Ashley paced the room, her boots clicking against the cold floor as frustration radiated off her in waves. "We completed the mission yesterday, but Myra is still unconscious," she muttered, her voice heavy with disappointment. Her pacing quickened as she ran a hand through her hair. "This is exactly why she left the first time, and we couldn't stop it from happening again."
Her words hung in the air like a bitter accusation.
Josh sat nearby, his face as unreadable as ever, staring off into the distance. But inside, guilt gnawed at him. Ashley blamed herself, but Josh knew better. This is my failure, he thought. He had let his focus slip, too consumed by Ashley's safety to notice Myra's struggles until it was too late. How could he call himself a leader when he couldn't even protect his team?