Sincerely, Marlena

93

Sincerely, Lucien

The night was quiet as we approached the perimeter of East Ridge's territory, our breaths visible in the cold air. The city lights in the distance flickered like distant stars, a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding us. The mission was set to commence, and I could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on me. With Marlena and Rowan alongside me, I hoped we could get in and out without drawing too much attention.

Rowan's presence was a last-minute decision, and though I had initially bristled at the idea of additional oversight, it was clear Marlena's well-being was a priority. Her recent injury and the tension between us made it prudent to have someone else around. The last thing we needed was another complication.

As we approached the rendezvous point, Marlena fell into step beside me. Her focus was intense, her eyes scanning the area with practiced vigilance. Rowan trailed behind, his gaze shifting between us and the shadows that seemed to dance around us.

"Everything look clear?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Marlena nodded, though her face was tight with concentration. "For now. We need to be careful."

We moved silently through the abandoned streets, the crunch of our boots on gravel the only sound breaking the stillness. The East Ridge outpost was a few blocks away, its silhouette a dark monolith against the night sky. We had to be close, and the adrenaline was sharp in my veins.

Suddenly, Marlena stopped, her body going rigid. I glanced at her, noticing the change in her demeanor. Her breath came in short, uneven gasps, her hand reaching instinctively toward her own body as if trying to steady herself. The panic in her eyes was unmistakable, but she didn't offer any explanation for her sudden distress.

"Mar?" I called softly, concern threading through my voice. "What's wrong?"

She didn't answer immediately, her gaze darting around as if searching for something she couldn't quite articulate. Rowan moved closer, his expression unreadable but attentive. I could sense that he understood more than he was letting on.

"Just... just give me a moment," Marlena finally managed, her voice shaky.

Rowan's eyes met mine, and there was a brief, almost imperceptible nod. It was clear he knew something, but he chose not to divulge it. His protective instincts were evident, and his silence spoke volumes.

"Take your time," I said, trying to offer reassurance. "We're not far from the outpost. We can afford a short delay."

Marlena took a few deep breaths, her hands finally falling to her sides. She glanced at me with a forced, tight-lipped smile. "I'm fine. Just a little overwhelmed."

I didn't push further, sensing that pressing her might only exacerbate the situation. Instead, I kept my focus on our objective, knowing that our mission was too crucial to be derailed by personal issues.

Rowan maintained a vigilant watch, his presence a steadying force. As we resumed our advance, Marlena fell back into step with renewed determination. I could see the resolve in her eyes, though the strain of her earlier panic was still evident.

We reached our observation point without further incident, and the East Ridge outpost came into full view. The mission was far from over, but with Marlena and Rowan by my side, we were in a better position to navigate whatever challenges lay ahead.

As we began our surveillance, the events of the night weighed heavily on my mind. The unexpected panic attack, Marlena's cryptic reaction—there was a story there that she wasn't ready to share. For now, though, our focus had to remain on the task at hand. The safety of South Haven depended on the information we were about to gather.

The night stretched on, and the tension in the air was palpable. Marlena was back to her vigilant self, though I couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing beneath the surface. We would get through this mission, but I knew that the real challenge lay in understanding the secrets Marlena kept hidden.