Prologue
It's cold. I had never really noticed it before, but I do now. Stuck in this imulsion fume ridden, glowing cell with nothing but my thoughts to keep me from losing my mind. I don't know how I've been able to keep it together since my convoy was attacked. Marcus and Carlos were the only ones to escape, Baird, Cole… the three of us were taken and then separated, stripped of our armor, put in these damp, putrid rags for refusing to work with the others. Now we're stuck, hidden from one another so to avoid any sort of "resistance." They were talking about processing us, whatever that is. All I know is that we've been left for dead, to starve in the dark, to grow weak so we won't fight back when the time comes. I feel a numbing pain in my head and stomach as I try to maintain consciousness. They won't pull me from this cell without a fight, that's for damn sure. My will seems to falter as nostalgia takes over, my mind fading into a dreamless sleep.
The sound of gunfire startles me awake. STAND UP, KIERA! GO TO THE DOOR. My head screams and my body protests as I scramble to my feet to meet whatever is coming. I've heard the torturous screams in this place but never like this, at this juncture, it could be anything, anyone. There's a sudden eerie quietness as the gunfire lulls. Is it over...? That's it? Footsteps echo through the hall, becoming louder as they reach my cell. I hold myself up by the wall ready for what's out there.
"Jack, rip that door!" Light flows through the room as my cell door falls at my feet, the silhouette of a man looking right at my almost lifeless expression. "Kiera, baby? You all right?"
"Well I'll be damned… Carlos Santiago! What took you so long?"