We left the comfort of the store with Liam leading the way. Amber, Sol, and I followed behind, staying alert, as we moved into the open expanse of the mall. Liam held a machete in one hand and a crowbar in his bag, his posture tense and focused. Amber carried a metal bat, and Sol had his crossbow out, ready for any surprise. I gripped my katana, the familiar weight of it grounding me. Behind us, Mitch's Charlie Team, Logan's Delta Team, and Nicole's Bravo Team fell into place, each member scanning for threats.
The air outside felt colder than I remembered. The mall's sterile lights did little to fend off the chill that had crept into my bones. The world felt oddly quiet, only broken by the soft shuffle of our feet, the distant hum of traffic replaced by the occasional creak of metal and the soft murmur of distant growls. We were stepping into the unknown, but it wasn't fear I felt—it was the sharp edge of focus that kept me steady.
We had a plan, simple as it was. Head to the pharmacy to gather medical supplies, then scout the nearby furniture store for a place to rest. There would be no room for failure. We didn't know what awaited us out there, and soon, the sun would set. Was it going to make the goblins stronger, or would they stay the same? I couldn't afford to wait and find out.
I kept my pace steady, moving with the calm that had become second nature. Panic was a luxury we couldn't afford. It felt too familiar, like being in enemy territory once again—silent, watchful, and waiting for any sign of movement. The others didn't say much as we walked. They knew what was at stake.
The faint sounds of muttering reached my ears, and I looked over to see Liz praying quietly, her hands clasped together. Josh shot me an apologetic glance. I nodded at him and turned my attention back to the path ahead. We didn't have time for distractions.
We moved forward for about five minutes before the pharmacy came into view. It was at the end of the hall on the left side, with the furniture store directly across from it. The pharmacy looked like it had already been ransacked, but there might still be supplies we could use. The furniture store's gate was down, which struck me as odd. It should have been open by now.
I held up a hand to signal the group to stop, motioning for everyone to crouch behind the large concrete pillars that supported the walkway. We were approaching the pharmacy from the side, and the layout exposed us to the open floor. It was risky, but the best option we had for avoiding detection.
"Charlie Team, you're up next. Move in and gather everything we need. Bravo Team, stay here and keep an eye out. If anyone's coming, signal immediately," I said, my voice low and firm.
Mitch, Sloan, and Giselle nodded, taking their positions. Viktor and Hirose were close behind them, scanning every corner, doorway, and shadow for any sign of movement.
"Understood," Mitch said, and just like that, the teams split. Charlie Team moved forward, disappearing into the pharmacy with swift, calculated movements. The rest of us stayed behind, waiting for the go-ahead.
The seconds stretched into minutes, and every muscle in my body was coiled tight. The sound of Charlie Team's movements inside the pharmacy was the only thing that kept me tethered to the moment. Every slight noise, every shift in the air had me on edge. Amber stood beside me, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the bat tightly. I could tell she was nervous, but there was no room for fear. We had to stay sharp.
I turned to her, keeping my voice steady. "Stay sharp."
"I'm good," Amber muttered, but I could see the tension in her posture.
Time seemed to slow as we waited. The soft clinking of bottles and containers being moved inside the pharmacy drifted toward us, the only sound breaking the silence. Everyone else stood still, alert, and prepared for whatever might come next.
After what felt like an eternity, Mitch reappeared in the doorway of the pharmacy, giving me a subtle nod. The team had gathered what they could—medications, bandages, antiseptic. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
"Charlie and Delta Team, move to the furniture store. Check it out. We'll need somewhere to rest, and if it's safe, we'll set up base there," I said, my voice carrying the weight of authority.
Mitch and Logan exchanged looks, their expressions hardening. They didn't hesitate.
"We'll take the left side, you take the right. Meet at the back middle?" Mitch suggested, his eyes never leaving the furniture store's entrance.
Logan nodded, signaling his team, and both teams moved to secure the store. I turned to Nicole, who had been quiet, her gaze fixed on the entrance of the pharmacy.
"Keep an eye on the entrances. No one leaves without us knowing," I said.
Nicole nodded, her expression unreadable. "Got it."
I watched as Mitch crouched down by the bottom of the gate, working to open it. After a few minutes, the gate creaked open, and both teams slipped inside. The rest of us stayed in our positions, waiting.
It wasn't long before we heard the sound of footsteps returning. Only Jordan emerged from the store, his face set in a complicated expression.
"What's wrong?" I asked, not bothering to turn away from my post.
