Chapter 28: The Last Gamble

The cold steel of the weapons pointed at them was a stark reminder that they were outmatched, outnumbered, and for the first time since the mission had started, Maya felt the weight of it all crash down on her.

Jackson's smile was almost too calm, too collected. He knew something they didn't, and the power he had was intoxicating. He didn't even have to raise a finger, and his men were already in position, ready to strike.

"We have you exactly where we want you," Jackson said, his voice dripping with venom. "You thought you could just blow everything up and walk away like heroes? That's not how the world works."

Maya's fingers curled around the hilt of her weapon, but she knew there was no way to win a firefight here. Not against these numbers. Not with Bishop injured and Ellie still rattled from the earlier confrontation.

"Jackson," Maya said, her voice low but steady. She couldn't show weakness—not now. "You're making a mistake. You're underestimating us."

He laughed, the sound dark and empty. "You never learn, do you? It's over, Maya. You're done."

The men behind him moved, positioning themselves with deadly precision. But before they could make their next move, Maya did something unexpected.

"Now!" she shouted.

In a split second, everything exploded into chaos.

Alex's gunshot rang out first, echoing through the woods like a lightning strike. The first of Jackson's men crumpled to the ground, but the others were too quick. They returned fire, sending a hail of bullets into the night air.

Maya dove for cover, using the chaos to her advantage. She rolled behind a tree, heart pounding in her chest, and then popped up, firing at the nearest target. The shot hit true. Another one down.

But it was a losing battle. The odds were too stacked against them.

"Get to the cars!" Maya shouted. "Now!"

Ellie hesitated for a moment, but Maya saw the glint of determination in her eyes. They moved in unison, weaving through the trees and gunfire, trying to make their way back to the vehicles.

Bishop was limping, barely able to keep up, but he kept moving. The explosions of gunfire were deafening, and Maya could feel her pulse racing. It wasn't just the adrenaline that had her on edge—it was the looming sense of dread in her gut. Jackson had planned this.

They reached the vehicles, but just as they were about to climb in, Jackson's voice boomed from the shadows.

"Not so fast."

The sound of his men's footsteps moved toward them, echoing in the eerie quiet that had settled after the chaos. Maya spun around, adrenaline still flooding her system.

"We can't keep running," Ellie hissed. "They'll follow us no matter what."

Maya's mind raced, but before she could come up with a plan, a flash of light illuminated the woods—bright, blinding, and all-consuming. A sudden explosion rocked the earth beneath them.

The blast threw Maya back, knocking her off her feet. Her vision blurred as the world spun around her. She struggled to get up, her hands slick with blood as she pushed herself off the ground. But there was no time to recover.

Through the haze of smoke and dust, she saw Jackson standing in the distance, his arms raised in triumph.

"It's over, Maya. It was never just about Black Sun. It was about control."

Suddenly, Maya's world seemed to slow. Control. That was it. All of this—every betrayal, every battle, every sacrifice—had been a test. A game. Jackson had played her like a pawn, and now he was the one with the upper hand.

But Maya wasn't ready to give up. Not now. Not when they were this close to winning.

"Stay low," Maya barked at the others, but before anyone could react, she was already sprinting toward Jackson.

"Maya!" Ellie shouted, but it was too late.

Maya ran faster than she had ever run in her life, moving through the smoke, keeping her eyes locked on Jackson. The ground was shaking beneath her feet, but she didn't stop.

Jackson didn't see her coming.

The moment she reached him, Maya tackled him to the ground, her shoulder crashing into his ribs. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and before he could react, she had him pinned, her hands wrapping around his throat.

"You made a mistake," Maya hissed through gritted teeth.

Jackson struggled beneath her, his hands clawing at hers, but she was stronger. More driven. The weight of everything—every loss, every moment of betrayal—had led to this.

"You should've stayed dead," Maya spat, her voice thick with venom.

Jackson's eyes widened, his breath becoming more ragged as she tightened her grip. For a moment, she thought she might kill him right there. But then, something shifted in his eyes—something unexpected. Fear.

"Maya…" Jackson gasped, his voice strained. "You have no idea what you've started."

Maya paused, a sick realization crawling up her spine. Jackson had known all along that this wouldn't be the end. There was something bigger at play. Something they hadn't anticipated.

Before she could ask, there was a sharp crack. A bullet rang out.

Everything went dark.