Chapter 3: Lexa

Omar was pacing back and forth in the waiting room when I walked out. He immediately started asking questions, but I told him that I would only report to Ahmed. Maybe if I played my cards right, Ahmed would trust me with more and more information, and I could relay it to Blake, it isn't much, but it is all I have. Omar didn't seem incredibly happy about this, but I didn't care. I hated Omar, and I knew he didn't trust me, but I didn't need him to. I just required Ahmed to trust me enough to give me some information that could help Blake. Unfortunately, he continues to keep me in the back of the windowless van on the way to and from town, I guess, so I can't tell anyone the location of the base that is hidden in the caves. The only thing I knew for sure is that they take different routes because it doesn't take the same amount of time to get there.

Once we returned to the caves, I was taken straight to Ahmed. He asked me what I found out, and before I could think, I said, "Well, I don't have yellow fever." That earned me a smack to the back of the head from Omar. I relayed the little bit of information to Ahmed, telling him that the American's had finished their new outpost and it couldn't be too far outside of the town because the doctor said she would be in the clinic most days from now on. I also told him that I was to go back in a few weeks to get the results of a malaria test and try to continue getting information from the doctor about what was going on at the outpost.

I think he was a little impressed but also apprehensive because he still wasn't sure if he could trust me. So afterward, I went back to my room to rest and think. For my so-called plan to work, I would need to either get them to trust me enough to know our location or for them to send me on missions, and I could set a trap for Ahmed's people with the help of Blake and Abby. So for the next few weeks, I kept my head down as usual and focused on my training and gaining the trust of Ahmed's men so that my plan could be put into motion. Jose, Reed, and I trained together a lot; I enjoyed the capoeira because it was like dancing. He always had music playing, and I could just feel the rhythm and go with it.

It was a month before Ahmed sent me back into town, again with Omar. I think that he thought I was intimidated by him because of what he had taken from me, but that wasn't the case. Yes, he and his group of men had taken pieces of my soul and my body. But I had survived, and that counted for something. During that time in the torture room, I learned to flip the switch to my emotions to survive. Now that the switch has been turned off, I have become a different person. A person who is being trained to kill on command and feel nothing. A person who trusts no one and is trying to survive at all costs. The bigger question is going to be, will I ever be able to flip the switch back on and feel again when or if I can get out of this place.

Once again, I was put in the back of the van. It is looking more and more like I'm somehow going to have to come up with a trap. I will have to talk to Blake about it when I get to town if he is at the clinic. We pulled into town early in the morning. Omar dropped me off at the clinic and said he had to run some errands but would be back to get me later, and I better be here.

The clinic was just opening, so I went in and asked to see Abby. I didn't have to wait long before she came out to get me. She seemed relieved that Omar wasn't here, but I informed her he would be back shortly. When we started down the hallway, I saw Blake standing there. I don't think I have ever been so happy to see another person. He smiled and motioned us into what I guess was Abby's office. He said, "I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to see you again."

"I know, they still don't trust me, so I just have to do what they tell me to do. I was hoping to gain enough trust so that I could tell you where their base was located, but they always make me ride in the back of a windowless van. The only other idea I have is for us to set a trap for his men once they allow me to go on missions with them if they ever trust me enough to go on a mission. You could give me some false intel and be waiting on us when we arrive, but I still need to figure out how to get out of the country and where to go."

Blake looked at me and smiled, "We apparently think alike. I was hoping that you could give me the location of where they are keeping you, and we could raid the place, but I guess that's out since you don't know where it is. So, it looks like it is going to be plan B. I talked to my commanding officer about your situation and told him you would be willing to help us by giving us intel on Ahmed's movements. It appears he is the reason for this new outpost. We have been following him for some time. So, if you can provide us with actionable intel, he is willing to get you relocated."

"But I just told you they don't trust me yet. I gave them such a hard time; in the beginning, they still don't believe that I am on their side."

