Chapter 65: Fractured Resolve

The riverbank was quiet except for the rush of water and the distant hum of insects. 

The calm was deceptive, a cruel contrast to the chaos they had just escaped. 

Emily sat with her back against a moss-covered rock, her body aching and her mind racing.

 Her rifle lay across her lap, its barrel scorched from overuse.

Theo paced nearby, his hands clenched into fists,His usually light-hearted demeanor was gone, replaced by a taut frustration that made the air feel heavy.

 Damien, as always, was composed, crouched at the water's edge as he filled a canteen.

Emily broke the silence first. "We're lucky to be alive."

Theo stopped pacing, his eyes blazing as he turned to face her. "Lucky? That was a slaughter! They were ready for us, Emily. 

They knew exactly what we were planning."