Chapter 3 – A farewell

It had been two months and three days since the Major found me and brought me here. In that time, the army had taken me in, provided food, shelter, and medical care—things I had never truly experienced before. I repaid their kindness the only way I knew how.

I cleaned the camp, helped prepare meals for the soldiers, and assisted in whatever tasks needed an extra hand. It wasn't much, but it made me feel like I belonged, like I wasn't just some lost cause they had to look after.

During my free time, I trained. The soldiers were patient, teaching me the proper way to fight—how to throw a punch without wasting energy, how to block, how to move efficiently. It was different from what I had learned in the camp, where survival was all that mattered. There, we relied on instinct, raw talent, and desperation. Here, it was structured. Disciplined.

For the first time, I wasn't just fighting to survive.

I was fighting to become stronger.

Despite everything that happened, I was grateful.

I was alive.

And soon, I would finally see Jin again, my big brother.

The scent of burning wood and simmering broth filled the air as I stirred a pot over the open fire. The soldiers sat around in small groups, laughing and chatting after a long day of training. The warmth of their camaraderie was something I had never experienced before. It was comforting, in a way I hadn't expected.

"Ren, you're spacing out again," one of the soldiers teased as he passed by, ruffling my hair.

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. "Sorry, just thinking."

"Thinking about Jin?" another soldier grinned.

I smiled softly. "Yeah."

They chuckled, but there was no malice in their teasing. I had come to know most of them by name, and in return, they treated me as one of their own.

But despite the warmth, a lingering worry remained in my heart.

The people in the camp—what would happen to them?

Especially Javier.

I was framed once, but I could only hope they wouldn't betray the others. After all, I was hated for being weak, for being useless. Getting rid of me was easy—expected, even. But Jin? They took him down too. The strongest among us. The one person who had kept us together.

How ironic. They erased both the weakest and the strongest.

Was that really enough for them? Or was this just the beginning?

The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and gold as I swept the fallen leaves outside my tent. The wind was cool, rustling the trees, carrying the scent of earth and pine.

I had never taken the time to admire something so simple before.

Back in the MOON organization, I was always in that dark basement, surrounded by cold concrete and the constant sound of dripping water.

It felt almost surreal to be here, under the open sky.

Free.

I hugged my arms, trying to push away the lingering unease in my chest.

"Jin, I'm coming to see you soon… but why do I feel like something is wrong?"

"You look serious."

I flinched slightly at the sudden voice behind me.

The Major.

I turned to face him, instinctively standing straighter. His presence was commanding, but not in an overbearing way. He had always been kind to me, yet his sharp gaze always held the weight of experience—of someone who had seen too much, survived too much.

"You're leaving tomorrow morning," he said, his voice steady. "I'll personally take you to Jin."

I blinked in surprise. This was what I had been waiting for, but…

Two months in this camp had made me feel safe, secure.

A part of me was reluctant to leave.

"Thank you, Major," I said, offering him a grateful nod.

He smiled, giving me a thumbs-up. "Listen to me, Ren. From now on, your full name is Ren Rava Escosta."

I stiffened. Ren… Rava Escosta?

"Your first name is Ren, your middle name is Rava, and your last name is Escosta. You are the daughter of Major Zora Rava Escosta."

I inhaled sharply.

"And you are also the younger sibling of Jin Rava Escosta."

My heart pounded in my chest.

"You will live in K Country and enroll in high school there with Jin. I've already informed him—he wanted to come here personally to get you, but it wasn't efficient since I'll be heading there anyway."

My hands trembled slightly at my sides.

The Major adopted me?

… he also adopted Jin?

Shock gave way to warmth.

For the first time in a long while, I felt… wanted.

Even if I couldn't fully remember my past, this was a new beginning.

Ren's Farewell to the Soldiers

Morning arrived too soon.

The sky was still a soft shade of blue when I stood at the edge of the camp, my small bag slung over my shoulder. The cool morning air carried the scent of damp earth and the lingering smoke from last night's campfire.

