Chapter 27; Infiltration.

Drake woke up back at the base, his eyes opening slowly to the dim light filtering through the curtains. He blinked a few times, his vision blurry, before the room came into focus. He recognized the familiar surroundings—his room at the base. As his senses sharpened, he felt a dull ache all over his body and noticed the tight bandages wrapped around his torso and limbs.

Beside him, Maya was slumped on the floor, her head resting on the edge of his bed. She had probably fallen asleep while tending to his injuries. A bowl of water and a cloth lay in her hand, now motionless. Her face looked pale and exhausted, her hair dishevelled from hours of worry and sleeplessness.

Drake attempted to sit up, wincing as pain shot through his body. He groaned softly, trying to piece together what had happened. The memories came flooding back in fragments—the hybrid leader’s attack, the desperate struggle, and the moment he had blacked out. He remembered Isalio’s fierce battle with the hybrid and Maya’