Chapter 39 : The Capture

After hearing what Kate said the others just stood there quietly and looking at each other. Seeing the other just standing and do nothing Kate sigh and begin to talk again.

"so that's happened, if you didn't believe what i said you can ask Carla she is there too when me and Marcus discuss the plan" Kate pointed Carla while talking to the other.

Carla step out and nodded" everything that Kate said is true, Morrison is a traitor and we don't have much time to hesitate. We need to move now!!!"

Hearing Carla demand the other start moved quickly, loading supplies onto handcarts and making their way toward the office building under the cover of night. victor and Carl leading at front, Lucas and Mia in the middle while Kate and Carla brought up the rear, ensuring no one was left behind.

Once everyone was settled, Kate found herself pacing in the first-floor hallway. Her radio crackled to life, Marcus's voice breaking through the static.

"We're nearing the base," he said. "Continue according to the plan"

Kate took a deep breath, glancing at Carla, who gave her a thumbs-up. She pressed the button on her radio. "Okay."

There was a pause, then Marcus's voice returned. "Understood. Going silent."

Kate clipped the radio to her belt, her heart pounding. Now, all they could do was wait.

Meanwhile Marcus and the team ride back was tense, the air thick with unspoken accusations and unease. Chris kept glancing at Morrison, his suspicion barely hidden. Amelia and Henry exchanged worried looks, while Daniels focused on the road, her hands gripping the wheel tightly.

In the truck bed, Marcus kept a close eye on Morrison, who leaned against the side panel. The man's calm demeanor was unsettling, especially in light of everything they'd discovered. Was he truly loyal, or was he playing them all?

When the station finally came into view, the sight sent a chill down everyone's spine. The building loomed in the darkness, eerily quiet, its windows darkened. Daniels slowed the truck to a crawl as they approached the main road leading toward the station.

Marcus raised a hand, signaling Daniels to stop. The truck came to a gentle halt, the engine idling softly. Marcus scanned the area, his eyes narrowing. Something felt wrong—off. He turned to Daniels, who was gripping the steering wheel tightly.

"Daniels," Marcus said firmly, "I want you to take a round trip past the office building. Check the surrounding roads and make sure there's no ambush waiting for us."

Daniels nodded without hesitation. "Got it."

Hearing this, Morrison straightened, his calm demeanor cracking for the first time. "That's a waste of time, Marcus," he said sharply. "The ruffians wouldn't think far enough to set up a trap here. We should just head straight in."

Marcus turned to face him, his voice calm but steely. "Exactly. We don't know what's waiting for us. For all we know, they could be using the station to bait us into a trap."

Morrison's jaw tightened. "And what if it's not a trap? What if we're wasting valuable minutes while our people are in trouble? You're putting paranoia over action."

Marcus stepped closer, his expression unreadable but his voice carrying the weight of command. "And what if I'm right? What if there's an ambush and we rush in blind? We can't protect anyone if we're dead, Morrison."

The tension between the two was palpable. Chris, seated in the truck's passenger seat, looked back and forth between them, his hand tightening around his rifle. Daniels kept his gaze straight ahead, his knuckles whitening on the wheel as he waited for Marcus's final word.

"Daniels," Marcus said without breaking eye contact with Morrison, "do as I said. Take the round trip. That's an order."

Daniels nodded again, shifting the truck into gear. "On it."

Daniels maneuvered the truck off the main road, taking a slow route toward the office building. The path was rough, littered with debris and overgrown with weeds, but Daniels navigated it with practiced ease. Chris kept his rifle at the ready, scanning the tree line for any movement.

"See anything?" Marcus asked from the truck bed, his voice low.

Amelia, who had been watching from the back, shook her head. "Not yet. It's quiet. Too quiet."

Morrison crossed his arms, leaning against the truck bed's railing. "This is pointless. If there was an ambush, they'd be attacking by now."

Chris glanced at him over his shoulder. "Or they're waiting for us to get closer. Ambushes aren't always immediate, you know."

Morrison shot him a glare but said nothing. Marcus exchanged a quick look with Chris, silently grateful for his support.

As they rounded the bend near the office building, Daniels slowed the truck again. The building loomed in the darkness, its silhouette stark against the faint moonlight. The area around it appeared undisturbed, with no sign of movement. Daniels rolled down her window, listening intently for any sounds out of the ordinary.

"Looks clear," Daniels murmured.

"Keep going," Marcus instructed.

As the truck began to move, Morrison muttered under his breath, but Marcus ignored him, Marcus motioned for Chris, Amelia, and Henry to stay alert. The tension in the air was suffocating, each moment dragging as the truck completed its cautious loop. As they came approached the front of the office building, Marcus knocked twice on the cab, signaling Daniels to stop.

The truck ground to a halt just a few meters from the building's entrance. Before Morrison could even react, Marcus moved like lightning. He yanked Morrison's rifle from his hands and slung it over his shoulder, his shotgun now pointed directly at the man's chest.

"What the hell are you doing?" Morrison snapped, his voice rising in both anger and surprise.

Before Morrison could protest further, Amelia and Henry trained their weapons on him, their faces unreadable but their stances steady. "Get down, Morrison," Amelia ordered, her voice steady and cold. "Do it nicely, or this will end badly for you."

Morrison's eyes darted between the group, calculating. "You're making a mistake," he growled. "I've been with you since the start! You think I'd betray you?"

Marcus took a step closer, his shotgun unwavering. "I don't think, Morrison. I know. 

Morrison scoffed, his face twisting into a sneer. "You're paranoid, Marcus. You're going to get everyone killed with your wild accusations."

"Then prove me wrong," Marcus shot back. "Get on your knees. Now."

Morrison glared at him, but the barrel of Marcus's shotgun—and the other three guns aimed at him—made it clear he had no other choice. Slowly, he raised his hands and lowered himself to the ground.

From inside the office building, Kate and Victor had been watching the scene unfold through the first-floor window. The headlights from the truck illuminated the group, and it was clear something was going down.

"That's Morrison," Kate said, narrowing her eyes. "Looks like Marcus has him under control."

Victor grabbed his rifle and nodded toward the door. "Let's make sure it stays that way."

The two of them exited the building, their weapons at the ready. As they approached the truck, Kate raised her gun, pointing it directly at Morrison. Victor followed suit, his weapon steady as his eyes scanned the surroundings for any potential threats.

Marcus motioned to Daniels and Chris. "Tie him up. Make sure he's secure."

Chris moved quickly, pulling a length of rope from his pack. Morrison struggled as Chris and Daniels tied his hands behind his back, but a sharp jab from Amelia's rifle made him freeze.

"Don't try anything stupid," Amelia warned. "You're already on thin ice."

Once Morrison was secured, Marcus turned to Kate. "We need to adjust the plan. With him out of the equation, we're down a man—but at least we don't have a rat in our midst."

Kate nodded, glancing back at the office building. "Let's get inside and figure out our next move. We've got to assume the ruffians know more than we thought."

Victor, still standing guard with his rifle, nodded toward the shadows beyond the truck. "And we better move fast. If Morrison's been talking to them, they might already be on their way."

Marcus motioned for the group to move. "Let's go. Daniels, keep the truck ready in case we need to bug out. Everyone else, inside."

As they filed into the office building, Morrison was dragged along, his defiance replaced by a simmering anger.