The group was gathered near the fire when the enforcers arrived. There were six of them, their expressions stern and their hands resting on their weapons. Victor stood as they approached, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp.
"Richard wants to see you," one of the enforcers said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Lily exchanged a glance with Maria, her expression wary. "What for?"
"That's between you and him," the enforcer replied. "Now come quietly, or we'll make you."
Victor's lips curved into a faint smile. "No need for that. We'll come."
The walk to Richard's tent was tense, the enforcers flanking the group on all sides. The camp watched in silence, the survivors exchanging furtive glances. The seeds of rebellion had been planted, and now they were about to face their first test.
Sam walked silently beside Victor, his eyes scanning the enforcers and the camp around them. He had been analysing Richard's movements for days, trying to predict his next move. But this—this felt different. Richard wasn't just reacting; he was setting a trap and Sam knew they were walking right into it.
"This doesn't feel right," Sam muttered under his breath, his voice low enough that only Victor could hear. "Richard's too calm. He's planning something."
Victor glanced at him, his expression grim. "We don't have a choice." He then turned to the rest of the group and whispered, "Everyone, stay sharp."
Richard was waiting for them when they arrived, his expression calm but his eyes cold. "Thank you for coming," he said, his tone polite but laced with steel. "I've been hearing some… troubling reports and I couldn't help but notice that you've been at the centre of it all."
Sam crossed his arms, his gaze steady. "We're not sure what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb. It doesn't suit you. People are starting to push back, and I know you're behind it. The question is, why?"
Ethan stepped forward. "Maybe because they're tired of being treated like cattle. Tired of being told what to do, where to go, how to live. They've survived up to now, Richard. They deserve better than this."
Richard's expression hardened. "And you think stirring up trouble is the way to give it to them? You think chaos is the answer?"
"We think people deserve a say in their own lives," Lily said, her tone sharp. "You're not their king, Richard. You don't get to decide what's best for everyone."
Richard's gaze swept over them, his expression unreadable. Then he leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "You're playing a dangerous game. I'll have no choice but to remove you from the board."
Victor's smile faded, his eyes narrowing. "Is that a threat?"
"It's a promise," Richard replied.
The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unspoken threats. Then, without warning, Richard's enforcers moved, their hands going to their weapons.
Victor reacted first, his movements swift and precise. The nearest enforcer lunged at him, a crude wooden baton raised high, but Victor sidestepped the strike with ease. In one fluid motion, he grabbed the man's wrist, twisted it sharply, and disarmed him.
The baton clattered to the ground, and Victor followed up with a quick elbow to the enforcer's jaw, sending him sprawling. "Stay down."
Lily was right behind him, an enforcer swung at her with a heavy club, but she ducked under the blow. She countered with a kick that caught the man in the ribs, forcing him to stagger back.
Before he could recover, she closed the distance and delivered a sharp strike to his knee, dropping him to the ground. "You're slower than you look," she quipped.
Maria stepped back, her eyes scanning the room for an opening. She wasn't a fighter, but she wasn't helpless either. When an enforcer lunged at her, she sidestepped at the last moment, using his momentum against him.
He stumbled forward, and Maria shoved him hard, sending him crashing into a nearby table. The table splintered under his weight, and he groaned as he struggled to get up. Maria grabbed a piece of broken wood, holding it like a makeshift weapon, her breathing heavy but her resolve unshaken.
Ethan was a force of nature. When one of the enforcers charged at him, Ethan didn't bother dodging—he met the man head-on, catching the enforcer's arm mid-swing and twisting it until the weapon fell from his grasp.
With a grunt of effort, Ethan lifted the man off the ground and threw him into two others who were advancing, sending all three crashing to the floor in a heap. "Is that all you've got?" he growled.
Walter stayed near the back, his expression grim but his movements calm. He wasn't a fighter, but his years had taught him how to stay out of trouble. When an enforcer turned his attention to him, Walter raised his hands.
"I'm just an old man," he said steadily. "No need for violence." The enforcer hesitated, and Walter used the moment to step aside, letting the man rush past him into the chaos. Walter's eyes darted around the room, assessing the situation and looking for ways to help without putting himself in direct danger.
AJ was everywhere and nowhere. His translucent form slipped between the enforcers, his movements almost too fast to follow. When one of the enforcers raised a weapon to strike at Victor, AJ extended a tendril, wrapping it around the man's ankle and yanking hard.
The enforcer fell to the ground with a grunt, and Victor finished him off with a swift kick. AJ's form rippled with satisfaction as he moved to the next target, tripping another enforcer who was about to attack Lily. He was a shadow in the chaos, always where he was needed most.
