Story 498: Inferno's Ascent

The roar of flames was deafening, a cacophony of destruction as the wildfire tore through the forest. The air was thick with smoke, ash falling like snow, and the horizon glowed an ominous red. Above it all, the unmistakable thrum of helicopter blades sliced through the chaos.

“Extraction is on its way,” Rook said, his voice strained but steady as he relayed the update to the team over the comms. “ETA: five minutes. We hold this position until then.”

The team had taken refuge on a rocky outcrop that offered a precarious vantage point above the flames. It wasn’t ideal, but it was their only option. The forest below was a fiery hellscape, and the enemy forces they had been evading were closing in fast.

Ghost materialized from the shadows, his movements almost spectral against the flickering light. “They’re coming,” he said. “Three groups, southeast. We’ve got two minutes before they’re on top of us.”