Chapter 25: High Stakes Maneuver
ELENA
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszXM7IdCoB
Katherine stood beside the transport truck, effortlessly lifting another heavy crate into the cargo bed as though it weighed nothing. I watched her from several feet away, trying my hardest to look casual.
Act normal. Don't overthink it. Just get information. If I could figure out where everyone was sitting... how the supplies were arranged... maybe I'd find somewhere to hide. I wasn't asking for permission anymore. I already knew what the answer would be. No. Every single one of them would tell me the same thing. You're not ready. Maybe they were right. Maybe my shooting still needed work. Maybe my leg had only just recovered. Maybe this mission was too dangerous. None of that mattered. Nowella was out there. Every second I stayed behind was another second she remained trapped inside the Reestablishment. I couldn't do that.
I wouldn't. Taking a steadying breath, I walked toward Katherine with what I hoped resembled a relaxed smile. "Hey," I said awkwardly. "Can I help you with this stuff? Let me load the boxes into the truck." Katherine paused. Her eyes lifted to mine.
One eyebrow arched almost imperceptibly.
My stomach tightened. Damn it. Katherine could read people frighteningly well. She noticed things most people never would.
A twitch. A hesitation. A lie hidden beneath a smile. I only hoped she couldn't read every thought currently racing through my head. She studied me for another second before shaking her head. "It's okay," she replied calmly. "I'm fine." I forced a nod.
"Alright." Outwardly, I accepted her answer.
Inwardly... I memorized everything. The arrangement of the crates. The open cargo space. The supplies stacked toward the rear. The narrow gaps between them.
No one paid much attention to the equipment once it had been loaded. That...
That might actually work. I slowly stepped away from the truck, pretending I'd given up. Just as I turned "Elena." Said Katherine, I froze. My pulse skipped.
Slowly, I looked back. "Yes?" Katherine's expression remained unreadable. "Whatever you're planning..." She paused.
"...don't." My heart nearly stopped. She knows. She definitely knows. For a brief moment, I considered denying it. Coming up with some excuse. But lying to Katherine was probably impossible. Instead... I simply smiled. A small, innocent smile that fooled absolutely no one. Then I turned and walked away. Without another word.
---
A few moments later... The courtyard had emptied. Exactly as I'd hoped. Most of the soldiers had gone to gather near the front entrance while the final preparations were completed. The truck stood alone. Waiting.
I glanced around one last time. Nobody. This is it. Before I could lose my nerve, I hurried toward the vehicle and climbed into the rear cargo compartment. The back was packed with supplies. Medical crates. Food rations. Blankets. Spare ammunition.
Emergency equipment. Perfect. There was just enough room between the stacked boxes for someone my size to squeeze inside. I pulled my knees close to my chest and shifted deeper into the narrow space until the crates concealed me from almost every angle. Then I reached into my bag and pulled out a dark jacket. I'd brought it for exactly this reason. My uniform was far too bright. Anyone glancing into the truck would notice me immediately. I slipped the jacket over myself, pulled the hood low, and tucked every loose strand of hair inside. Better. Now... I just had to stay perfectly still. My breathing slowed as I listened. Footsteps. Voices. The distant rumble of conversation. Then... They grew louder. The soldiers. They were coming.
I couldn't see anything from where I was hidden. Only hear. Boots striking the ground. Equipment clinking against belts.
Weapons being checked. Someone laughed quietly. Another person answered.
Then... Ian's voice. Even without seeing him, I recognized it instantly. Calm. Steady.
Comforting. For a split second, guilt settled in my chest. I'm sorry. I know you'll be angry. But I have to do this. A moment later, Katherine began addressing the team. Her voice carried clearly through the truck. Firm. Professional. She spoke about the mission, reminders, safety, discipline.
Every soldier listened without interruption.
Then came the sound of people climbing aboard. One after another. The truck shifted slightly beneath their weight. I know Leila got in the front seat . My heartbeat pounded harder with every passing second. Please... Don't look back here.
Please... Silence settled for only a heartbeat before Hog spoke from somewhere near the front. "One of you sit in the back," he ordered. "Keep an eye on the supplies. We don't want anything falling out." Every muscle in my body is locked. My lungs stopped working. No...
No, no, no... If someone came back here...
They'd find me instantly. My hands curled into fists beneath the jacket. I barely dared breathe. A few agonizing seconds passed.
Then another soldier answered.
"We don't need someone back there." A pause. "We'll secure everything with a heavy canvas cover. That'll stop the supplies from shifting." Silence. Then Hog replied, "Alright. Do it." Relief crashed through me so suddenly I nearly laughed.
Instead, I stayed completely still. A moment later, the thick canvas was pulled over the cargo compartment. Darkness swallowed everything. The heavy fabric hid me completely. Good. Nobody would see me now. But... The air changed immediately.
The space became hot. Stuffy. Each breath felt thinner than the last. It was harder to breathe beneath the tightly secured cover.
Still... I could survive this. I had to. The truck's engine roared to life beneath me.
A deep vibration spread through the vehicle. The mission had begun. I closed my eyes and pressed one trembling hand against my chest. I'm coming for you, Nowella. Just hold on. I'm coming.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMXsxXd25y
and then Add to home screen.