Chapter 23 Mila
Mila
Location: Forest Edge — Breaking Contact
Time: Continuous
Jase is getting worse.
I can feel it.
Every step he takes is heavier.
Every breath is rougher.
And the heat coming off him?
Terrifying.
“We’re almost out,” I whisper, more to keep him focused than anything else.
“Yeah…” he mutters, but his voice is off now—distant.
Not good.
Not good at all.
Gunfire cracks behind us again.
Closer.
They’re not slowing down.
They’re tightening.
“They’re pushing hard,” I say.
“Means we’re close to something they don’t want us to reach,” Jase replies.
Even like this—
He’s still thinking.
Still fighting.
Still him.
Jase
Everything’s starting to blur together.
Sound.
Light.
Movement.
But her voice?
That cuts through.
Always.
“Mila…” I say, forcing the word out.
“I’m here,” she answers instantly.
Yeah.
I know.
That’s the problem.
You shouldn’t be.
“You need to go if—”
“No,” she snaps.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Final.
“…not happening.”
I try to argue.
Don’t have the strength.
Mila
He stumbles again.
This time—
He doesn’t catch himself.
I grab him, wrapping his arm over my shoulders, taking more of his weight.
“You’re not going down,” I tell him.
“Not on my watch.”
He lets out a weak breath that might be a laugh.
“…you’re stubborn.”
“Yeah,” I say.
“You started it.”
The trees begin to thin ahead.
Light breaking through.
Open ground.
Dangerous—
But also—
Opportunity.
“We push through,” I say.
“They’ll have less cover.”
“So will we,” he murmurs.
“Then we move faster than they expect.”
Jase
How do we do that?
She’s already carrying me.
Not physically—
Not fully—
But enough.
Enough to keep me moving.
Enough to keep me upright.
And damn if that doesn’t hit something deep.
“You’re not supposed to be the one doing this,” I mutter.
“Too bad,” she says.
And there’s no hesitation in it.
No doubt.
Just—
truth.
Mila
The moment we break the tree line—
Everything explodes.
Gunfire from behind.
Shouts.
Movement.
“They’re right on us!” I shout.
Jase tries to turn—
Weapon lifting—
But his arm shakes.
Too much.
Too weak.
“I’ve got it,” I say, stepping in front of him.
“No—”
“Yes.”
And this time—
He doesn’t fight me.
I raise my gun.
Breathe.
Fire.
One drops.
Shift.
Fire again.
Another down.
But there are too many.
Too many angles.
Too many—
A bullet slams into the ground inches from my feet.
Another hits the rock beside me.
We’re exposed.
Too exposed.
This isn’t sustainable.
Jase
No.
No, no—
This is wrong.
She shouldn’t be the one standing there.
She shouldn’t be the one—
I push forward—
Try to take position—
But my vision swims hard—
Body gives—
And I drop to one knee.
Damn it.
“Jase!” she snaps.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
Badly.
Mila
He’s going down.
I can see it now.
Really see it.
This isn’t just bad—
This is critical.
We’re not going to outlast them like this.
We’re not going to—
A new sound cuts through the chaos.
Deep.
Heavy.
Rotors.
My head snaps up.
Jase’s does too—slower.
“…tell me that’s not them,” I whisper.
Jase
No.
That’s not their bird.
Different pitch.
Different approach.
Different—
Timing.
A shadow cuts across the ground.
Fast.
Low.
Controlled.
Then—
A voice over comms.
Sharp.
Familiar.
“Delta Five—on your six. Brace!”
Mila
Everything happens at once.
The helicopter drops lower—
Doors open—
Figures on either side—
Weapons ready—
And then—
HELL breaks loose.
Jase
Oh yeah.
That’s my team.
And they are not happy.
Gunfire rains down from above—
Precise.
Controlled.
Devastating.
The men behind us drop fast—
One after another—
No wasted shots.
No hesitation.
Just pure, lethal efficiency.
Mila
Ropes drop from the helicopter—
Two men slide down fast—
One hits the ground running—
The other covers—
Both moving like this is second nature.
Because it is.
“Move!” one of them shouts.
“Now!”
I don’t hesitate.
I grab Jase—
Pull him forward—
“Stay with me,” I whisper.
Jase
I recognize the voice.
Even through the noise.
Even through the haze.
“…Cross,” I mutter.
A figure drops in front of us—
Weapon up—
Eyes sharp—
Then he looks at Mila.
Really looks at her.
“…you must be the problem,” he says.
Mila blinks.
“…excuse me?”
I almost laugh.
Almost.
Mila
Another man moves in beside him—
Calm.
Controlled.
Assessing everything in seconds.
He looks at Jase—
Then at me—
Then back at the incoming threat.
“We’re not staying,” he says.
“We extract. Now.”
“Good plan,” I mutter.
Jase
They move fast.
Too fast for the enemy to adjust.
Covering fire.
Tight formation.
Controlled retreat.
Professional.
I try to keep up.
Fail.
My legs finally give out completely.
And this time—
I don’t catch myself.
Mila
“Jase!”
He drops.
Hard.
I’m already there—
Already grabbing him—
But this time—
He doesn’t respond.
Not fully.
His eyes barely open.
“…Mila…” he breathes.
“I’m here,” I say quickly, panic rising now despite everything.
“I’ve got you.”
His hand shifts weakly—
Finds mine—
Tightens just slightly.
“…don’t… let them…”
“I won’t,” I promise.
“I swear, I won’t.”
Jase
Her voice is the last thing I hear.
Clear.
Strong.
Certain.
“I’ve got you.”
Yeah.
I know.
That’s why I let go.
Mila
“Get him up!” one of the Delta Five shouts.
They move in fast—
Lifting him—
Taking his weight—
But I don’t let go of his hand.
Not yet.
Not until—
They pull us toward the rope.
Toward the helicopter.
Toward—
Safety.
Maybe.
Gunfire continues below us as we lift off—
The world shrinking beneath us—
The danger still there—
Still chasing—
Still not over.
I look down at him.
At the heat in his skin.
At the way he’s not fully conscious anymore.
And fear finally breaks through.
Deep.
Sharp.
Real.
“Stay with me,” I whisper again.
But this time—
He doesn’t answer.