chapter thirty six

The tension in the air was palpable as Ethan stood before the towering iron gates, his heart thudding in his chest like a war drum. Two guards, bulky and menacing, blocked his path. They stared at him, suspicious eyes narrowing beneath their helmets. Ethan knew that if he made one wrong move, his escape would be over before it began.

"I'm heading out on patrol," Ethan said, forcing a casual tone. He tried to recall the mannerisms of the guards he'd seen while sneaking through the base. He hoped his new attire would help him blend in.

The guard closest to him spat on the ground, his eyes still fixed on Ethan. "Since when did rookies start going out on patrol alone?"

Ethan's mind raced. He needed to think fast. "Barnet's orders," he replied, naming the name of thier leader. "Said I should check the perimeter. Something about scouting for new threats."

The second guard grunted, clearly not buying it. "Barnet’s orders, huh? Maybe I should just check with him." He turned slightly