"What if I can give you small bits of information that you could take back to Ahmed? Maybe then he would begin to trust you, and then we could set our trap."

"That could work, but it could get some of your people killed. Can you live with that on your conscience?"

"No, so it would have to be small stuff like I could warn you if I know there is going to be a raid on one of their safe houses, and you could warn them so they could get their people out before we hit it."

"Are your people really going to allow that? Plus, I don't know how I would know if the place you give me is even one of Ahmed's compounds because I know nothing about his operations. I told you they don't trust me."

"I'm not sure, but I will talk to my Commander Jared and let you know. If they want Ahmed badly enough, it shouldn't be a problem. Right now, all I know is that there is going to be a supply drop two clicks east of town at the house in the valley tonight at midnight. My team is supposed to pick it up but not until 12:30, so tell Ahmed that if he gets there before 12:30, he can steal the supplies without resistance."

"But won't that get you in trouble since you don't have the authority from your commander yet?"

"I may get into a little trouble, but nothing I can't handle. Plus, this should show Ahmed you are loyal to him, and that is what we need."

"Maybe, but who do I tell him gave me the info? I don't think he will believe that a doctor knows these details."

"Good point. I don't know the answer to that question, but we need to come up with something quick before Omar returns."

Abby speaks for the first time, "Can't you tell Ahmed that you overheard the guards at the clinic talking about the drop or that you met someone here that gave you the information?"

I reply, "I guess, but I don't know if he will believe me or not unless I can tell him my source. I don't know. I guess I can try by telling him I don't want to reveal my source just yet. I mean, the worst-case scenario is that he doesn't send anyone, and nothing happens. The best case is he gets a few supplies and hopefully starts to trust me."

I say goodbye to Abby and Blake and head back to the waiting room to wait for Omar to return. Once back at the camp, I informed Ahmed and Omar what I learned. They are very suspicious of me and the information because I won't reveal my source, but they are intrigued enough to want to send someone for retrieval just in case the intel is good. Even better, they decide that I would be the one going to pick it up so that if it is a trap, they will have me killed.

I am told to gather up my squad and report back to Omar. He will run the op. Once we are gathered in the meeting room, Omar goes over the plan. My team will get to the abandoned house a little before midnight and wait for the airdrop. Once it is on the ground, we grab as much as we can and head to the rendezvous point at the mountain base, where Omar and his team will pick us up. If we try to run or the drop doesn't happen, a sniper somewhere in the mountains will shoot me. I hope Blake is telling me the truth!

Around eleven o'clock, we are told to report to the armory to pick up our gear and weapons. I am incredibly excited to finally be going out on a mission, even if I don't believe in their cause. I mean, I've been training for this forever, it seems like, and hopefully, everything will go smoothly. Plus, I need to know if all of my training is working. I am determined to never be weak ever again. I don't know if I could ever recover if I couldn't defend myself after all of the training I have. But, of course, they still don't trust us enough not to ride in the back of the van. Once we are at the abandoned house, Omar drops us off, and we take our positions and wait.

Around 11:55, I hear the chopper approaching, and just like Blake said, and we hadn't seen any troop movement the entire time we were waiting. Soon two large parachutes were heading toward the ground, each with a pallet of boxes on it. I wait for them to land and then motion my guys to wait until the choppers are out of sight, then we go to see what we can load up and take. We divided into two teams of two; one covered our six while the others loaded up the duffle bags. Once that team was loaded, we switched. As soon as both teams had as much as we could carry, we hightailed it to the rendezvous point to meet Omar and get back to the base. The drop was mostly bottled water and food rations, but there were a few weapons as well.

When we unloaded back at the camp, Ahmed pulled me aside and told me that I did well. He then asked me to give up my source again, but I said no. I wanted to make sure the source was going to be reliable. He then asked me when I was to meet with the source again. I told him that I didn't plan to meet back up because I didn't know when I would be allowed back into town. I also told him that I knew where to find him so that the next time I was in town, I could communicate with him. Ahmed said that he would send me back into town in a few weeks and then set up a regular meeting on the last Tuesday of every month.

