Chapter 53 – A Traitor’s Gambit

Carter's Point of View

The radio crackled again, spitting out another burst of static before cutting off.

Syndicate forces were regrouping.

Twenty kilometers east.

The outpost was barely holding against the storm, but it had given me what I needed—shelter, supplies, and most importantly, information.

I wasn't done yet.

James thought he had seen the last of me. The Syndicate thought I was another corpse buried under the ice.

They were both wrong.

---

A Plan Takes Shape

I sat on the cold floor, chewing through a stale protein bar while running scenarios in my head.

Option one: Go to Outpost Echo and convince the Syndicate to take me back.

Risky. They might not trust me after our last failure. But if I played it right, I could manipulate my way back in. They needed someone who knew James' defenses, his weaknesses.

Option two: Betray the Syndicate and use their assault as a distraction.

If they still planned to attack, I could slip through their ranks, get inside James' base before they reached it, and take what I needed.

Either way, I needed to move.

I glanced at the broken mirror on the wall. My face was gaunt, my skin pale from the cold and lack of rest. Dried blood clung to my collar—James' blood.

A grin tugged at my lips.

That was a wound he wouldn't forget.

---

The Road to Echo

I left the outpost before dawn. The wind howled through the trees, but the storm had begun to ease.

The journey was slow.

Snow reached up to my knees, making every step an effort. My stolen rifle was slung over my shoulder, the weight of it familiar but reassuring.

I moved carefully, avoiding open ground, keeping my head low. If the Syndicate had scouts, I didn't want to be spotted until I was close enough to make my move.

By midday, I saw it.

Outpost Echo.

A rusted military bunker, half-buried in ice. Two guards stood at the entrance, rifles in hand, scanning the treeline.

I crouched behind a fallen tree, watching.

They weren't expecting trouble.

They should have been.

I took a breath, adjusting my stolen Syndicate jacket, smearing a little dirt over my face for effect.

Then I stepped out.

---

Reunion with the Syndicate

The moment they saw me, their rifles snapped up.

"Hold it right there!" one barked.

I raised my hands, palms open. "Easy. I'm one of yours."

The other guard narrowed his eyes. "Bullshit. Who the hell are you?"

I let out a ragged breath, playing the part. "Carter. Operative under Riker's command. I barely made it out alive when the creatures attacked." I gestured at my torn clothes, my bruised face. "Ran for days. Lost my radio in the fight."

They exchanged glances.

"Riker's dead," one of them said. "Half the unit is."

I frowned, like I hadn't already expected that. "Then you need me more than ever."

One guard hesitated. The other sighed, lowering his rifle. "Get inside. You can explain yourself to the lieutenant."

I forced myself to stay relaxed.

Step one—complete.

Now, I just had to make them believe me.

---

Walking Among Wolves

Inside, Outpost Echo was a mess.

Wounded men huddled near flickering heaters, their faces pale from cold and blood loss. Weapons were stacked against the walls, but supplies were running low.

This wasn't a regrouping point.

This was a last stand.

And these men knew it.

The lieutenant—a grizzled man named Voss—listened in silence as I gave my story. How I escaped the base, how I watched the creatures tear through their ranks, how I had barely survived.

When I was done, he studied me carefully.

"You're lucky to be alive."

I shrugged. "Luck had nothing to do with it."

He smirked. "That so?"

I leaned forward. "I can get us back in the fight."

That got his attention.

---

Lies and Truths

I fed them exactly what they wanted to hear.

James' base was weakened.

His defenses had gaps.

His people were exhausted.

All of it was true—just not the way I was telling it.

Voss nodded, considering. "And why should I trust you?"

I grinned. "Because I want James dead just as much as you do."

That, at least, wasn't a lie.

Voss finally sighed. "Alright. We move at dawn. You screw us over, Carter? I'll put a bullet in you myself."

I smirked.

He wouldn't get the chance.

---

The Night Before Battle

That night, I sat near the fire, listening to the men talk in hushed voices.

Most of them were afraid.

They should have been.

I watched them sharpen their knives, check their rifles. They thought tomorrow was their chance for revenge.

But for me?

It was my chance for freedom.

I wasn't staying with the Syndicate. I wasn't staying with James.

I was going to use this battle to slip away, disappear before the ashes even settled.

No more masters. No more debts.

Just me, the world, and a fresh start.

I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly.

One more night.

One more fight.

Then I was gone.

---

Author's Thoughts

Carter has infiltrated the Syndicate's forces, but his real goal remains a mystery. Will he help them take down James? Or is he playing both sides for his own survival?

What do you think Carter's real endgame is? Let me know in the comments!