Sam, however, stayed back, his mind racing. He was analysing the situation. As the fight raged on, he watched Richard, who stood at the edge of the chaos, his expression cold and calculating. Sam's eyes narrowed. Richard wasn't just watching—he was waiting. And that could only mean one thing: this wasn't the end. It was just the beginning.
---
For a moment, it seemed like the group might actually win. Victor and Lily were a whirlwind of precision and speed, taking down enforcers. Ethan weathered all attacks that came his way and dished out twice the pain in return.
Maria held her own, using her wits and the environment to keep her attackers at bay. Walter stayed out of harm's way but provided subtle support, distracting enforcers and creating openings for the others. And AJ was the wildcard, his slippery form and quick thinking turning the tide in their favour.
But then the tide shifted.
The sound of shouting echoed from outside the tent, and more enforcers began pouring in. The first wave had been manageable, but this was different. There were too many of them, and they were better prepared. The newcomers carried shields and moved in formation, their coordination making them far more dangerous than the initial group.
Victor cursed under his breath as he blocked a strike from one enforcer, only to be forced to dodge another from the side. "We're getting swarmed!"
Lily was already feeling the strain. She dodged a swing from a club, but another enforcer came at her from behind, forcing her to roll out of the way. "I'm starting to think this wasn't the best plan!" she called back, her tone laced with sarcasm despite the situation.
Ethan, still holding his ground, grabbed an enforcer by the collar and slammed him into the ground. But even he was starting to feel the pressure. Two more enforcers came at him, their shields raised, and Ethan had to backpedal to avoid their coordinated strikes. "We need to get out of here!" he shouted.
Maria backed into a corner, her makeshift weapon raised defensively. She managed to fend off one enforcer, but two more closed in, their expressions grim. Her heart pounded as she realised she was running out of options.
Walter, still near the back, watched as the situation deteriorated. "This isn't sustainable," he muttered. "We need to find a way out."
Sam had managed to avoid combat thanks to AJ and the others' efforts. "It's already too late to escape," he muttered to himself, wishing he had figured out what was happening sooner.
AJ tried to keep up with the chaos. He tripped one enforcer, then another, but there were too many. His form rippled with frustration as he realised even he couldn't keep up with the sheer numbers.
The group fought valiantly, but the odds were against them. Every enforcer they took down seemed to be replaced by two more. The tent was filled with the sounds of clashing weapons, grunts of pain, and the occasional crash of furniture being overturned. The air was thick with tension, and the group's initial advantage was slipping away.
Victor took a hit to the shoulder, wincing as he stumbled back. Lily was breathing heavily, her movements slowing as fatigue set in. Ethan was still standing, but his strikes were losing their earlier ferocity.
Maria was cornered, her makeshift weapon splintered and useless. Walter stayed out of the worst of it, but even he was starting to look worried. And AJ, though still slippery and quick, was running out of tricks.
The fight had started with hope, but it was ending in desperation. The group was outnumbered, outmatched, and running out of energy.
---
Maria watched as the fight dragged on, her heart pounding in her chest. The group was holding their own, but barely. Every minute brought more enforcers, more weapons, more danger. And all she could think about were her children—Isaac and Noah.
She glanced at Richard, who stood at the edge of the chaos, his expression cold and calculating. He caught her eye, and for a moment, they held each other's gaze. Then he nodded, almost imperceptibly, and Maria felt her resolve crumble.
"Stop!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. "Stop fighting!"
The group turned to her, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion. Victor's eyes narrowed. "Maria, what are you doing?"
Maria stepped forward, her hands raised. "This isn't worth it. We can't win. Not like this."
Lily's eyes widened. "You're giving up?"
Maria's voice broke. "I'm not giving up. I'm choosing my children. I can't risk their safety anymore."
The group fell silent, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air. Then, one by one, they lowered their weapons, their expressions grim.
Richard stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "Smart choice," he said coldly. "You've caused enough trouble. Now, you have a decision to make. Join me, or leave."
Victor's jaw tightened. "We're not joining you."
Richard's smile was thin and humourless. "I didn't think so. But know this: if you ever set foot in this camp again, I won't be so merciful."
The group exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of anger and resignation. But before they could turn to leave, Maria stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
"Wait."
The group froze, their eyes snapping to her. Sam's brow furrowed. "Maria? What are you doing?"
Maria didn't look at him. Her gaze was fixed on Richard, her expression unreadable. "I'll stay," she said, her voice steady but laced with something none of them could quite place.
The group stared at her in stunned silence. Lily was the first to break it. "Maria, what are you talking about? You can't—"
"I'll stay," Maria repeated, louder this time. Her chin lifted in defiance. "I'll join you. But on one condition."