You Have A Choice, Cole

The world came back to Cole in fragments—blurred shapes, muffled sounds, and the echo of a nightmare fading away. In his mind's eye, he was still reliving it: the bloodied streets of his childhood, the cold bodies of his parents, and the crying of his little sister. Then came the monster. No, not a monster—her. The woman who annihilated his entire team with the ease of plucking a flower. He felt her hands reaching for his sister, her voice echoing with a promise of terror.

He jolted awake, his heart pounding, cold sweat dripping down his back. His breath came in short gasps as his eyes darted around the room. It was modest, with wooden walls and a single window where sunlight poured in. No signs of immediate danger, except—

A woman sat in the corner of the room, her white hair almost glowing in the sunlight, her tanned skin contrasting sharply against the dark armor she wore. Her eyes were sharp, intelligent, and unyielding as they stared directly at him.