Afghanistan
Sand. Every grain of it, a tiny reflection of the desolation around her. The desert stretched endlessly, an unforgiving landscape of sun-scorched earth and bitter winds. Charlotte "Charlie" Hunter hated sand. She hated the way it clung to her skin, coarse and gritty, a constant reminder of where she was. But more than the sand, she hated the war—the guns, the dirt, the poverty, the sounds of children crying, and the smell of despair that permeated the air like the stench of death itself. This place was a graveyard, not just for the dead, but for the living too.
She crouched low behind a crumbling wall, surveying the area and keeping an eye out for any suspicious behaviour. The village was destroyed. A mere ghost of its once magnificent beauty. The mission was simple: find the war criminal, capture him alive, and get out. But simplicity was a luxury she hadn't known in years. There was nothing simple about war. War was messy, chaotic, and cruel. And it left scars, not just on the body, but on the soul.
Nile Freeman, her closest friend and the leader of their squadron, was handing out candy to the village children, trying to bring a bit of light to their dark world. Charlie watched her with a mix of admiration and sorrow. Nile was always the one who found a way to bring hope where there was none. It was one of the things Charlie loved about her. But here, in this hellish place, hope felt like a lie.
"Freeman, where're you at?" The sergeant's voice cut through the silence like a knife, bringing Charlie back to the present.
"Over here, Sergeant!" Nile called out, her voice rushed over for orders, her boots crunching on the gravel beneath her.
"The women are holed up in the house with the arches. Take a right at the building with the red carpet. Get me some information," the sergeant instructed, his voice devoid of emotion. It was just another routine task, one of many they had carried out in this godforsaken land. But Charlie knew better than to let her guard down. Routine had a way of turning deadly in an instant.
Nile called for the squad, and together they moved towards the house where the women and children were hiding. The building was small and decrepit, its walls cracked and crumbling, much like the lives of the people inside. As they approached, Charlie's grip tightened on her weapon. She could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating.
Thirteen women and children huddled together, their faces etched with fear and exhaustion. Charlie's heart ached at the sight, but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand. Nile made the initial rehearsed greeting in Pashto, her voice calm and soothing. Charlie admired her friend's ability to remain composed under pressure. She then relied on the translator to ask the women about their target, the man who had brought so much pain and suffering to their people.
The women shook their heads, their eyes avoiding contact. But then, one of them hesitated, glancing towards a red carpet hanging against the wall. Charlie followed her gaze and felt a chill run down her spine. Nile signaled for them to get ready, her eyes sharp and alert. Charlie's pulse quickened as she ushered the civilians out of harm's way, her mind racing with the possibilities of what lay behind that curtain.
The squad lined up at the door, weapons drawn, ready to breach. Charlie's breath caught in her throat as she watched, every muscle in her body tensed, ready to spring into action. Before anyone could act, shots rang out, shattering the stillness. A woman screamed, clutching her arm where a bullet had grazed her.
"Shit!" Charlie swore under her breath, rushing to the woman's side. She dragged her to cover, her hands moving instinctively to apply pressure to the wound. The woman's eyes were wide with fear, tears streaming down her face. Charlie spoke to her in Pashto, trying to calm her down as she reached for her med kit. She worked quickly, sanitizing the wound and stitching it up with practiced precision.
The sounds of gunfire continued to echo through the small building, each shot a reminder of how close they all were to death. Charlie's heart pounded in her ears as she tried to stay focused on her task, blocking out the chaos around her. She couldn't afford to lose focus—not now.
"Jay!" she called out to a fellow squad member who had just emerged from the building. "Take over here!"
Jay nodded and knelt down beside the wounded woman, allowing Charlie to retrieve her supplies and rush inside, where the situation had taken a turn for the worse.
As soon as she entered, her blood ran cold. There, lying on the floor in a pool of her own blood, was Nile. Her sister in all but blood, the one person who had always been there for her, now lay gasping for breath, her eyes wide with terror. Dizzy, another squad member, was beside her, frantically calling for help, her voice cracking with panic.
"Nile!" Charlie's voice broke as she dropped to her knees beside her friend. She could see the wound on Nile's neck, a deep gash that was bleeding profusely. Her hands shook as she scrambled through her med kit, pulling out the supplies she needed.
"Dizzy, hold her neck together!" she ordered, her voice firm despite the fear that gripped her heart. Dizzy's hands were trembling as she pressed down on the wound, but Charlie didn't have time to comfort her. Every second counted.
Charlie worked quickly, her mind racing as she tried to remember everything she had learned in training. She found the artery and clamped it shut, her fingers slick with blood. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was all she could do to buy Nile some time.
"Stay with me, Nile," she whispered as she threaded the needle, her voice barely audible over the sound of gunfire. "I'm not going to let you die here."
