Chapter 85: Fighting to Survive

The night exploded into chaos. The air was thick with the crackle of gunfire, the sharp staccato of bullets ricocheting off rocks and trees as Ava and the team fought their way through the narrow, rocky terrain. Every step felt like a race against time, every breath a struggle to survive. Ava’s heart pounded as she ducked behind a boulder, her weapon raised. Meridian’s operatives were relentless, their figures barely visible in the darkness as they pressed forward, guns blazing. They had known this mission would be dangerous, but the scale of the ambush had caught them off guard. Their only hope was to reach the extraction point before they were overwhelmed. “Keep moving!” Ava shouted over the din of gunfire, her voice sharp with urgency. “We need to reach the ridge!” Lucas was at her side, firing back with deadly precision as they moved from cover to cover. His face was grim, his jaw clenched in frustration. He hadn’t spoken much since they’d realized the safe house was a trap, but