"Solomon Lane, head of the terrorist organization known as the Syndicate, has escaped. His followers and devotees have secreted him away. We cannot find him. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to locate him and return him to government custody. This message will self-destruct in five seconds."
The voice on the tape went silent. Talen Braizeworth stared at the wall. This was his first mission as an IMF agent. Track down Solomon freaking Lane and try not to die in the process.
Talen slapped his hands on his thighs and stood. He had zero leads, nothing to go off of and he was totally and completely alone.
Kara Reed was sitting on the front porch of a hut. A slim girl of fifteen, watching the sunset. The wind blew her soft brown hair across her face, and she brushed it aside. Her friends back in Colorado would probably be enjoying their summers, working and hanging out with each other.
However, Kara was different. Her parents, Lila and Daniel Reed, had inherited some money, and wanted Kara to go visit Africa. She was actually in Ethiopia, helping dig wells and assist in any other way.
"Pretty sunset," Lila came around the corner of the hut, running her hands through her short blonde hair. Kara nodded.
Daniel came sprinting to the porch, sweat dripping down his intense face.
"Lila, Kara, get inside now," He panted, copying his wife's earlier movement of running his hands through his hair.
"What, what is it?" Lila asked, worry crossing her face.
"Terrorists. Inside, now." Daniel ordered.
"But-" Lila protested.
"Now."
Kara stood up, holding the door for her mother, then closing it quietly behind her. Kara creeped through the hut, softly and quietly. Lila simply squatted on the ground and covered her mouth with her hands. Sobs racked her body and her shoulders trembled.
Kara turned and tiptoed back to her mom.
"Shhhh, it'll be okay," Kara hopelessly comforted her mom.
There was shouting outside. Pounding footsteps, gunshots, screaming. It was chaos.