Nile's eyes locked onto hers, filled with pain and fear. She was struggling to breathe, each gasp a reminder of how close she was to death. A single tear slipped down the side of Nile's face, and Charlie's heart broke at the sight. She wanted to say something, anything, to comfort her friend, but there were no words. All she could do was keep working, stitching the wound as quickly and carefully as she could.
The moments dragged on, each one an eternity. Charlie's hands were steady, but her heart was racing. She could feel Nile's life slipping away with each passing second, and the thought of losing her was unbearable. She couldn't let it happen. She refused to let it happen.
Finally, the wound was closed, but Nile's breathing was shallow and labored. Charlie bandaged the wound and pressed down on it, willing Nile to hold on. But even as she did, she could see the light fading from her friend's eyes.
"No," Charlie whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "No, you can't leave me. Not like this."
But Nile didn't respond. Her eyes remained open, staring up at Charlie, but the life behind them was gone. Charlie felt a cold, numbness wash over her as she realized the truth. She had failed. Nile was gone.
They took Nile's dog tags off. The sound of them clinking together as they were placed in Charlie's hand was like a death knell. She stared at them, her mind refusing to accept what had just happened. Nile was gone. Her sister, her friend, the one person who had always been there for her, was dead. And there was nothing she could do to change it.
The ride back to base was a blur. The squad was silent, their spirits crushed by the loss of their leader. Charlie sat in the back of the vehicle, clutching Nile's dog tags, her mind numb with grief. She replayed the events in her head over and over, trying to figure out what she could have done differently. But no matter how many times she went over it, the result was the same. Nile was gone, and it was her fault.
When they arrived back at camp, Charlie barely registered the world around her. The other members of the squad went about their duties, their faces grim and solemn, but Charlie couldn't move. She sat in the tent they had shared, staring at Nile's cot, the weight of her failure pressing down on her like a heavy stone.
It wasn't until the sergeant came in that she was pulled from her thoughts. He didn't say anything at first, just stood there, his expression unreadable.
"Hunter," he finally said, his voice softer than she had ever heard it. "Nile survived."
Charlie looked up at him, her heart skipping a beat. "What?"
"She survived," he repeated, but there was no joy in his voice. "But... they want to know what you did out there."
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. "What do you mean?"
"Corporal Freeman managed to survive without a scratch on her."
Charlie shook her head, disbelief washing over her. That wasn't possible. She had seen the wound, had her fingers literally inside of it, felt the life leaving Nile's body. But the sergeant's expression told her that this was no joke. They wanted to know if she had done anything out of the ordinary, anything different or strange, but she hadn't.
"They're taking you and Nile for further questioning and tests in Landstuhl, Germany. Your flight takes off at 1500. I suggest you go prepare your things."
She stared at him, the shock of his words leaving her momentarily speechless. When he turned and walked away, she just stood there, her mind racing. Nile was alive. Somehow, against all odds, she had survived. But instead of relief, all Charlie felt was a growing sense of dread. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
She needed to see Nile, to talk to her, to figure out what was happening. But when she reached the medical tent, she was told that Nile was already up and walking around. That sinking feeling in her stomach grew heavier. If Nile was up and moving, then there was no doubt in her mind that something unnatural was at play. This wasn't normal. This wasn't possible.
As much as she was relieved that her friend was alive, she was also terrified. If something strange was happening, if Nile had somehow become... different, then they were both in danger. Whatever had saved Nile's life was not something that would go unnoticed. And if the wrong people found out, Nile would become a lab rat, studied and dissected like some kind of freak.
No, she couldn't let that happen. She had to protect Nile, but she didn't even know where to start. Her mind was racing with a thousand different thoughts, none of them comforting. What was she supposed to do? How could she help Nile when she didn't even understand what was happening?
As she wandered through the camp, lost in her thoughts, she heard whispers. The other soldiers were talking, their voices hushed, but she could catch enough of what they were saying. They were talking about Nile, about how she had come back from the dead. The rumours were already spreading, and it was only a matter of time before everyone had heard about Nile's miraculous recovery.
She had to find Nile before it was too late. Not that she had any ideas of what she could possibly to do help, but they could try to figure that out along the way.
It didn't take long to find her. Nile was sitting near the edge of the camp, her earbuds in, listening to music as if nothing had happened. Charlie felt a wave of emotions wash over her—relief, fear, confusion—all tangled together in a knot in her chest. She started to walk towards her, but before she could reach her, two men appeared, their faces stern.
"Crap," Charlie muttered under her breath. She was too late.
She quickened her pace, but before she could reach them, something happened that made her freeze in her tracks. A civilian woman appeared out of nowhere, moving with a speed and precision that was almost inhuman. In a matter of seconds, she had knocked one of the sergeants to the ground and slammed the other into a nearby crate, disarming him before he could even react.
Nile, startled by the commotion, reached for the gun that had been knocked out of the man's hand, but the strange woman was faster. She disarmed Nile with ease, her movements fluid and practiced.
"Who are you?" Nile demanded, her voice steady despite the situation.