"There are people inside," Jordon said, his voice low. "But Jasper's among them."
I looked over at Nicole, who raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp.
"How many people are inside? Do they seem like they're open to sharing the space?" Nicole asked.
Jordan met my eyes. "There are 25 people in there, including Jasper. They don't seem to be working together—two groups sharing the space. Jasper isn't in charge, though. An old man is leading one group, and a middle-aged man leading the other. The old man has a few guards, and the other group has a mix of people, including Jasper. They don't seem to be hostile, but it's hard to say for sure. Logan's talking to the leaders now."
Nicole thought for a moment, her expression pensive. "This could be a problem. If Jasper decides to tell them about you being a criminal, we might have issues."
I shook my head. "Frankly, Falkirk's full of criminals. It won't matter. If they find out, we might even gain a few allies. I'm more interested in the leaders. They could be old acquaintances of mine."
Nicole nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line. "We'll play it by ear."
"Alpha Team, can you hear me?" Logan's voice crackled over the radio.
"Loud and clear. Is it safe to enter?" I replied.
"Affirmative. We'll be stationed on the east wall. Mr. Ramirez has asked if we can lock the gate back," Logan said.
"I'll do that. Meet you inside," I said, hanging up. Turning to the group, I motioned for them to move.
"Let's move," I said, my voice steady.
We entered the furniture store, my senses on high alert. I wasn't ready to trust this place just yet, but we had no other choice. We needed to rest.
The store was spacious, with rows of dusty furniture scattered across the floor. A few overturned couches and old rugs made the place look abandoned. I walked toward the right side, checking the layout. We'd need to secure the building before we could settle in.
Logan and Mitch's teams were already set up, keeping a watchful eye on the entrances. The store felt eerily quiet, though I could sense the tension in the air. There were three beds, three couches, and a dining room set. The beds all looked king-sized which means there was room for at least three people to sleep in each.
"So, how do we decide who sleeps where?" Mitch asked, his voice breaking the silence.
Logan shook his head. "Women and Sol on the beds. The rest take the couches or floor. We have sleeping bags."
"We've got six women here. That's three people per bed, one on each couch, and three left without a bed," I muttered, running the numbers in my head. Nicole sighed.
"You're overthinking it. This is a furniture store. We can move a few couches or futons over here for everyone," Nicole said with a shake of her head.
I blinked, feeling slightly foolish. "Thanks." I rubbed the back of my head. Nicole smiled at me before Logan cleared his throat.
"What's the order for the watch?" Logan asked, his eyes sharp.
"It's only 6:30," I said, glancing at my watch. "Lights out at 8 p.m. Everyone needs rest. We'll be up by 8 a.m. to start investigating the missing women and gathering more supplies. Mitch's group will have the first watch. Then Logan, me, and finally Nicole."
"That's kind of early, don't you think?" Mitch asked.
"It is, but it's been a long day. We don't know what'll happen overnight or tomorrow. We can't afford to be caught off guard," I replied, shrugging.
Mitch thought it over before nodding. "Alright. We're all on the same page."
"What if the other people cause trouble?" Logan asked.
"If they're violent, we eliminate them. If they steal, we eliminate them. If they're annoying, we ignore them. If it's Jasper, look for me," I said, my tone hardening.
Logan exchanged a glance with Nicole before nodding.
"Everyone clear?" I asked, looking around at the group.
No one spoke.
I nodded before walking back to the rest of the group who were staying vigilant of our surroundings which I appreciated.
"We'll take turns keeping watch, your leaders know what to do," I said. "Everyone lights out at 8 pm, so for now set up camp and a few people move some couches or beds over here for everyone. Try to avoid the other people and don't make too much noise. Also, some people start making dinner. This will be our base for the night. But don't get too comfortable. Tomorrow, we start looking for the missing women."
The group nodded and started working, the fatigue of the day weighing on their shoulders.
I turned to Sol, who had just finished checking his gear. "You did good today," I said softly.
He gave me a small smile, but his eyes were still hard with the weight of everything we'd been through. "I'm just following your lead, Mother."
I smiled faintly. "That's all I ask."
As the group settled in, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were still being watched. We had found a temporary place to rest, but the real battle was still ahead of us. We needed to find out what had been happening in this mall, and we needed to get stronger. There were still too many unknowns—and the dangers were only just beginning.
"Jasmine, can we finish our conversation from before?" Nicole said, walking up to me. What were we talking about?