The next few weeks were business as usual, training, training, and more training. That was fine by me because I was feeling good about the mission being successful and hoped Blake would come through some more. Hopefully, a couple more months and I could get out of here if everything went according to plan. I was regaining my hope, but I was still waiting for the right time to get my revenge. I just had to balance the two. After the third week, Omar came and got me out of my training class, and we headed back to town. I had him drop me off in the market so that he wouldn't know that my source worked in the clinic. Once he was out of sight, I headed to see Abby and Blake.

When I arrived at the clinic, the desk person said that Abby wasn't there, but she was instructed to take me back to her office if I showed up. Once in Abby's office, Blake came in and smiled. "I see that you were able to get some of our supplies."

I laughed, "Sure was, piece of cake. I also think that I am gaining Ahmed's trust since Omar was instructed to give me more space than normal. So how much trouble did you get into because of me?"

"Actually, Commander Jared thought it was a great idea, and we watched your op from the cover of our base not too far from the abandoned house. He also wanted me to tell you that we have located a compound about 20 clicks southeast of town that we believe to be a gun and ammo storage facility, and we plan on raiding it in two days."

"I'm glad you didn't get into trouble, and I will pass the info along to Ahmed since he doesn't trust me enough to tell me anything yet. Hopefully, that will change soon, and I can give you some helpful tips. Ahmed also wanted me to let you know that I would be in town the last Tuesday of every month so that we can meet up."

He started laughing and said, "I'm glad we have a meet-up planned. I am tired of guard duty at this place. I am ready for something else. Now I know that I only need to be here then."

"Glad I could help with something. Seriously, Blake, I don't know how much longer I can take this. Some of the others that used not to believe Ahmed have started buying into what he is saying. I guess after hearing so much of the same thing over and over, you start to believe it. It was so hard for me at first because I wouldn't submit to their teachings without question. The only thing that kept me sane was thinking about the talks we had about how things are elsewhere in the world. I would just think about the stories you told me about Octavia and Clarke and the things you all did growing up. I want something like that, something normal."

"Lexa, I know it can't be easy for you. Hell, honestly, I don't think I could do what you are doing, but I promise you, I will get you out of here as soon as possible. I just need you to get the location of Ahmed's base so that we can get the paperwork together to get you out of the country."

"I am trying my best to figure out our location. Unfortunately, I must go, see you in a few weeks. Thanks."

When I left, I headed to the market to browse while I waited on Omar to pick me up. I really wish I had a little bit of money to get a drink or even something sweet. I wonder if I could talk Ahmed into a bit of spending money since I am bringing him all this information. But, it may be worth asking. I met up with Omar, and we headed back. Once back, I told Ahmed what I found out and said I didn't know if this helped or not because I don't know anything related to his operation. I told him that if I knew a little more, I might ask my source for better information related to his assets.

He laughed a bit and said that I was smart and beginning to show that I was helpful and loyal to the cause. I thanked him and said that I would meet up again at the time he specified for me. He said that I needed to go and get some rest that I would be taking my squad along with Omar's team to relocate the supplies at the weapons facility Blake had warned me about. I thought to myself, so that is one of Ahmed's locations.

As I turned to walk away, Ahmed said, "Keep it up, and I will be willing to let you in on some of my operations."

I smiled and said, "Thank you. You will not be disappointed."

I went back to my room to rest and think. I'm getting close now to my goal of getting out of here. I just need to play along a little longer. The next thing I knew, Omar was banging on my door, telling me to get ready we were leaving in fifteen minutes. I picked up my gear and reported to the van. I was getting into the back like always when Omar said to ride upfront with him. I couldn't believe it. I was finally going to see where we were going.