CHAPTER SEVEN: BETWEEN TWO FIRES
505 Words
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*Chapter 7 – Between Two Fires*
The morning sun pierced through the tall glass windows of the Rousseau estate. Liana sat at the breakfast table, her hands trembling as she poured tea. Across from her, General Rousseau read the state bulletin with his usual stiff composure. Every sip he took felt like a clock ticking louder in her mind.
“Sleep well?” he asked, eyes not leaving the paper.
“Yes, Father,” she replied, voice barely above a whisper.
He hummed, flipping a page. “I hear Lucien returns tomorrow. I’m sure you’ll be glad.”
She forced a smile. “Of course.”
But inside, her stomach was a storm. Kael’s revelations echoed in her head. Her father—her pillar of honor—possibly at the center of a m******e. And Lucien? The charming officer she had promised herself to?
Liana excused herself early and slipped into her study, locking the door behind her. Her breath was shallow as she retrieved the old floor plans of the army archive from her drawer. According to Kael, the missing file had been hidden after the Varnholm operation—tucked into the restricted section that only high-command personnel could access.
She would need clearance. And timing.
Her heart pounded as she sent a coded message to her cousin Mara, an assistant at military intelligence: *“Need a favor. Archive clearance. Discreet. Will explain.”*
She couldn’t risk giving details. Not yet.
By afternoon, she received a reply: *“Meet at the South Gate, dusk. Come alone.”*
At dusk, Liana changed into a plain brown cloak and left through the servant’s exit. She arrived at the South Gate, where Mara waited nervously under the flickering lamp post.
“You’re lucky I trust you,” Mara said. “This clearance is for 30 minutes. No copies, no photos. What are you looking for?”
“Something buried,” Liana replied. “And I’m not sure I want to find it.”
Mara gave her a look. “Be careful, Lia. If this is about your father…”
“It’s about the truth.”
Minutes later, Liana entered the dimly lit archive room. Her fingers brushed over the thick spines of military records. When she reached Section 4-R, her breath caught.
“Varnholm Deployment – 3rd Division.”
She opened the folder. Most of it was routine.
Until she found it.
A field report—unsigned, undated—but clearly written by someone on the ground. It spoke of resistance to orders. Of children in the line of fire. Of fire raining down despite no hostiles in sight. One line struck her deepest:
*“Commander Kael Idran refused. He was detained. The remaining officers carried out the directive without question.”*
She clutched the paper to her chest.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Someone else was in the archive.
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*Next: Chapter 8 – The Silent Witness*
Liana must escape unseen—but someone already suspects her. Shall I continue?
- Writer
