At first light, when the sky was only just beginning to pale and the shadows still clung stubbornly to the edges of the town, Lucas and his group moved. There were no loud preparations, no drawn-out goodbyes, only quiet efficiency and the kind of silence that came from knowing exactly what lay ahead. The streets were still, the enforced curfew not yet fully lifted, and that brief window between night and day gave them just enough cover to slip away unnoticed.
They exited the building one after the other, keeping low, their movements controlled as they blended into the lingering dimness, Patrick taking point almost immediately, his senses already stretched ahead, scanning for any early patrols or hidden movement. Tom followed close behind Lucas, the others falling into position without needing to be told, their formation tight, disciplined, and ready.