"Andromache the Scythian," the woman replied, her voice calm. "But you can call me Andy."
Before Nile could respond, Andy knocked her out with a quick blow to the head. Charlie's heart skipped a beat as she watched Nile crumple to the ground. Instinctively, she ducked behind a nearby crate, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her heart was pounding in her chest, her mind racing. Who was this woman? And what did she want with Nile?
Andy stood still for a moment, scanning her surroundings, her eyes sharp and alert. Charlie held her breath, trying to calm the rising panic in her chest. She knew she had to act, but her mind was spinning, trying to process everything that was happening.
Taking a deep breath, Charlie made her move. She dropped down low and quickly, but silently, moved behind the woman. In one swift motion, she grabbed the gun from Andy's hand and stood up, aiming it directly at her head.
"Hey, Andy," she said, her voice surprisingly calm despite the adrenaline surging through her veins. "Mind telling me what you're trying to do with my sister?"
Andy turned to face her, her expression unreadable. For a moment, they stood there, locked in a silent standoff. Charlie could feel her heart pounding in her chest, but she kept her hands steady, her finger hovering over the trigger.
Andy made a move to take the gun from her, but Charlie was ready. She ducked down, using one hand to push Andy's arms away and get closer to her, the gun now pressed firmly against the woman's temple.
"Impressive," Andy said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Shoot if you want. But I don't have much time. If you care at all for your sister here, then I suggest you help me carry her out of here."
Charlie hesitated, the certainty in Andy's eyes giving her pause. She didn't trust this woman, not by a long shot, but there was something in her voice, in the way she spoke, that made Charlie stop and think. She knew this woman was dangerous, but she also knew that Nile was in danger, too. And right now, Andy seemed to be the only one who knew what was going on.
"You were the medic who helped patch her up, right?" Andy asked, her voice calm and steady.
"How do you know that?" Charlie demanded, her grip tightening on the gun. How did this woman know so much?
Andy smirked. "Then you know how impossible it is that she's still alive. Just think of what they're going to do to her once they get their hands on her. I'm here to save her."
Charlie's mind raced. She had seen the wound. Probably better than anyone, she knew Nile should be dead. But she was alive, against all logic and reason. And if what Andy was saying was true, then Nile was in more danger than ever. The military didn't take kindly to things they didn't understand, and they sure as hell didn't leave them alone.
"How do I know I can trust you?" Charlie asked, her voice wavering slightly.
"You can't," Andy replied bluntly. "But what other choice do you have?"
Charlie knew she was right. Looking around the camp, she knew there was no other option. If what Andy was saying was true, then Nile didn't have a choice. And neither did she if she cared for Nile at all. And she did. More than anything. But that didn't mean she had to like it.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, lowering the gun. She flicked the safety back on and tucked it into her belt before moving to help Andy pick up Nile. There was no way she could leave Nile alone with this strange woman. Who knew what would happen to her.
"Smart move," Andy commented as they hoisted Nile up and began moving out of sight.
"I didn't really have much of a choice," Charlie replied, her voice laced with frustration. "Not if I want to ensure Nile stays safe."
The base was still busy, soldiers and personnel going about their duties, oblivious to what was happening. Charlie and Andy moved quickly and quietly, keeping to the shadows. Charlie's heart was pounding in her chest, every nerve on edge. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that at any moment someone would catch them. But somehow, they made it to the break in the fence that Andy had pointed out.
"Over there," Andy said, nodding towards the fence. They waited until the coast was clear before rushing over and slipping through the gap. They moved quickly over the hill, towards a jeep parked not too far away.
Charlie couldn't believe how easy it had been. It was almost laughable. The base's security was laughably lax, and that only made her more anxious. It shouldn't have been this easy. Something was off.
"Jeez," she muttered as they approached the jeep. "It's honestly sad how slack their defence is."
Andy just laughed, the sound surprising Charlie. It was the first time she had heard the woman show any kind of emotion other than determination. It was almost reassuring.
They laid Nile in the back of the jeep, her body limp and unresponsive. Charlie's heart clenched at the sight of her friend, so still and vulnerable. She wanted to shake her awake, to demand answers, but she knew that would have to wait.
Andy got into the driver's seat and started the engine, her eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble. Charlie hesitated, looking back at the base. Everything she knew, everything she had trained for, was back there. But Nile was here. And Charlie knew, deep down, that she couldn't go back. Not now. Not after what had happened.
"You headed back?" Andy asked, her voice cutting through Charlie's thoughts.
Charlie shook her head, the weight of her decision settling heavily on her shoulders. "No. There's nothing back there for me."
With that, she climbed into the jeep, and without another word, Andy sped off into the desert, leaving the base and everything they knew behind.
As they drove, Charlie couldn't shake the feeling that they were heading into something far bigger than she could have ever imagined. But one thing was certain—whatever happened next, she wasn't going to let Nile face it alone.