Success of the Broken Banner

Chapter 24: Lifeline

 Barely forty-eight hours had ticked by since we razed TEO to smoldering ash. Kilo sprang into action, coordinating temporary housing for our survivors in a vacant barracks until we decided what our best options were moving forward. Their faces, once etched with despair, now flickered with cautious hope. It was jarring, this sudden influx of life amidst our once desolate routine. Until now, I feared we three were all that remained.

While Kilo embraced the light of their presence, I burrowed deeper into the shadows. My world narrowed to a single, crucial task: ensuring Echo pulled through. Every heartbeat, every ragged breath, was a battle I vigilantly monitored. Kilo would relieve me occasionally, urging me to get out of the darkness and enjoy some sunshine, converse with the new faces that filled the base. My self-imposed exile was always short-lived. Kilo would chuckle upon my return, calling me stubborn while shaking his head, yet never forcing me to stray far or long.

"He needs you," Kilo's voice broke the stillness as he stepped into the room. "Go. Recharge. Be among the living for a while." My gaze clung to Echo's peaceful face, his chest rising and falling in fitful sleep.

"Call me if...just call me if anything changes."

"I always do." Came Kilo's steady reply as he took up my vigil beside Echo. My hand squeezed his shoulder, a silent thank you, before tearing myself away.

I traversed the compound with my eyes cast down, boots scuffling against the dusty earth. Every step felt like a gauntlet, the weight of unseen stares prickling my skin. Whispers hung in the air, a constant buzz of unspoken questions. They all wondered about the ordeal I'd endured, the experiment that had left me with eyes that mirrored the Lurkers beyond these walls. Yet, no one found the courage to voice their curiosity aloud.

That changed the moment I entered the mess hall. A woman locked eyes with me, the same one the guards had used as a human shield. Her gaze clung to mine as I moved toward the kitchen, only releasing me when I slipped from view.

Exhaustion gnawed at my stomach, but the thought of cold soup turned my gut. I settled for a can of mixed vegetables instead, the scrape of my knife against the can echoing through the silence. With a fork in hand, I returned to the tables, claiming a solitary seat by the window. As I ate, my mind wandered back to Echo, to the endless wait for him to awaken.

The sound of boots behind me broke the trance, followed by the screech of a chair and a hissed curse. The woman from before slid into the seat across from me, a tentative smile on her face.

"You're the one who went all knife crazy on those guards, aren't you?" she asked, eyebrow arched. I managed a nod, my gaze drifting back to the window. "Thought so. You look different...after what they did to you."

"Can I help you?" The words came out sharper than intended, my eyes snapping back to hers. She flinched slightly, taking a hasty gulp from her cup.

"No, I just...I wanted to say thank you." Her voice held a quiet sincerity. "You saved all of us back there."

A pang of guilt struck me. "I'm sorry," I muttered, rubbing at my forehead. "My head's a mess right now."

"I get it," she said softly. "I saw you and Kilo bringing that guy into medical. He's someone important, huh?"

"He's my partner," I rasped, my throat tight. "Took multiple bullets for me...he almost didn't pull through. Now it's just a damn waiting game."

"That's rough," she said, her voice heavy as she exhaled. Her fingers drummed a staccato beat against the wooden table. "I'm sorry."

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken questions. I speared another bite of flavorless vegetables with my fork, the woman mirrored my action across from me as she took a drink. Her eyes, a deep shade of green, held a burning curiosity. She took another sip from her cup, then set it down, seeming to gather her nerve.