She Was Just A Child (PART 2)

CHAPTER 41: WHEN THE SILENCE BREAKS

The hum of the transport filled the cabin like a steady pulse, low and constant, matching the tension that had slowly built in König's chest since the moment they lifted off. He sat unmoving near the rear exit, arms crossed, helmet resting at his side. The mission was over. Quick. Efficient. Boring, even.

But König didn't feel peace. He felt... off.

Something itched at the edge of his senses like a half-heard whisper.

"Hey," Roze said from across the bench, her arms slung loosely over her rifle. "You good?"

He didn't look at her. "She hasn't checked in."

Roze blinked. "Dian?"

König nodded once. "Nothing since we left."

"She was supposed to be resting, right?" Roze shrugged. "Maybe she fell asleep."

"No," König said, his voice low and flat. "She doesn't sleep when I'm gone."

There was no panic in his tone-he never panicked-but the quiet undercurrent of control felt like it was beginning to slip. His jaw tightened.

Roze leaned forward, elbows on her knees. "We've only been gone a few hours. Base security would've triggered if she left the perimeter."

König didn't respond.

Because that was what bothered him most.

No triggered alarms. No signs of resistance. No motion alerts in the secure corridors.

Just... silence.

He didn't trust silence anymore.

---

By the time the dropship touched down, König was already halfway to the hatch. He moved with purpose-long, deliberate strides that made the other operators instinctively step aside.

He didn't speak. Didn't wait.

The second his boots hit the tarmac, he veered left toward the dormitory halls.

Dian's quarters were at the far end of the eastern wing. Isolated. Private. It had been a compromise. She didn't like people. Didn't like being watched. König had agreed-but only after reinforcing the security around her room himself.

He reached her door and keyed in the override.

It slid open with a mechanical hiss.

His eyes swept the room in seconds.

The bed was still made. No rumpled sheets. No evidence of use. Her spare boots were still neatly lined at the wall, untouched.

His gaze moved to her desk.

The rabbit charm sat in the exact same place he'd last seen it-right beside her transmitter.

Only the transmitter was missing.

And so was she.

---

"Status update." König's voice rang sharply through the comms. He moved quickly now, his boots heavy against the floors as he stormed through the control wing.

"Sir?" came the voice of the tech officer on duty.

"Where is she?"

"Dian?" The tech sounded confused. "Uh... hasn't reported movement since... hold on." There was a pause. Typing.

"Sir, her last movement was at 21:48 hours. East hallway. No check-ins after that."

"What about the cameras?"