The Opposition

sit still

The world exploded into chaos around them. Bullets tore through the air, shattering the fragile peace they had hoped to find. The cold ground bit into Alexa's skin as Aiden shielded her with his body, the weight of him pressing her down as he tried to protect her from the onslaught.

"Aiden, get off me!" she hissed, her voice barely audible over the deafening roar of gunfire. She struggled against him, her instinct to fight back overwhelming the pain in her leg. But Aiden didn't budge, his focus locked on keeping her safe.

"Not a chance," he growled, his voice tight with strain. "You're not getting yourself killed today, Lexa."

Before she could respond, another wave of gunfire erupted, and Aiden cursed under his breath, tightening his grip on her. The soldiers were closing in, their dark silhouettes moving like shadows through the trees.

"They've got us pinned down," Adam's voice cut through the chaos, his tone grim as he crouched beside them, his eyes scanning the treeline for an opening. "We need to fall back to the base, but they're blocking our route."

"We can't just sit here and wait to be picked off," Aiden retorted, frustration evident in his voice. "We have to move."

Adam nodded, glancing at Alexa with concern. "You think you can make it?"

Alexa gritted her teeth, forcing herself to push past the pain. "I don't have a choice."

Aiden shot her a look, one that held a mix of anger and grudging respect. "Stay close to me, both of you," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We're going to make a run for it."

The plan was simple, but the execution was anything but. As soon as Aiden signaled, they bolted from their cover, Aiden leading the way with Alexa and Adam close behind. The gunfire intensified, bullets striking the ground around them as they sprinted towards the base.

Alexa's heart pounded in her chest, each step sending a jolt of pain through her injured leg. But she pushed through it, focusing on Aiden's back as he led them through the chaos. She couldn't afford to think about the pain, or the fear that gnawed at her gut. All that mattered was surviving.

Aiden fired off a few shots as they ran, his aim precise despite the chaos. He was fierce, determined, his focus unshakable. For a moment, Alexa found herself admiring his strength, the way he commanded the situation with an intensity that was both terrifying and impressive.

But there was no time to dwell on it. They reached the base just as the soldiers closed in, their shouts growing louder as they realised their prey was slipping away. Aiden kicked the door open, ushering Alexa and Adam inside before slamming it shut behind them.

The inside of the base was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. It was cold, dimly lit, the air thick with tension as the remaining members of the opposition huddled together, their faces pale with fear. Maeve was already there, her eyes wide with relief as she saw them.

"You made it," she breathed, rushing over to help Alexa as she collapsed against the wall, her leg finally giving out.

"Barely," Aiden muttered, his chest heaving with exertion. "They're right on our tail. We need to lock this place down."

Maeve nodded, already moving to rally the others. Alexa watched as she took control, her calm demeanour a stark contrast to the panic that had gripped them all. Maeve had always been the steady one, the rock that kept them grounded, and now more than ever, they needed that stability.

As Maeve barked orders, Aiden turned to Alexa, his expression hard to read. "You okay?"

She nodded, though her leg was screaming in pain. "I'll manage."

Aiden's eyes flicked to her leg, his brow furrowing with concern. "You need to rest. We can't afford to have you out of commission."

"I'll be fine," she insisted, though she knew he was right. She was pushing herself to the limit, and it was only a matter of time before her body gave out completely.

Adam knelt beside her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "Lexa, you need to listen to him. We need you in one piece."

The warmth of his touch, the concern in his voice, it was enough to make Alexa's resolve waver. She knew they were both right, but admitting it felt like a defeat.

"I know," she finally conceded, her voice barely above a whisper. "But we're not safe here. They'll find a way in eventually."

Aiden's jaw tightened, a flash of anger crossing his face. "We're not going to let that happen. We'll hold them off as long as we can, buy ourselves some time."

Adam nodded in agreement, his eyes meeting Alexa's with a determination that sent a shiver down her spine. "We'll figure this out, Lexa. We always do."

She wanted to believe him, but the dread that had settled in her gut wouldn't go away. They were cornered, outnumbered, and running out of options. And no matter how much she tried to push it down, the fear that this might be the end was starting to take hold.

"We need to secure the perimeter," Alexa said, his tone all business as she turned to Maeve. "Set up defensive positions, get everyone armed. We're not going down without a fight."

Maeve nodded, already moving to carry out her orders. Aiden watched her for a moment before turning back to Alexa and Adam. "You two stay here. I'll take care of this."

Alexa bristled at his words. "I'm not just going to sit here and do nothing."

"You're not in any condition to fight, Lexa," Aiden shot back, his eyes narrowing. "You need to let us handle this."

Adam's hand on her shoulder tightened, a silent plea for her to listen. "He's right, Lexa. We can't afford to lose you."

She wanted to argue, to fight back, but the exhaustion was catching up to her. She could feel her body protesting, the pain in her leg making it clear that she couldn't keep pushing herself like this.

"Fine," she relented, her voice bitter with frustration. "But you better come back in one piece."

Aiden's expression softened, just a fraction, as he nodded. "I will."

With that, he turned and left, his footsteps echoing through the dimly lit room as he joined Maeve and the others in preparing for the inevitable attack.

Alexa watched him go, a mixture of anger and something else—something she didn't want to acknowledge—churning in her chest. She hated feeling so powerless, so out of control. But there was nothing she could do except wait and hope that they could hold the line.

Adam stayed by her side, his presence a small comfort in the midst of the chaos. He didn't say anything, but the warmth of his hand on her shoulder, the steady rhythm of his breathing, it was enough to keep her grounded.

"We'll get through this," Adam said quietly, his voice filled with a quiet determination that Alexa envied.

She nodded, though she wasn't sure if she believed it. But for now, she had to hold on to that hope, no matter how fragile it was.

As the sounds of the battle grew louder outside, Alexa closed her eyes, willing herself to stay strong. They had survived this long, they had faced worse, and somehow, they would survive this too.

But deep down, she knew that nothing would ever be the same after this night. The government had found them, and they wouldn't stop until every last one of them was dead or captured.

And as much as she hated to admit it, Alexa wasn't sure if they were strong enough to stop them.