I glanced around, taking in the place I had called home for the past two months. The makeshift barracks, the mess hall where I learned to cook real meals, the training grounds where I had watched the soldiers spar—everything felt so familiar now.

And now, I was leaving it all behind.

The soldiers had gathered to see me off. Some were still in their uniforms, others looked like they had just rolled out of bed, rubbing their eyes and stifling yawns.

"Leaving already, huh?" One of the younger soldiers, Marco, grinned as he crossed his arms. "Can't believe it. The camp's gonna feel empty without you, Ren."

"You're just gonna miss her cooking," another soldier teased, nudging him with his elbow.

A chuckle rippled through the group.

I smiled softly. "Thank you, all of you. I won't forget everything you've done for me."

"You better not," an older soldier said, placing a hand on my head and ruffling my hair. "You've been like our little sister around here. Take care of yourself out there, alright?"

I nodded, feeling warmth bloom in my chest.

Another soldier—one I had helped with laundry more times than I could count—gave me a small, neatly folded handkerchief. "For the road," he said, looking away as if embarrassed. "Figured you might need it."

I took it carefully, pressing it against my palm. "I'll treasure it."

One by one, they each gave their own version of a farewell—a pat on the shoulder, a teasing remark, a simple nod of acknowledgment.

Finally, I turned to the Major, who was waiting patiently a few feet away.

I exhaled softly.

This was it.

I took one last look at the people who had made me feel safe, the people who had given me a place to belong, even if only for a short while.

Then, with a small smile, I lifted my hand and waved.

"Take care, everyone!"

"Don't forget us!" Marco called.

"Stay safe, Ren!"

With their voices echoing behind me, I turned and followed the Major toward my next destination.

To my new life.

K Country

The plane touched down with a jolt, sending a slight shiver through my already tense body.

We had finally arrived.

A grueling nine-hour flight. Nine hours of staring out the window, gripping the armrests every time turbulence hit, and trying to calm my racing heart.

It was probably my first time traveling by air, but I couldn't be sure. My memories of my past were fragmented—scattered pieces I could barely hold on to. But judging by the way my stomach twisted at takeoff and the way my ears popped during the descent, it felt new.

As the seatbelt sign flickered off, the cabin filled with movement. Passengers stretched, gathered their bags, and filed toward the exit. The Major gave me a reassuring nod before leading the way. I followed, my legs shaky as I stepped off the plane.

The airport was massive. Glass walls reflected the bright morning sunlight, and the hum of overlapping voices filled the air. Travelers bustled in all directions, dragging suitcases, greeting loved ones, or staring intently at their phones.

My hands trembled slightly.

I wasn't sure if it was from exhaustion, nerves, or anticipation.

Then, amid the chaotic crowd, a familiar figure emerged.

Red hair and golden eyes. A lean yet muscular frame that could almost pass for a model.

Jin.

My breath caught in my throat.

He was taller than I remembered—if I ever truly remembered at all. His sharp features carried a mix of strength and warmth, and his presence commanded attention even in a sea of people.

The moment our gazes met, the rest of the airport faded into the background.

Jin's eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe I was standing there. Then, in an instant, he moved.

Before I could react, his arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace.

Warm. Strong. Familiar.

I stiffened at first, my body frozen in shock. But then something inside me unraveled. The tension, the fear, the uncertainty—I let it go as I slowly lifted my arms and hugged him back.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Jin murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

His grip on me tightened for a brief moment before he finally pulled away, his hands settling firmly on my shoulders as if to reassure himself that I was real.

"You're alive," he breathed, searching my face. "You're really here."

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "Yeah… I'm here."

Jin let out a shaky exhale, running a hand through his hair.

"You have no idea what I went through when I heard you were in the military camp," he muttered. Then, his expression darkened. "Those bastards—"

I shook my head quickly, forcing a small smile. "It's over now, Jin. I'm okay."

He didn't look convinced.

For a long moment, he simply stared at me, as if trying to commit every detail of my face to memory. Then, with a reluctant sigh, he ruffled my hair—something about the gesture felt achingly familiar, like something he had always done.

