Backup.

The tension in the clearing was palpable as Thomas stood, preparing to leave as he signaled his men to finish them off. His smirk was still plastered across his face, his confidence unshaken despite the chaos that had just unfolded. But before he could take more than a few steps, the sound of boots crunching against the ground echoed through the night. 

From the shadows of the forest, the backup soldiers emerged—on foot, silent, and deadly. They moved with precision, their weapons raised and their eyes locked on Thomas and his men. The sudden appearance of reinforcements caught Thomas off guard, his smirk faltering for the first time.

Digzy's lips curled into a grim smile as he glanced at Dad. "Looks like our backup arrived just in time."

Thomas's men scrambled to react, but it was too late. The backup soldiers opened fire, their shots precise and relentless. The clearing erupted into chaos once again, the air filled with the deafening roar of gunfire and the shouts of men. Bullets whizzed past, kicking up dirt and splintering trees. Thomas's men fell one by one, their numbers dwindling rapidly.

Dad, Digzy, and the remaining soldiers took cover behind the compound's walls. Digzy peered around the corner, his eyes scanning the battlefield. "Stay down!" he barked, pulling Dad back as a bullet ricocheted off the wall nearby. "Let the soldiers handle this. We'll move when it's clear."

Dad's heart pounded in his chest. "We can't just sit here. Thomas is getting away!"

Digzy's voice was firm, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We're not sitting here. We're staying alive. Thomas isn't going anywhere. Look."

Dad followed Digzy's gaze and saw that Thomas was indeed trapped. His men were being cut down, and the backup soldiers were closing in, their formation tight and unyielding. Thomas himself was crouched behind a tree, his face a mask of fury and desperation. He fired off a few shots, but it was clear he was outmatched.

The gunfight raged on, but it was clear who had the upper hand. Thomas's men were being overpowered, their resistance crumbling under the relentless assault. Finally, the last of Thomas's men fell, leaving him alone and exposed.

The backup soldiers advanced, their weapons trained on Thomas as they surrounded him. Digzy and Dad emerged from their cover, their expressions hard as they approached. Thomas stood slowly, his hands raised in surrender, but his eyes burned with defiance.

"Well, well," Digzy said, his voice cold. "Looks like the tables have turned."

Thomas sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "You think this changes anything? You think you've won? You're even more foolish than I thought."

Dad stepped forward, his voice shaking with anger. "It's over, Thomas. You're done. You're going to pay for what you did to her."

Thomas laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. "Alice? You still don't get it, do you? She was just a pawn. A means to an end. And so are you."

Digzy's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. "Enough, Thomas. You're finished. Whatever game you're playing, it ends here."

Thomas's smirk returned, but there was something darker in his eyes now. "Oh, Digzy, you always were so naive. Do you think I'm the mastermind? Do you think I'm the one calling the shots? I'm just a knight. The king still lives."

The words hung in the air, heavy and ominous. Dad and Digzy exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of shock and realization. "What are you talking about?" Dad demanded, his voice rising. "Who's the king?"

Thomas chuckled, his tone mocking. "You'll find out soon enough. And when you do, you'll wish you'd never crossed me."

Before anyone could react, Thomas reached for a hidden weapon at his side. The soldiers opened fire, their shots hitting him square in the chest. Thomas staggered, his smirk fading as he collapsed to the ground. Blood pooled beneath him, his breathing shallow and labored.

Digzy stepped forward, his expression grim as he looked down at Thomas. "Who's the king, Thomas? Tell us, and maybe we'll make this quick."

Thomas coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His voice was weak, but his words were clear. "You'll… find out… soon enough. This… isn't over."

With that, Thomas's body went still, his eyes staring blankly at the night sky. The clearing fell silent, the weight of his final words hanging heavy in the air.

Dad turned to Digzy, his face pale. "What does he mean? Who's the king?"

Digzy's expression was dark, his mind racing. "I don't know. But if Thomas was just a knight, then we're dealing with something much bigger than we thought."

The soldiers gathered around, their faces grim. One of them spoke up, his voice tense. "What now, sir?"

Digzy took a deep breath, his tone resolute. "We regroup. We gather intel. And we find out who this 'king' is. Because if Thomas was just a knight, then the real threat is still out there."

Dad nodded, his jaw tight. "For Alice."

Digzy placed a hand on Dad's shoulder, his voice steady. "For Alice."

As they stood in the clearing, the bodies of Thomas and his men lying around them, the reality of the situation sank in. This wasn't the end. It was only the beginning. The hunt for the truth—and for the mysterious "king"—was just getting started. And they would stop at nothing to bring him down.