Recruiting Allies
The new safehouse - a dimly lit basement in an abandoned factory - was silent, except for the rhythmic dripping of water from a leaky pipe. Zara sat on the floor, wrapping a makeshift bandage around her arm where a bullet had grazed her during their escape. Elias stood near the window, peering out at the shadowed forest beyond, his mind clearly elsewhere. “We can’t do this alone,” Zara said, breaking the silence. Elias turned to her, his expression unreadable. “We’ve come this far without help.” “That was survival,” Zara countered. “This is war. If we’re serious about dismantling the Collective, we need more than just the three of us.” The driver, leaning against the wall with her cigarette smoldering in the ashtray beside her, nodded in agreement. “She’s right. The Collective’s networ
- Writer