"Come on," he said, his voice softer now. "Let's go home."

Home.

The word felt foreign on my tongue. I wasn't sure what "home" meant to me anymore. But standing here, with Jin by my side, I thought—maybe I could learn.

Maybe this time, I wouldn't have to run.

Maybe this time, I could finally belong.

The hum of the car engine filled the silence between us.

Streetlights flickered past in streaks of white and yellow as we drove through the quiet roads. I watched the city blur outside my window, but my mind was elsewhere—on Jin, on his words, on the tension in his voice.

He hadn't spoken much since we left the airport. But now, as he exhaled deeply, I knew he was ready.

"It was during my last mission with Sylvia," he finally began. His voice was steady, but there was something dark lurking behind his golden eyes—something bitter, something unresolved.

I turned my attention fully to him.

"We executed the plan successfully," he continued. "Everything was going as expected. But out of nowhere—an ambush."

His fingers curled into fists.

"Bullets rained down on us. It happened so fast. Before I even realized it, my entire team was dead. They were good men—people I fought beside for years. And just like that, they were gone. Only Sylvia and I survived."

I stiffened.

Sylvia.

"She was right there with me," he muttered. "And then, just like that—she wasn't. I don't know if she ran or what."

Jin let out a sharp breath, his jaw clenching.

"There was no intel on the attack. No warning. No signs of betrayal. I was completely unprepared."

The streetlights cast long shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his features. He looked haunted, as if the memories were playing out in front of him all over again.

"I fought back," he said quietly. "I killed them all. Every last one."

I didn't flinch, but a shiver ran down my spine. I knew Jin had been trained to kill, just like the rest of us. But hearing it like this—so raw, so filled with fury—it was different.

He shook his head slightly, staring at his hands as if they still bore the blood of that night.

"And then…" His voice dropped lower. "I was searching for clues—anything that could tell me who was behind it. I thought maybe someone had leaked our mission. Maybe it was a rival group."

He swallowed hard.

"Then… someone stabbed me from behind."

A chill crept up my spine.

Jin's fingers traced his side absentmindedly, as if remembering the pain.

"I never even saw who it was," he murmured. "One second, I was standing. The next, I was on the ground, bleeding out. Alone."

A heavy silence settled in the car.

I clenched my hands together, feeling an ache in my chest. Jin had always been strong—unshakable. But in that moment, he had been vulnerable, helpless.

"And then, the Major found me," he continued, his tone softer now. "Dragged me out of that hellhole. Kept me alive when I should've been dead."

Jin turned to look at me then, his eyes searching mine.

"I wanted to go back for you, and everyone" he admitted, his voice laced with quiet frustration. His fists clenched at his sides as if restraining himself from acting on that very impulse.

"Back to the basement. Back to where you were." His golden eyes darkened with something unreadable—regret, anger, maybe both. "But the Major stopped me. He said it was too dangerous… and that if I ever left the military base, I would be treated as an enemy." His jaw tightened as he exhaled sharply. "He told me to leave it to the military and the government. Their mission involves MOON, and interfering would only make things worse."

There was bitterness in his tone, the weight of helplessness hanging between us.

I inhaled sharply.

"He offered me a chance," Jin went on. "A chance to live a normal life—something we all wanted, didn't we?"

Something in his expression shifted, like he was trying to convince himself just as much as he was trying to convince me.

I wanted to say something—anything—but my throat felt tight.

Jin exhaled and leaned back against the seat, running a hand through his hair.

"He told me your story. " he murmured. "Everything. And I realized… Sylvia might have been behind my attack."

I felt my breath catch.

Sylvia.

She had already tried to kill me when I was held in the prison under the basement.

Had she done the same to Jin?

My fingers curled into fists, my heart pounding.

Jin's voice was calm, but I could feel the storm beneath his words.

"That woman," he muttered. "She's been pulling the strings from the very start."

A heavy silence filled the car once more, but this time, it wasn't empty. It was full of unspoken thoughts, shared grief, and the undeniable truth that we were both survivors.

That we had both been betrayed.

That we were finally free.

But for how long?