MORTAL FREEDOM

Wilson crouched behind the large rock, his body trembling as conflicting emotions warred within him. The faint glow of the surge dimmed, flickering as though it too sensed his turmoil. He gripped his knees, his breath shallow, his chest tightening with guilt and fear.

In the distance, he could hear faint sounds of movement on the forest floor, the hushed voices of the soldiers following Sara-fin into the woods. She had gone willingly, leading the enemy away to protect the camp. To protect him.

And yet, he had done nothing.

"She trusted you," he whispered to himself, the words bitter in his throat. "They all did."

But instead of rising to the occasion, Wilson made his choice. He ran.

The forest blurred around him as he stumbled through the underbrush, his feet moving faster with each step. The surge pulsed faintly, but he ignored it, focusing only on the single thought that consumed him: escape. He didn't look back, didn't stop, didn't let the guilt catch up to him.

For all his power, Wilson Tanga was a coward.

THE REBELS' CHANCE

Back at the camp, the air was heavy with tension. The surviving rebels knelt in silence, their hands bound, their faces etched with exhaustion and defeat. Kroll paced among them, his sharp eyes scanning the clearing as though expecting something or someone.

Jayce knelt near the center, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. Blood trickled down his head from a gash he had sustained earlier, but he barely noticed the pain. His mind was focused, calculating. Despite the chaos around him, he noticed something the scouts were growing tired. Their movements were slower, their focus wavering.

Kroll barked an order to one of the soldiers, who had been leaning lazily against a wagon. The scout snapped to attention, but Jayce caught the hesitation, the weariness in his movements. These weren't seasoned soldiers; they were overconfident, distracted. And that was the opportunity he needed.

Jayce turned his head ever so slightly, catching the eye of Elias, who knelt a few paces to his left. Elias met his gaze, his dark eyes sharp and understanding. A subtle nod passed between them. They both knew the risks, but there was no other option.

Jayce exhaled slowly, then gave the signal a small tilt of his head and a sharp whistle barely audible.

THE REBELS FIGHT BACK

The silence shattered as Jayce lunged forward, ramming his shoulder into the nearest scout and knocking the man to the ground. The other rebels sprang into action, surging to their feet with a ferocity born of desperation. Cries of rage and determination echoed through the clearing as they wrestled weapons from their captors.

Elias was quick and precise, driving his elbow into the throat of one scout and grabbing his rifle before he could recover. He spun, firing a shot that struck another soldier squarely in the chest.

The battle was chaotic and brutal. The rebels, though outnumbered and poorly armed, fought with everything they had. They clawed, kicked, and tackled their enemies, their movements fueled by the sheer will to survive.

Kroll shouted orders, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Hold your ground! Take them down!"

The scouts regrouped, their advanced weaponry giving them an edge despite their dwindling numbers. A rifle cracked, and one of the rebels fell, clutching his chest as blood spilled onto the dirt. Another scout fired into the crowd, striking a young rebel who collapsed with a strangled cry.

SACRIFICE IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE

Jayce fought with a relentless fury, his knife flashing as he took down another scout. But the tide began to shift as the remaining soldiers focused their fire on him, recognizing him as the leader of the resistance.

One scout raised his rifle, aiming directly at Jayce's back. Time seemed to slow as the shot rang out, a burst of light and sound tearing through the chaos.

"Jayce!"

Elias's voice cut through the air as he threw himself in front of him, his body absorbing the bullet meant for him. He staggered, her weapon falling from her grasp as her knees buckled.

Jayce caught him before he hit the ground, his arms wrapping around him as he lowered him gently to the dirt. "No, no, no," he muttered, his voice shaking. "Elias, stay with me."

His hand trembled as it reached for his face, his touch gentle despite the blood staining his fingers. "You idiot," he whispered, his lips curling into a faint smile. "I couldn't let you die. Not you."

Tears blurred Jayce's vision as he pressed his forehead to Elias. "Why would you do that? Why"

"Because…" His voice faltered, his breath coming in short gasps. "Because I love you. Always have."

Jayce's throat tightened, his words choking him. "Elias, don't you dare leave me. Do you hear me? You can't…"

His eyes fluttered closed, his hand falling limply to Elias side. Jayce's heart shattered as he clutched his lifeless body, his cries of anguish piercing the air.

VICTORY AT A COST

The remaining rebels fought with renewed determination, their rage overwhelming the remaining scouts. One by one, the soldiers fell, their confidence crumbling as the rebels overpowered them.

Kroll, realizing his team was lost, retreated into the shadows of the forest, vowing revenge. The rebels stood victorious, but it was a hollow victory. The clearing was littered with bodies both friends and enemies. The survivors were battered, bloodied, and broken.

Jayce knelt in the dirt, cradling Elias's body in his arms. His last words echoed in his mind, a painful reminder of what he had lost.

BLAME AND VENGEANCE

As the adrenaline faded, Jayce's thoughts turned dark. His gaze drifted to the edge of the clearing, to the place where he had seen Wilson hiding behind the rock. The boy had been there, watching. He could have acted. He could have saved them.

Instead, he had run.

Jayce's hands tightened into fists, his grief giving way to anger. "This is your fault," he muttered, his voice low and venomous. "You could have stopped this. You could have saved him."

His mind burned with images of Wilson his glowing body, his hesitation, his cowardice. Jayce's jaw clenched as he made a silent vow, the weight of it settling in his chest like iron.

"I'll find you, Wilson," he whispered, his voice trembling with rage. "And when I do, I'll make you pay for this. For Elias. For all of it."