The group trudged through the dense undergrowth, the oppressive heat of the jungle wrapping around them like a suffocating blanket. The air was alive with the sound of chirping insects and the occasional distant rustle of leaves, but it was the silence among the group that was most unsettling.
Cara walked a few paces behind August, her left arm cradled to her chest where the bandages covered the wolf bite. Her face was pale, not from blood loss, but from the gnawing fear she refused to voice. Jude stayed close to her, his hand never straying far from the pistol on his belt. He shot the occasional glare at August’s back, his resentment simmering just below the surface.
Lara brought up the rear, her movements cautious and deliberate. She seemed to measure every step, as though the jungle itself might swallow her whole. She cast a wary glance at Cara every few moments, her mouth pressed into a tight line.
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“System scan initiated,” the robotic voice chirped in August’s head, breaking the tense silence.
He froze mid-step, prompting the others to stop behind him. His HUD lit up with a new interface: a glowing diagram of Cara’s body, the bite mark highlighted in orange. He let out a slow breath, watching as a series of percentages and algorithms flickered across the display.
“What is it?” Cara asked, her voice uncharacteristically small.
“The system’s scanning your wound,” August replied without looking at her. His focus remained on the data.
Jude stepped closer, his hand tightening around the grip of his pistol. “And? What’s it saying?”
The system’s voice returned, cold and emotionless.
“Analysis complete: Infection status—Non-lethal. Bite shows no signs of viral contamination.”
Relief surged through August, and he allowed himself a small exhale. “You’re clear,” he said, turning to Cara. “It’s not the virus.”
Cara let out a shaky laugh, her hand brushing over the bandages as though she couldn’t believe it. “Thank God,” she murmured.
Jude, however, didn’t relax. “How do we know your system’s right?” His voice was sharp, accusatory. “What if it’s wrong? What if it misses something, just like it’s missed other things before?”
August’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to the bait. He knew Jude’s mistrust of the system—and of him—had been growing steadily. The tension between them had become a crack in their already fragile group dynamic, and now it threatened to widen into a full-blown rift.
“We’ll monitor her,” August said calmly. “But the system’s never been wrong about this kind of thing before.”
“Yeah, and it’s also glitched out in the middle of fights,” Jude shot back. “Forgive me if I don’t put my faith in your magic AI.”
“That’s enough,” Cara snapped, stepping between them. Her voice, though strained, carried its usual edge. “I’m fine. Let’s just focus on getting out of this jungle alive.”
The tension lingered, but neither man said another word. They continued walking, the unease settling over them like a storm cloud.
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The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows through the trees, when they stumbled upon the camp.
August was the first to spot it, his HUD flagging movement ahead. He raised a hand, signaling the others to stop. Dropping into a crouch, he gestured for Lara to follow him as he crept closer to get a better look.
The camp was nestled in a small clearing, surrounded by makeshift barricades of scrap metal and barbed wire. Fires burned in rusted oil drums, their flickering light casting eerie shadows on the surrounding jungle. Mercenaries moved among the tents and vehicles, their weapons slung casually over their shoulders.
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“Marcos’s men,” Lara whispered, her voice barely audible.
August nodded grimly. The mercenaries wore the same insignia as the ones who had ambushed them before: a red armband with a jagged black emblem.
“What do we do?” Lara asked.
August’s system scanned the camp, highlighting points of interest: the guards stationed at the entrance, a supply tent near the center, and a large, heavily armored vehicle parked on the far side.
“We can’t go through,” August said, his voice low. “We’ll have to find a way around.”
“Or we could hit them,” Jude suggested, his voice cold as he crouched next to them. “Take out their supplies, cut them down while they’re not expecting it.”
“No,” August said firmly. “There are too many of them. We’d never make it out alive.”
Jude sneered. “Of course you’d say that. Always playing it safe.”
“This isn’t about playing it safe,” August snapped. “It’s about surviving. We don’t stand a chance against those numbers.”
Cara stepped into the conversation, her voice steady despite the tension. “We’ve barely got enough ammo to defend ourselves. A fight isn’t an option.”
Jude let out a bitter laugh. “Right, because August always knows what’s best.”
“That’s enough,” Cara said, her tone sharp. She turned to August. “What’s the plan?”
August’s system mapped out a potential route, leading them around the camp through a denser part of the jungle. It was risky, but it was their best shot.
“There’s a path around the camp,” he said, pointing to the map on his HUD. “It’s rough terrain, but it should keep us out of sight.”
Lara nodded. “Then let’s move before they spot us.”
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The detour was brutal. The jungle seemed to grow even denser, the underbrush clawing at their clothes and skin. Darkness fell quickly, and soon they were navigating by the dim light of their flashlights, the beams barely penetrating the thick foliage.
Cara stumbled more than once, her strength clearly waning. August kept glancing back at her, his guilt growing with every step.
“We need to rest,” he said finally, stopping in a small clearing.
“We can’t afford to stop,” Jude argued, his voice rising. “What if those mercenaries come looking for us?”
“And what if Cara collapses?” August shot back.
“I’m fine,” Cara said, though her voice was weak.
“No, you’re not,” August said, his tone gentler now. “We’re taking ten minutes.”
Jude muttered something under his breath but didn’t argue further.
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As they sat in the clearing, the tension between Jude and August finally boiled over.
“You keep acting like you’re the only one who knows how to survive out here,” Jude said, his voice low but venomous. “But all you’ve done is drag us from one disaster to another.”
August didn’t rise to the bait, but his silence only seemed to infuriate Jude more.
“Do you even care about any of us?” Jude continued. “Or are we just pawns in whatever the system’s got planned for you?”
“That’s not fair,” Cara interjected, her voice firm despite her exhaustion.
“Isn’t it?” Jude said, glaring at her. “Look at where we are. Look at what we’ve been through. And for what? Chasing after Sabrina? Do we even know if she’s still alive?”
“She’s alive,” August said quietly.
“How do you know?” Jude demanded. “Because your system told you? The same system that keeps glitching out and nearly getting us killed?”
August met Jude’s gaze, his expression unreadable. “I know because we’ve come too far for her not to be. I know because if she’s not... then none of this makes sense.”
Jude let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t know anything, do you? You’re just guessing, just like the rest of us.”
Before August could respond, Lara spoke up. “Enough. We don’t have time for this.” She turned to August. “What’s the plan?”
August took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus. “We keep moving. The camp should be behind us now. Once we’re clear of the jungle, we can figure out our next steps.”
The group fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of Jude’s words lingering in the air.
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As they resumed their trek, August couldn’t shake the feeling that Jude was right about one thing: the system was unreliable. And if it failed them again, it might cost them more than they could afford to lose.
But for now, all he could do was keep moving forward.
Ahead of them, the jungle began to thin, the promise of open ground giving them a sliver of hope. But that hope was short-lived.
A distant rumble echoed through the trees, followed by the unmistakable sound of engines.
“They’ve found us,” Jude said grimly, drawing his weapon.
August’s HUD lit up with a new notification: Mercenaries approaching. Prepare for combat.
The fight wasn’t over yet.