Spy # 13

Eye-Centered

In haste, Jason rushed toward Jane and called out, “Jane, I’m here.”

When Jane saw his tall shadow standing in front of her, a spark of hope returned. Her tears slowly faded as she struggled to calm herself. In a soft, trembling voice, she asked, “Where have you been? I thought you had already left me. I can’t understand what I’m feeling right now. I just want to go home, Jay.”

Her eyes looked weary, and her voice cracked with pain as she begged him to help her return home.

Without giving a long explanation, Jason gently placed his hands on her shoulders and said, “I’m so sorry. I wish I could take you home right now, but it’s not that simple.”

Jane began to sob uncontrollably and held him tightly, as if afraid to lose him again. The two had started to develop a sense of connection and stared seriously at each other. Jane lowered her eyes, bowing her head as she faced her legs. She couldn’t understand what she was feeling, so she began to ask him.

“Why are you here?” Her eyes searched his for an answer.

Before he moved his lips to respond to her question, he stepped down and stood closer beside her.

“I am a soldier from the United States Air Force,” he said.

His brief answer left her confused, so she continued, “And why are you alone now? Where are your companions?”

Before he continued giving her a few details, he asked her, “What made your soul come here?".

“I am an intern journalist from the Philippines. I am here to prove that I am worthy of the profession I have chosen. I want to witness a real battle with my own eyes. I am determined to uncover the truth behind the shadows of terrorism rumors and understand your country’s position in this conflict.”

After she introduced herself with such conviction, Jason took her hands and looked at her seriously.

“You’re a woman,” he said, his voice filled with concern. “You’re fragile. You shouldn’t risk your life for a purpose that may only bring you a crown of glory. Here, your crown could either be fame or death — and you have only a twenty percent chance of surviving.”

As soon as he finished speaking those harsh but honest words, he suddenly carried her away from the darkness of the cave, determined to lead her toward a glimmer of hope.

When they finally stepped outside, a familiar face lifted his spirits.

A woman was standing near a bike, waiting quietly in the open air.

The woman riding the bicycle, her curly hair swaying in the wind, was Jason’s former colleague, Everette Anderson. Her well-toned figure reflected the discipline of her intense workouts at the gym. She tossed away the last stub of her cigarette and turned her back, preparing to continue her ride toward the mountain.

Just as she was about to get on her bike, Jason called out, “Everette.”

She stopped abruptly.

The familiar voice stirred something deep within her. Without hesitation, she hurried toward the sound, her heart pounding. A wide smile formed on her face as she ran to him, breathless and gasping for air by the time she reached him.

When she finally stood before Jason, she carefully studied his face. Then her gaze shifted to the girl he was carrying. Concern quickly replaced her smile. Acting swiftly, Everette examined the girl and offered immediate assistance. She held Jason tightly and asked anxiously, “Jay, what happened to you?”

Her eyes scanned the girl once more before she pointed toward a car parked a few steps away from the cave.

“Jason, we need to take her to the hospital.”

Jason looked confused and asked, “Hospital?”

“Yes,” Everette replied firmly. “There’s a small clinic here.”

Inside the car, Everette reached beneath the pedestal and retrieved the snacks and drinks they had left there earlier. He quietly began to eat while holding Jane close, spooning her in the stillness of the confined space. They shared the food in silence until they were both full, the atmosphere inside the car thick with unspoken thoughts.

When they had finished, Everette let out a slow, heavy sigh.

“What happened?” she asked gently.

Though her voice was soft, the disappointment in her tone was unmistakable. Instead of pressing him further, she gave him time to steady himself, allowing him the space to gather his thoughts before responding.

Despite the warm welcome, Jason remained silent. Instead of responding, he gently tapped her shoulder, stepped into the driver’s seat, and drove off at high speed. It was the strangest behavior Jane had ever seen from him.

Everette was taken aback, but she knew she had no reason to object. She simply shook her head and slid into the seat beside Jane. From that single gesture, she understood what her comrade intended—Jason was in a hurry, ready to take immediate action regarding Jane’s situation.

Jane said nothing, yet her pale face and trembling hands revealed everything she tried to conceal. The silence inside the car was deafening. Though no one spoke, each of them could hear the noise of their own troubled thoughts, all overshadowed by Jason’s quiet intensity and the unfathomable depth behind his silence.

The air itself seemed to move in harmony with Jason’s urgency, as if determined to help him reach the patient without delay. Within moments, they arrived at the nearby clinic Sergeant Everette had mentioned.

From the outside, the clinic looked incredibly small—barely the size of a two-person bedroom. Jason couldn’t help but wonder whether the patient would receive adequate care in such a place. It appeared isolated, hidden among the mountains and far from passing travelers, almost too remote to properly serve its purpose.

Everette hurried ahead of Jason and approached the door confidently. Raising her brow slightly, she gestured with her left hand and called out, “Hey, brother, come inside.”

Jason, momentarily caught off guard, followed her closely.

When the door opened, they were met by a soldier who carefully observed them before signaling for them to enter. The entrance required a security code before it unlocked. Seconds later, a blue elevator opened before them.

Everette pressed “U2” — the second underground level. As the elevator descended, both Jason and the patient were astonished by the impressive and unexpected design hidden beneath the clinic’s modest exterior.