Chapter 29

The forest was thick with the sounds of early morning—the quiet hum of insects buzzing around them. Alex crouched beside Jack and Frank, his eyes locked on the base nestled beyond the trees. They had taken refuge on a small ridge overlooking the fortified camp, hidden behind a dense line of foliage. The air was still, tension hanging between them like a coiled spring.

"There," Jack whispered, pointing toward a section of the wall. It was lower than the rest, reinforced with metal plating but not as heavily guarded. The barbed wire along the top sagged slightly, as if it hadn't been repaired in weeks. Two guards patrolled nearby, their movements slow and unfocused.

"It's the weakest point," Jack continued, his eyes narrowing. "If we're going to get inside without raising alarms, that's where we go."

Alex nodded, analyzing the base's layout. "Even if we get in, we'll still have to deal with more guards once we're inside. This place is too quiet. Something doesn't feel right."

Frank shifted uneasily beside them, wiping sweat from his forehead. "There's something off about this place. It's organized, sure, but the guards look bored, not ready for trouble."

"Complacency or arrogance," Alex muttered. "Either way, we'll have to tread carefully. We can't afford to get caught in the middle of this place."

The sun crept higher, casting long shadows across the clearing as they observed the base in silence. The guards switched shifts, and small groups moved through the gates, reinforcing that this was more than just a shelter. There was an underlying purpose here, something that made Alex uneasy.

Eva knelt beside them, her expression tense but determined. "Are we even sure what we're looking for?"

"Weapons, ammo, and any intel we can find," Alex replied. "The more we know, the better our chances of surviving this."

"And if we find something useful to hit them where it hurts," Jack added, "we take it."

---

Nightfall descended quickly, cloaking the base in darkness. They had waited until then to make their move. One by one, they crossed the forest and approached the weak point in the wall Jack had identified. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of their mission pressing down on them.

Jack reached the wall first, carefully testing the barbed wire. "Not secured properly," he whispered, his lips curling into a grin. "This is our way in."

They scaled the wall with practiced efficiency, landing softly on the ground on the other side. The interior of the base stretched out before them, a labyrinth of buildings—barracks, storage units, and larger command centers. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the distant footsteps of patrolling guards.

"There," Alex whispered, pointing to a squat building near the perimeter. A faded sign read "Ammunition Depot."

Jack's eyes lit up. "That's what we need."

They moved toward it, keeping low and in the shadows. As they reached the depot, Alex gently tested the door, relieved to find it unlocked. They slipped inside, and the dim light revealed stacks of crates filled with ammunition, rifles, and grenades. It was a treasure trove.

"This is enough to level a few blocks," Frank muttered, his eyes widening as he inspected the rows of explosives.

Eva's hands trembled slightly as she touched one of the grenades. "We can't carry all of this."

Alex nodded. "We don't have to. We just need to make sure they can't use it either."

Jack's grin widened. "You're thinking we blow the place?"

"Exactly. We take what we can carry, and then rig the rest to go off." Alex grabbed a handful of grenades, slipping them into his pack. "They won't be able to chase us if they're busy dealing with an explosion."

They worked quickly, each of them grabbing as much ammo and as many grenades as they could fit in their bags. The silence between them was tense, broken only by the clink of metal as they worked.

"This'll do," Jack said, securing the last of the grenades in his pack. "Where do we set the charges?"

"We plant them near the exits and along the shelves," Alex replied, "enough to make sure this place goes up."

Frank moved to the door, carefully positioning a grenade beside the frame. "You sure this is going to work?"

"Only one way to find out," Alex said, placing another grenade near the opposite door. "Make sure they're hidden but easy to trigger."

Eva bit her lip, her eyes darting around the room. "We need to be out of here before the first explosion. We're not going to get a second chance."

Jack gave her a reassuring nod. "We'll be fine. Just keep moving."

They finished planting the grenades, then regrouped by the door. Alex took one last look around, making sure everything was set. "On my signal, we pull the pins. Move fast and don't look back."

With a final nod, they slipped out of the depot, moving swiftly through the shadows as they made their way back toward the wall. The base remained oblivious, the guards still patrolling with the same lazy disinterest.

Alex glanced at Jack, who gave a thumbs-up. It was time.

"Now," Alex whispered.

In one swift motion, they pulled the pins and ran.

Behind them, the first explosion shattered the silence, a massive fireball erupting from the depot and sending shockwaves through the base. Alarms blared, and panicked shouts filled the air as guards scrambled in all directions. They kept running, their footsteps muffled by the chaos erupting behind them.

They reached the wall, clambering over it just as a second explosion tore through the night. The ground shook beneath them, and for a moment, Alex thought the entire base might collapse.

But they didn't stop. They plunged into the forest, moving deeper into the darkness, the sounds of chaos fading behind them. Only when they were sure they were far enough did they finally slow down, their breathing heavy and adrenaline still coursing through their veins.

"Didn't think we'd actually pull that off," Jack panted, a grin spreading across his face.

"Let's keep moving," Alex said quietly, his voice steady despite the pounding of his heart. He glanced back once, the orange glow barely visible through the trees, then turned his attention forward. They had what they needed. There was no need to look back.

Without another word, they continued into the night, leaving the burning wreckage behind them, each step carrying them further away from the danger that had almost swallowed them whole.