Chapter 46
“Easy, would you?” Cynthia grimaced as Briar tightened the makeshift bandage.
They had stopped deep in the forest, and Cynthia’s face was ghostly pale from blood loss
Without a word, Briar tore a strip from her sleeve and wrapped it tightly around her upper arm, stemming the bleeding
“You should’ve said something earlier, Briar muttered.
“It’s just a graze. The bullet barely touched me,” Cynthia said with a weak smile. “Compared to the hit Black Panther took last year, this is child’s play”
“You’re still joking? Then you’re clearly not dying,” Briar remarked with a raised brow
The chief instructors in the Struere region were all from the same school of training, bound by loyalty, hardened by war.
When Black Panther was ambushed, the others retaliated without hesitation, wiping out the group responsible
But after Black Panther recovered, he’d always bring it up to tease anyone injured.
I told you, I’m fine,” Cynthia replied briskly
“You need to move. Now, Briar’s tone was calm. “Wikato’s bounds will pick up your scent soon, and I need to return to base”
“You’re kidding” Cynthia winced as Briar pulled the bandage tighter.
“Snake, you’re ruthless, Cynthia muttered, winding.
“You botched the mission,” Briar said flatly. “Better start thinking about how you’ll explain”
First, the lost file, then a failed mission. Briar was starting to realize that anything involving Cyrus never ended well
Cynthia let out a defeated groan, gening unsteadily to her feet. “Who knew she’d still be that strong! Locked up for three years and still broke out like nothing. But maybe this in’t all bad. If she tries to leave the country, we can track her”
Briar narrowed her eyes. “Who exactly are we rescuing!
Even now, the woman’s strength haunted her. If they’d fought seriously, Briar knew she wouldn’t win.
Cynthia hesitated. Then, she said, “Forget it. It’s no state secret”
“Her name’s Chost Fox, Cynthia said, clutching her injured arm Former chief instructor of Dierict 17 I used to be her second–in–command. Before you came along, she was the top dog in the Strucze region.”
When Cynthia said that, Briar recalled the stories she had only heard in passing.
As the youngest and newest among Struer’s chief instructors, there was much she hadn’t witnessed firsthand. But just because she hadn’t seen it didn’t mean she hadn’t heard the legends
Ghost Fox was the only person in the base’s history ever to defect. Everyone thought she’d vanished. Turns out, she’d been rotting in Wikato Prison all this time
“So she’s been waiting for this,” Briar murmured.
“Maybe” Cynthia glanced at her watch. “No more time for chit–chat You’d better run. With the prison breached, they’ll seal everything. The military have is next door, so I’m sure they’ll tear the place apart.
“Got it,” Briar said, and with that, they went their separate ways
At 4 am., a sharp whistle sliced through the air
Three minuted Everyone to the field
When the announcement was made, Briar had just finished brushing the din of her clothes and cleaning her shoes. She had not even made it back to the dormitory after leaving the restroom.
Dozens of instructors were already stationed around the grounds, keeping a watchful eye on the students.
Ethan spotted her rushing over from the restroom and noticed how perfectly neat and pristine her uniform looked, which struck him as odd. “Briar,” he said sharply, “what were you doing outside at this hour?”
Chapter 46
Briar pointed to her wet hair. “Washing my fringe.”
“At this hour” Ethan frowned at her response.
“I couldn’t sleep Briar replied, utterly shameless. “It gets really hot during training. If my fringe gets grease embarrassing, don’t you think?”
“Enough. Get back in line, Ethan ordered.
“Yes, sir, Briardarted back to her spot.
and clumpy, that’s just ugly and
The truth was, she didn’t even have fringe. She’d just splashed water on a few stray hairs. But she counted on the fact that none of the instructors would notice or care enough to question the details
On the field, students shuffled into formation, still grumb
grumbling.
After a full day of drills, being yanked out of bed felt like punishment.
Instructors began their roll call
Briar stood calmly, hands in her pockets as if nothing had happened.
In her opinion, no one would suspect the students. After all, the odds of a group of college kids being involved in a high–level prison break were
practically zero.
Briar asked when Ethan stopped in front of her. “Sir, something happened”
“Why do you have so many questions! Take your hands out of your pocket and stand properly.” Ethan said.
Briar pouted but did as she was told.
Just then, a younger instructor walked over and whispered something in Ethan’s ear.
His face darkened instantly as he turned sharply to Briar.
Briar couched her nose with feigned innocence. “What’s wrong”
what have you done now!” Ethan demanded, his tone sharp with suspicion.
Briar blinked innocently. I washed my fringe. What else could I have done! Sneak out to
plant landmines?”
“Enough” Ethan snapped. “You’ve been named. Someone wants to see you. Come with me?
Briar’s heart skipped, but she kept her calm.
“No witnesses, no evidence. No one caught me outside the prison, she thought, studying herself. ‘Im just another college student. Nothing to worry about.
As she followed Ethun away, whispers spread through the field like wildfire
“What’s going on Why’d they pull us out of bed in the middle of the night? Something big must’ve happened, one student murmured
“Why’d they take Briar! Did the do something?” another whispered to her classmate.
“Wow, she’s insane,” a girl scoffed. “It’s one thing to be a troublemaker at school, but at a military base? Does she have a death wish?”
Over in the section where the performing arts students had lined up. Tuans sported the commotion and sneered, “Knew she was bad news. Bound to screw herself over sooner or later. What do you think, Imani!”
“Maybe maybe it’s just a misunderstanding? Imani replied hesitantly
Tiana rolled her eyes. “Misunderstanding! Please. She must’ve done something. Why else would the base be in such a frenzy!”
Igani didn’t respond, but her eyes glinted wish quiet satisfaction.
Goon, Briar, she thought. Get yourself locked up. Maybe then I’ll finally be free of you!
Inside the office, Briar stepped in and found Cyrus waiting
“Why’d you call me here!” she asked, chin tiled up, defiant
Cyn skipped the pleasantries. Do you know what just happened”
Chapter 46
“No idea,” Briar replied flatly.
Expecting her response, he pointed toward the window and said, “Right next to this training is Wikato Prison. One of their inmates, a high level international criminal, has just escaped”
“Sot” Briar shrugged. “What has it got to do with me?”
“There are surveillance cameras hidden throughout the woods behind the prison compound Cyrus kept his voice calm, almost conversational “One of them picked up someone in a training uniform who looked a lot like you.”
色
