Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
T he sun hung low in the sky as Hawk, Phoenix, Viper, and Edmond approached the village on the banks of Lake Kivu. The air was thick, damp with the scent of rain-soaked earth, but the eerie silence was what set Hawk’s teeth on edge. No voices. No laughter. No bustling movement. Just the muted slap of water against the shore and the faint rustle of wind through the grass huts.
His instincts screamed trap.
Phoenix, who’d taken point, raised a fist, signaling the team to stop. They froze instantly, rifles up and scanned the scene.
“Clear eyes, people,” Phoenix said quietly, his voice low and measured. “Something’s not right.”
The village, if you could call it that, looked like it had been hastily abandoned. The narrow dirt tracks between the huts were churned up with muddy footprints, and scattered belongings littered the ground—pots, a child’s doll, a half-full water container tipped on its side. There were no chickens scratching for feed, no women’s chatter, no kids darting through the huts. Just an eerie silence.
Viper adjusted the strap of his weapon, his voice a low growl. “Feels like the calm before the storm. Where’s everyone gone?”
“Edmond?” Hawk prompted.
The ranger crouched by a set of footprints leading away from the village. His dark eyes tracked the ground, methodically picking out details that only a seasoned tracker could see.
“They left in a hurry,” he murmured. “Most of the villagers fled into the jungle when the rebels came. They’re hiding.”
Hawk tightened his grip on his rifle. “Lexi? Moyo? Patrick?”
Edmond straightened, pointing toward the huts nestled on the hillside. “Let’s take a look. If they were here, someone will have seen them.”
“Let’s move,” Hawk ordered.
The team split up, slipping into the village. Phoenix and Viper swept left, weapons raised and steps silent. Hawk and Edmond took the right, scanning the shadows and clearing each hut, looking for signs of life—or worse.
“Nothing,” came Phoenix’s voice over the comms, a clipped whisper. “Cleared five huts. Looks like they bailed.”
“Same here,” Hawk replied, his jaw tightening. “Keep going. Stay sharp.”
It was the last hut, tucked against the base of the hill, that gave them their first clue.
“Got something,” Phoenix called.
Hawk and Edmond jogged over. Phoenix stood by the doorway, gesturing toward a makeshift pallet on the ground. Hawk went inside, followed by Edmond. Viper stood guard outside.
Hawk crouched down, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a smooth, shiny object. He picked it up, turning it over in his hands.
“It’s my pocketknife.” His voice was a strangled rasp. “I gave this to Moyo.”
Phoenix gave a grim nod. “At least we know we’re on the right track.”
There were sounds of a scuffle followed by a loud yell. They all dashed outside.
Viper held a frail old man by the arm. “Caught him hiding at the back of the hut.”
“Who are you?” Hawk asked, stepping forward.
The man didn’t answer, just glared at him with milky eyes.
“Edmond?” Hawk barked. “Find out what he knows.”
The ranger spoke in rapid Swahili, his voice low and steady. After a beat, the old man replied. He gestured toward the hills, his lined face etched with worry. Hawk held himself still, forcing patience as Edmond listened, nodding every few seconds.
“They were here,” Edmond finally translated. “The woman, the boy, and the man. They stayed the night, but the rebels came early in the morning. They fled toward the hills. He thinks they’re heading to Bibokoboko, a small village hidden in the Mulenge mountains.”
“Up there?” Hawk glanced toward the steep, mist-shrouded peaks rising above them. It was rugged terrain, treacherous under the best conditions. Lexi and Patrick were on foot, carrying a wounded child no less.
“How long ago?” Phoenix asked.
Edmond relayed the question, then turned back to the team. “They left at dawn. They have maybe half a day on us, but they’re moving slow because of the boy.”
“Fuck,” Hawk muttered, frustrated. He stared thoughtfully at the trail winding up into the hills. “Half a day isn’t much. We can catch them if we push hard.”
Phoenix frowned, scanning the surrounding jungle. “What about the rebels? That old man said they showed up here. How many are we talking?”
Edmond asked the elder, who replied with a toothless grin.
“Four,” Edmond said simply. “All armed.”
“Four?” Phoenix snorted. “That’s a damn warm-up.”
Hawk’s lips twitched in the faintest ghost of a smile. “Four of them versus four of us. I like those odds.”
The elder added something else, his voice solemn. Edmond’s expression darkened.
“What?” Hawk asked sharply.
“The rebels have followed them.” Edmond’s tone was grim. “They know the boy is hurt.”
Hawk glanced at the others. That was to be expected. The clock was ticking, they had to get to Lexi and Moyo before those bastard rebels did. “We’re moving out. Edmond, lead the way. Phoenix, Viper, watch our six. Eyes on the ridges—we’re vulnerable climbing these hills.”
He wasn’t telling the seasoned operatives anything they didn’t already know. The team moved as one, their boots crunching over gravel as they followed the faint trail into the mountains.
The air grew thinner as they ascended, the humid jungle giving way to rocky slopes and sparse vegetation. Hawk’s muscles burned with the effort, but he didn’t slow down. Each step took him closer to Lexi. She was out here, somewhere in this unforgiving wilderness, scared, exhausted, and possibly hurt. She needed him. Moyo needed him.
He only prayed they weren’t too late.