They stepped out into the storm. Rain lashed sideways across the open ground, turning the dirt into slick mud that sucked at their boots with every step. Jenna kept her rifle up, eyes narrowed against the downpour as thunder rolled overhead. The rival stronghold loomed ahead, its outer fences illuminated by erratic spotlights that fought against the weather. Bullets whistled past them almost immediately, snapping branches and kicking up sprays of water from the ground.Dean moved first, signaling them forward with a sharp gesture. Jenna stayed close behind him, her side wound pulling tight with each stride. The collar fed her the others’ states in real time: Alex’s steady determination despite the fresh stitches on his shoulder, Lily’s focused breathing, Elena’s sharp calculations, and Dean’s unshakeable resolve. Their heartbeats synced tighter under the pressure, creating a single rhythm that pushed them onward like one living machine.A guard appeared from behind a stack of fuel dru
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