The camp was a patchwork of tents, barricades, and patrol routes, illuminated by the harsh glare of floodlights. It sprawled out before the group like a small military outpost, buzzing with activity. August crouched behind a thick tangle of jungle brush, his system overlay marking each visible patrolman with a glowing red outline.
“Four guards at the gate,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant hum of a generator. “Another two near the tents. Patrols every thirty seconds.”
“How are we supposed to get in there?” Jude muttered, his tone sharper than necessary. “They’re armed to the teeth, and we’ve got nothing but a handful of bullets and your broken system.”
“Keep your voice down,” Lara hissed. “We don’t need them hearing you before we’ve even started.”
Cara, still pale from the wolf bite but holding steady, glanced at the camp with a grim expression. “Do we even know what we’re looking for?”
“They’ll have logs,” August replied, scanning the camp through his HUD. “Supply records, radio transmissions, something to confirm where Sabrina is.” He tapped the side of his head, activating a minimap. “The system is flagging a command tent near the center. That’s where we’ll find answers.”
“And how do we get there?” Jude asked skeptically.
“Carefully,” August said. “Stay low, stick to the shadows, and don’t make a sound.”
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The first hurdle was the main gate, a barricade of corrugated steel and barbed wire manned by two mercenaries. They stood in the light of a floodlamp, their rifles slung lazily over their shoulders as they chatted.
“Too well-lit,” Lara whispered, her eyes scanning the area. “We can’t sneak past them.”
“We don’t have to,” August said. His system lit up with an idea: a utility box mounted on a nearby pole. Hacking module activated, the system announced in his head.
“What are you doing?” Jude asked as August moved toward the box.
“Creating a distraction,” August said, his fingers moving over the rusted panel. The system guided him through the process, overriding the camp’s floodlight controls. With a few quick inputs, the lights flickered and died, plunging the area into darkness.
“What the—?” one of the guards muttered.
“Generator’s acting up again,” the other grumbled. “I’ll check it out.”
As one guard walked off toward the generator, the other remained at his post, shining a flashlight into the jungle.
“We can take him,” Jude whispered, his hand on his knife.
“No killing unless we have to,” August said. “It’ll raise the alarm.”
Jude muttered something under his breath but obeyed. The group crept around the distracted guard, slipping through a gap in the barricade.
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Inside the camp, the air was thick with tension. Mercenaries moved about with practiced precision, their conversations low but purposeful. The group stuck to the shadows, weaving between tents and supply crates.
Every step felt like a gamble. August’s system marked the patrol routes, but it couldn’t account for human unpredictability—the guard who stopped to tie his boot, the one who lingered by a tent to light a cigarette. Each close call sent a fresh wave of adrenaline coursing through them.
They finally reached the command tent, a larger structure reinforced with metal poles. A soft glow emanated from within, and the faint hum of a radio crackled in the air.
“Wait here,” August whispered, signaling for the others to stay back. He slipped inside, his heart pounding.
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The tent was a treasure trove of information. Maps covered one wall, marked with routes and supply drops. A table held stacks of papers and a laptop that flickered with activity. August’s system lit up, highlighting items of interest.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
He sifted through the papers quickly, his eyes scanning for any mention of Sabrina. Finally, he found it: a report detailing a transfer to a “secure mountain facility.” The location was circled on a map, labeled Facility 47.
“There you are,” he murmured, memorizing the coordinates.
The laptop pinged, drawing his attention. It displayed a series of messages, the most recent one catching his eye:
“Moving the asset tomorrow. Ensure no one follows.”
Before he could dig further, voices outside the tent made him freeze.
“You hear about the transfer?” one guard said.
“Yeah, they’re keeping it quiet. Don’t want Marcos’s enemies finding out,” the other replied. “Better that way. If what they’re saying about her is true...”
Their voices faded as they moved on, but August’s chest tightened. Sabrina was the “asset,” and they were running out of time.
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August slipped back out to where the others were waiting.
“Well?” Lara asked.
“She’s being moved to a mountain facility,” he said, his voice low. “We have the location. But we need to leave—now.”
Jude’s eyes narrowed. “What else did you find?”
“Nothing important,” August lied. He didn’t want to share the details of the laptop messages until he had time to think them through.
Jude’s glare made it clear he wasn’t buying it, but he didn’t press the issue. “Fine. Let’s move.”
They started back the way they came, their movements even more cautious now. But as they passed a supply tent, Jude stumbled on a loose piece of metal, the clang reverberating through the still night.
“Who’s there?” a mercenary called out.
“Damn it,” Jude hissed, drawing his weapon.
“Run!” August ordered, his system marking the quickest route to the perimeter.
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The camp erupted into chaos as alarms blared. Floodlights snapped back on, illuminating the group as they sprinted through the maze of tents. Mercenaries shouted orders, their rifles gleaming in the harsh light.
“Over there!” someone yelled, and a burst of gunfire shattered the air.
August ducked behind a stack of crates, his system highlighting their pursuers. “This way!” he shouted, leading the group toward the jungle.
A mercenary stepped into their path, raising his weapon. Before he could fire, Lara lunged forward, her knife flashing. The man crumpled with a gurgled cry, and Lara didn’t hesitate to grab his rifle.
“Keep moving!” she barked.
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They reached the edge of the camp, the jungle just a few yards away. But the sound of engines roared to life, and August’s HUD lit up with warnings: vehicles closing in fast.
“Split up!” he shouted. “We’ll regroup at the rendezvous point!”
Jude hesitated, his eyes darting between Cara and August. “You better not screw this up,” he snarled before grabbing Cara’s arm and disappearing into the trees.
Lara glanced at August. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” she said, then took off in a different direction.
August stayed low, his system guiding him through the jungle. The sound of boots and shouts faded as he put distance between himself and the camp, but his relief was short-lived.
A notification flashed across his HUD: Drone detected. Tracking in progress.
He swore under his breath, picking up his pace. The system’s map showed a narrow ravine ahead, offering a potential escape route. He pushed himself harder, the jungle whipping past him in a blur.
The drone’s whirring grew louder, its spotlight cutting through the darkness. August dove into the ravine, the sudden drop jarring his knees. He crouched low, holding his breath as the drone’s light swept over the area.
Seconds stretched into eternity before the light moved on. August exhaled shakily, his muscles trembling from the adrenaline.
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When he finally reached the rendezvous point—a rocky outcrop overlooking the jungle—the others were already waiting. Jude paced back and forth, his face dark with anger, while Cara sat on a boulder, her expression weary but relieved. Lara leaned against a tree, her rifle at the ready.
“Took you long enough,” Jude snapped as August approached.
“Nice to see you too,” August said dryly.
“What now?” Cara asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
August pulled out the map he’d taken from the tent. “We head for the mountains,” he said, tracing the route with his finger. “Facility 47 is our only lead.”
“And if it’s a trap?” Jude asked, crossing his arms.
“Then we deal with it,” August said. “But we don’t have a choice. Sabrina’s running out of time.”
The group fell silent, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. Finally, Lara spoke. “We move at first light. If Marcos’s men are tracking us, we’ll need the cover of darkness to stay ahead.”
They all nodded, though none of them looked particularly hopeful. As they settled in for the night, the jungle seemed to close in around them, its shadows deep and unrelenting.
For August, sleep was impossible. The system’s last warning echoed in his mind: Drone detected. Tracking in progress.
If they didn’t move fast, their next encounter with Marcos’s men might be their last.