Chapter 5: Shadows in the Rain
The ruined city was alive in its own silent way. Every shattered wall and broken street whispered danger. The squad moved cautiously, the weight of unseen eyes pressing in around them.
Elara, predictably restless, led the way with sharp commands and biting remarks. "Keep up! If we're slow, we're dead."
Xena followed steadily, eyes scanning the abandoned alleys. Zion and Izan flanked them, alert and ready.
Rhys and Miya stayed a few paces away from the group, their usual quiet camaraderie a comforting contrast to the tension in the air.
Suddenly, a distant screech echoed through the ruins—a warning. The group froze, breaths shallow, muscles taut.
"Ambush," Rhys muttered.
Miya's hand brushed Rhys's as she pivoted, eyes meeting his with an unspoken question. The moment hung like a suspended heartbeat—a flicker of connection in the storm of danger.
Rhys nodded once, fingers tightening briefly where their hands met, then slowly pulling back as they dispersed to their positions.
The attack came swiftly. Shadowy figures darted from broken buildings, their movements erratic but deadly.
Shots rang out, a chaotic dance of fire and steel.
Rhys moved with precise control, covering Miya as she returned fire, their actions perfectly synchronized—a dance they had practiced countless times but never in such unforgiving silence.
In a rare pause between bursts, Rhys caught Miya's gaze again. Her breath hitched ever so slightly, a subtle warmth blossoming beneath the adrenaline.
Suddenly, the sky cracked open, and rain poured down in cold sheets, soaking them instantly. The rain washed away the dust but brought new difficulties—their weapons slick, footing uncertain.
Elara cursed loudly, frustration slipping through her arrogant facade, while Zion laughed, exhilarated despite the storm.
Rhys offered Miya a fleeting smile amid the chaos before they pressed forward, the rain turning the ruined city into a wild, dripping battleground.