An Unexpected Ally

Maybe they thought Ken and I had no chance of escape, which was why they didn’t bother restraining us. We were shoved into an off-road vehicle, enduring a rough ride for what felt like an eternity until we entered a valley nestled between two mountains. During the journey, I couldn’t help but notice the vastness of the island, with opium poppies blooming everywhere across the mountains. As the car finally came to a halt, I caught sight of numerous wooden huts and large tents scattered throughout the valley. This was a huge operation. When I turned my gaze in the other direction, I beheld an entire field brimming with poppies. Under the radiant sunlight, those flowers appeared breathtakingly beautiful. But behind their allure lay unspeakable wickedness. Bang! Bang! Bang! Gunshots. Ken clung to me, fear etched across his face. I covered his ears and traced the source of the noise. Not too far away, a young girl with short hair, a toned physique, and clad in snug camouflage attire was fir