Marcus: We need to be careful, Coleman. If this is a setup, we can't afford to be reckless.Coleman: I know, but we can’t let fear stop us from finding Eva.Marcus: Right. We have to stay one step ahead of whoever is holding her.Coleman: Let’s go over what we know. Harris has a history of double-crossing.Marcus: Exactly. We need to anticipate his moves.Coleman: The warehouse is on the outskirts, right? Marcus: Yes, but we don’t know who we’re walking into.Coleman: So we scout it out first?Marcus: Definitely. We can’t just burst in without a plan.Coleman: Let’s move then.---At the warehouse, Marcus and Coleman pull up, eyes scanning the area.Marcus: Looks quiet… too quiet.Coleman: You think it’s a trap?Marcus: Could be. Let’s keep our guard up.They slip out of the vehicle, moving stealthily toward the entrance.Coleman: I’ll take the left. You go right?Marcus: Right.They split up, each trying to cover more ground.Marcus: (whispers) I see a couple of guards. Coleman: Ho
Marcus: (whispering) Coleman, we’re outnumbered. We can’t take them head-on.Coleman: (gritting his teeth) We don’t have a choice, Marcus. They’ll kill us if we don’t act fast.Eva: (frantic) Please, you have to get me out of here! I can’t stay another second!Marcus: (trying to calm her) Eva, listen to me. We will get you out. But we need you to stay quiet. One wrong move, and we’re done.Coleman: (peeking through the crates) They’re spreading out. We’ll have a small window to make a move.Marcus: (nodding) When they pass by, we strike. Fast and silent.Eva: (trembling) I don’t know if I can do this...Marcus: (grabbing her hand) You *can*, Eva. Stay with me, stay strong. We’re almost there.Harris: (calling out) Come out, come out, wherever you are! You can’t hide forever!Marcus: (gritting his teeth) That smug bastard…Coleman: (tapping Marcus) Now. They’re moving away.Marcus: (whispers) On my count. Three... two... one… Now!With sudden precision, Marcus and Coleman leap from beh
Coleman: (whispering) Marcus, we can't hold out here forever. We need a plan.Marcus: (his eyes narrowing) We can’t let them corner us. Not now. Not after everything.Eva: (her voice trembling) Marcus... what if they find us?Marcus: (turning to her, his gaze softening) They won’t. I’ll get you out of here, Eva. I swear it.Eva: (eyes wide, looking at him) I believe you, Marcus.Coleman: (peeking out from behind the crates) Harris is getting cocky. We need to make our move while he's distracted.Marcus: (nodding, his voice low) We’ll split up. I’ll draw them out, you two find a way out.Eva: (grabbing Marcus's arm, her grip tight) No! I’m not leaving without you.Marcus: (his heart racing at the touch of her hand) Eva, this isn’t the time to argue.Eva: (her voice firm, unwavering) I’m not running. Not again.Coleman: (looking between them) We don't have time for this! We need to move now!Marcus: (his eyes locking with Eva’s, a deep tension building) Fine. We stay together, but you l
The next morning, the peace is short-lived. Marcus wakes up, his instincts alerting him to something wrong. He can feel the air shift—a calm before the storm. As Eva stirs beside him, the faint sound of footsteps outside the cabin pulls his attention.Marcus: (whispering urgently) Eva, wake up. Eva: (groggily) What is it?Marcus: (looking out the window, his tone serious) Someone’s coming. Eva sits up quickly, her heart racing. Coleman bursts through the door, his face tense.Coleman: (breathing heavily) We’ve got trouble. They’ve tracked us. Harris’s men... they’re coming for us.Marcus: (grabbing his gun) How many?Coleman: (grimly) Too many for a straight fight. We need to move. Now.Marcus: (glancing at Eva) We don’t have time. We’ll have to hold them off until we can make a break for it.Eva: (eyes wide) Marcus, there’s too many. You can’t fight them all.Marcus: (his voice calm, but determined) I won’t let them take you, Eva. Not after everything. Coleman: (checking his weapo
Eva’s heart pounded as she pressed her back against the rough bark of a tree. Harris, his cold smile gleaming in the dim light of the forest, was closing in. She scanned the area, desperate for a way out, but it felt like the world was caving in around her.Harris: I must admit, you and Marcus put up quite a fight. But it’s over, Eva. He’s not coming for you this time.Eva: You don’t know him. He’ll never stop coming for me.Harris: (chuckling darkly) Oh, I know Marcus better than you think. He’s probably out there bleeding to death. And once I’m done with you, I’ll make sure of it.Eva’s pulse raced, but she stood firm, eyes blazing with defiance.Eva: You won’t win, Harris. Not today.Harris’s smirk faltered for just a moment before his eyes darkened with anger.Harris: I always win. You should’ve known better than to get involved with a broken man like Marcus.Eva: You don’t get to talk about him. You don’t know what he’s been through.Harris: (stepping closer) Oh, I know plenty. A
Eva’s breath hitched as she stared at the stranger before them, the gun pointed directly at Marcus. The eerie silence in the forest was suffocating, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Marcus kept his stance firm, shielding her, his eyes narrowing at the mysterious figure.Marcus: Who the hell are you?Stranger: Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that Harris was just the tip of the iceberg. You’ve made some enemies, Marcus. And I’m here to collect.Eva: Enemies? What does that even mean? We don’t even know you!Stranger: Oh, you will. Soon enough. Harris wasn’t the only one with a grudge. You’ve been playing in dangerous waters, Marcus, and it’s about to catch up with you.Marcus: You think a gun is going to scare me?Stranger: Oh, I’m counting on it not scaring you. But it’ll sure as hell hurt when the bullet finds its mark.Eva: This isn’t necessary! Harris is gone—whatever score you think you need to settle, it doesn’t have to be this way!Stranger: It
Washington, D.C. - 7:45 AMThe sky over Washington, D.C., was a perfect mix of blue and gold, with the early morning sun casting long shadows across the city’s iconic landmarks. The streets were alive with the hum of traffic, people hurrying to work, and tourists gathering at the National Mall. On the surface, everything seemed normal. But underneath, there was tension—a city holding its breath, waiting for the storm to hit.Inside the sleek, glass-paneled building of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), the atmosphere was anything but calm.“Everyone, listen up!” Director Richard Cole’s voice boomed through the operations room, cutting through the constant hum of computers. His sharp blue eyes scanned the room as agents quickly dropped their conversations and turned toward him. "We've intercepted another encrypted message. It confirms what we feared.""Another one?" Evelyn Hart, head of Cyber Operations, looked up from her screen, concern etched across her face. She was alrea
6 Months Earlier – Fallujah, IraqThe desert sun beat down mercilessly on the convoy, heatwaves shimmering off the rocky terrain. Inside the armored vehicle, Marcus Reed adjusted his helmet, scanning the horizon with sharp, experienced eyes. The mission briefing had been straightforward: escort high-ranking officials to a nearby base for classified talks. But something about it felt wrong to him. There was an itch at the back of his mind, a feeling that had saved his life more times than he could count.“This doesn’t sit right,” Marcus muttered under his breath, gripping the handle of his rifle tightly.Daniel Cross, his second-in-command and closest friend, glanced at him from the driver’s seat. “You’ve got that look again.”Marcus frowned. “It’s too quiet. No local traffic, no shepherds... nothing. We should’ve seen movement by now.”Daniel shrugged, trying to brush off Marcus’s concern. “Maybe it’s just one of those days.”Marcus wasn’t convinced. “No such thing. This area is alway