Episode11: Revenge

Mike sat in the back of the van, his rifle resting between his knees, listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the roof. Next to him were two new members of the group—people Carlina knew from her old operations in Starovia. Up front, Carlina and Kras drove in silence.

Mike glanced at the two beside him. The first was a middle-aged man with short gray hair and an old scar running from his forehead to his eyebrow. His nickname was "Red." He was a former sniper. If Mike looked closely, he'd notice a slight tremble in Red's hands, but when he held his rifle, it was like time froze.

The second was a young woman with fiery red hair tied in a braid. Her name was Vera. Carlina had said Vera saved her life more than once during covert missions in Starovia.

Red broke the silence with his raspy voice. 

"You nervous, Mike?" 

Mike glanced at Carlina, who was talking to Kras up front. 

"Yeah… but not for me. For her." 

"She means a lot to you, huh? What's the story there?" 

Mike started tightening his bootlaces. 

"Nothing special… she's just the only one I've got left." 

He shot a quick look at Red. 

"What about you? You trust her a lot, don't you?" 

Red gave a faint smile.

"You know, Mike, before Carlina was a soldier, she was a mercenary. That's when we met her. In the mercenary world, everyone's waiting to stab you in the back or put a bullet in you. But that woman… she was the only one Vera and I could count on." 

Vera, who'd been quiet until now, spoke softly, her voice barely audible. 

"She always had our backs. I bet it's the same for you." 

Mike nodded. A strange feeling stirred in his chest. Carlina was like that—a pillar holding everyone together. Having these two with her eased his mind a bit, but the hatred burning inside him for Reznov still raged like wildfire. 

"I told Kras too," Mike said. "If things go south, your priority is getting Carlina out. Got it?" 

Red shrugged. "Let's just try not to get to that point." 

Mike banged his hand on the van's roof, getting Kras's attention. 

"How much longer?" 

"Almost there," Kras replied. 

The van slowed down and stopped in the shadow of the eastern mountains. Reznov's base was an old bunker tucked into the valley, its concrete walls covered in moss. Mike stepped out and took a deep breath. Kras got out from the front and joined the group with Carlina. 

Carlina unfolded a map and pointed to a line. 

"We'll go in from the north. Kras, you take Red and Vera and hit them from the west. Make some noise to draw their attention." 

Kras slung his rifle over his shoulder. 

"Don't worry, we'll put on a hell of a show." 

Red pulled his sniper rifle from his back. 

"I'll set up farther out and cover you. Vera, stick close to Kras." 

Mike and Carlina headed toward the northern entrance while Kras and the others moved west. The darkness of the night and the sound of wind whistling through the rocks made the air feel heavier. They crouched behind a rocky outcrop and peered at the base.

Inside the bunker, Reznov sat at a metal table, studying an old map. Dmitry, his shoulder still bandaged from a wound, stood beside him, talking. Natasha and Elina were near the door, keeping watch. 

Carlina pulled out her radio. 

"You can start now." 

A loud explosion erupted from the west. Elina grabbed her rifle and glanced at Natasha. 

"Who are they?" 

Natasha frowned. 

"Doesn't matter. Let's go check it out." 

Reznov looked up. 

"Go. Dmitry and I will hold things here." 

Natasha and Elina rushed out toward the sound, leaving Reznov and Dmitry alone. Carlina waited until she was sure they were far enough away, then signaled Mike to move. 

They slipped in through the northern entrance. When they reached the main room, they aimed their weapons at Reznov and Dmitry. Mike gripped his gun tight. 

"Reznov! Give up now… don't make this bloody." 

Reznov gave him a mocking look. 

"You're still an idiot." 

With a quick move, he flipped the table and ducked behind it with Dmitry. 

Mike fired. The bullet hit the table. Dmitry, despite his injury, tossed a smoke grenade, and the fight broke out. Gunshots rang out nonstop. Reznov and Dmitry were pinned behind the table, unable to move under the hail of bullets. Dmitry turned to Reznov. 

"We're trapped." 

"Got any ideas?" 

Dmitry handed him his gun. 

"Just keep shooting." 

Reznov started firing with both weapons. Dmitry darted out from behind the table and ran to the other side of the room, sliding behind a heavy machine gun mounted on a tripod. Mike yelled, 

"Damn it, take cover!" 

Dmitry opened fire. Bullets rained down, the roar of the machine gun echoing through the bunker. Mike and Carlina dove behind a wall, but the gunfire was tearing through the concrete. Mike pulled a grenade and looked at Carlina. 

"No choice now. On my count. One… two…" 

Just then, the radio crackled, cutting him off. 

"Mike! Natasha and Elina aren't here! I think they know our plan!" 

Mike cursed as concrete dust rained on his head. 

"Then what the hell are you doing over there?" 

Before he could hear a reply, footsteps echoed behind them. Natasha and Elina burst in from a back hallway. Carlina shouted, 

"Mike! Behind you!" 

Too late. Mike and Elina locked eyes, their guns aimed at each other. 

"Expected to see you again, Mike," she said. 

Reznov seized the moment. He lunged forward and slammed Mike to the ground with a hard blow. Before Carlina could react, Natasha struck her, knocking her still. Mike tried to move, but Reznov pinned his arms and tied them with rope. 

Reznov stood over them. Dmitry was beside him, panting, his wound bleeding again. Natasha and Elina stood a little farther back. Mike glared up at Reznov with pure hatred. 

"So what now? Gonna finish what you started and send me to Jake? Get on with it." 

Reznov's voice was calm and cold. 

"You know, Mike, there's a kind of spider where the male lets the female eat him so their kind can survive. Life's like that. Some have to die for a bigger purpose." 

Carlina spat out, 

"You're a monster, Reznov. Nothing justifies what you've done." 

Reznov crouched down and stared into her eyes. 

"You'll never get it. I'm sure you're one of those who's never had to choose." 

With a sudden move, Carlina freed her hand and lunged at him, but Reznov was faster. He grabbed her, lifted her off the ground, and wrapped his arm around her throat. She clawed at him, struggling as her breath caught in her chest. Her vision blurred, but she could still see his emotionless face. Fear of death crept in. 

Mike screamed, 

"Let her go!" 

But his voice broke in his throat. Panic froze him, his mind racing but useless. 

Reznov tightened his grip. Carlina was fading. 

"See? You're the ones forcing me to do this." 

Mike's rage burned hotter as he watched Carlina fight for air, but with his hands tied, he was powerless.