

ned the ridgeline. A narrow cliffside path zigzagged up t

through the valley, drawing distant shouts. A hail of bul

than shouted. "D

was ragged, and Orion's fear radiated like heat. Every step was a gamble-

himself a moment to catch his breath. Mara scanned the horizon. "We're no

s narrowed.

ged. Calm. Precise. Armed with an advanced

s weapon. "Iden

aintly. "You're bra

inches from his foot. Mara screamed, ducking behind a tree. Ethan returned

trembled. "Not just Kandara. Not just the

dened. "Foreign

g ago that some truths were worse than lies. "We ke

narrow valley that would lead them to the secondary safeho

oed behind them. Ethan spun, rifle r

silent. They surrounded the trio, weapon

over her sidearm. "We

cheted off a nearby rock, then rolled behind cover, drawing the enemy's attention.

and deadly. But it wasn't enough. The masked f

d. Another group-different uniforms, different weapons-appear

ion to move. They sprinted through the conf

der. Ethan's chest heaved. Mara's hair was mat

ion whispered. "There's

ed. "That's not tru

"After everything, after the ambush, af

alive. And as long as we're alive, we have a chance to fig

ng for the first time that survival wasn't ju

From the shadows, more movemen

out hesitation. We reach the safehouse. Then we plan our next move.

pping her weapon

Orion's shoulder. "We h

the remnants of the militia and the unknown forces watched, waited, and

moving in his mind, calcul

ew battle loomed-one that would test every limit,

ion's secret h