Chapter 1: Heartbreak in Bogotá
Sebastian Perez, a skilled Colombian special forces soldier, stands alone on a rooftop in Bogotá. The sun sets behind him, casting a golden glow on the city he has vowed to protect. But today, his thoughts are not on his duty but on Roberta Cisneros, the woman who had left him heartbroken. Their relationship had been passionate and intense, but Roberta had vanished without a trace, leaving only a cryptic note that mentioned a place called Roanapur.
Sebastian's mind drifts back to the day he first met Roberta. It was a humid afternoon in a small café in Bogotá, a place frequented by locals and soldiers alike. She had walked in with an air of confidence and mystery, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Sebastian. There was an instant spark between them, a connection that neither could deny.
Roberta was unlike any woman Sebastian had ever met. She was beautiful, with dark, expressive eyes and a captivating smile, but it was her intelligence and wit that truly drew him in. They began talking, and what started as a casual conversation quickly turned into something deeper. They shared stories, dreams, and secrets, bonding over their mutual love for their country and their desire for a better future.
As their relationship blossomed, Sebastian's friends in the military began to notice the change in him. They saw how deeply he cared for Roberta, and while they were happy for him, they couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. One evening, during a gathering at a local bar, Sebastian's closest friend, Carlos, pulled him aside.
"Sebastian, my friend," Carlos began, his voice low and serious. "I've been meaning to talk to you about Roberta."
Sebastian frowned, sensing the gravity in his friend's tone. "What is it, Carlos?"
"She's a peculiar woman, Sebastian. There's something about her that doesn't sit right with me. I know you're in love, but you need to be careful."
Sebastian bristled at the implication. "What are you saying? That I shouldn't trust her?"
Carlos sighed, placing a hand on Sebastian's shoulder. "I'm saying you need to be cautious. We don't know much about her past. She could be hiding something."
Despite his friend's warning, Sebastian chose to trust Roberta. Their love grew stronger, and they spent countless nights talking about their future, their hopes, and their dreams. Roberta seemed genuinely invested in their relationship, and Sebastian was happier than he had ever been.
But as time went on, subtle signs of Roberta's troubled past began to surface. She would occasionally become distant, lost in her thoughts, and there were moments when Sebastian caught glimpses of a deeper, darker pain in her eyes. He tried to reach out, to understand, but Roberta always deflected his concerns with a smile and a kiss.
One night, after a particularly passionate evening, Sebastian woke to find Roberta gone. At first, he thought she had gone for a walk, but as the hours passed, a sinking feeling settled in his stomach. He searched their apartment, and it was then that he found the note.
The note was brief and cryptic, leaving more questions than answers. It simply said:
"Sebastian, I am sorry. I have to leave. There are things you don't know about me, things I cannot share. I used you to get information, and for that, I am truly sorry. You deserve better. Goodbye. - Roberta"
Sebastian was devastated. He couldn't believe that the woman he loved had used him, that she had been involved with the FARC guerrillas all along. The revelation was a crushing blow, and for a time, he was consumed by anger and betrayal.
But before Sebastian could begin his search for Roberta, tragedy struck. A few days after she disappeared, the barracks where Sebastian and his comrades were stationed came under attack by FARC guerrillas. The assault was swift and brutal, a meticulously planned operation that exploited every weak point of the base. Weak points that Roberta had gleaned during her time with Sebastian.
The attack began in the dead of night. Explosions shattered the silence, and the barracks erupted into chaos. Sebastian and his fellow soldiers scrambled to their positions, desperately trying to repel the attackers. The FARC guerrillas, armed with superior knowledge of the base's defenses, pressed their advantage with ruthless efficiency.
Sebastian fought with everything he had, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and fury. Bullets whizzed past him, and the air was thick with smoke and the cries of wounded soldiers. Amidst the chaos, Sebastian spotted a group of guerrillas attempting to breach the command center. He sprinted towards them, his rifle blazing, determined to protect his comrades.
In the heat of battle, a grenade exploded nearby, and a sharp fragment of shrapnel struck Sebastian across his left eyebrow. The pain was immediate and searing, but he barely registered it in the frenzy of combat. Blood poured down his face, partially blinding him, but he continued to fight, driven by sheer willpower.
Hours later, the attack was finally repelled. The barracks were left in ruins, and many of Sebastian's comrades lay wounded or dead. The victory was a hollow one, overshadowed by the staggering losses they had suffered. Sebastian collapsed from exhaustion, the adrenaline finally giving way to the pain of his wound.
The medics treated his injuries, and Sebastian was left with a diagonal scar across his left eyebrow, a permanent reminder of that fateful night. As he lay in the infirmary, his thoughts returned to Roberta. The attack had made one thing clear: she was deeply involved with the FARC, and her betrayal had nearly cost him and his comrades their lives.
Determined to find her and get answers, Sebastian took a leave of absence from the military. He began his search for information about Roanapur, a city infamous for its lawlessness and criminal underworld.