𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 | ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫𝐬 ɪɪ | 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 | 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐫

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐄𝐠𝐚𝐧

𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

ANNE POV

The morning began like any other — the growl of engines, the smell of fuel, the clipped calls of mechanics moving through fog.

By midmorning, I'd set up the medical bay for incoming routine checks when the radio crackled.

"Plane down on approach. Repeat, one bomber down — smoke visible north of the field."

My pen froze mid-note.

The next sound was the distant roar — the kind that makes your chest tighten — followed by a flash of black smoke rising beyond the hangars.

Then came the shouting.

Within minutes, the doors to the infirmary slammed open. Two medics burst through carrying a stretcher — a body covered lo in oil, the smell of burnt metal thick in the air.

"Get me oxygen, now!" I ordered, snapping into motion before the shock could settle.

The nurses moved fast — instruments clattering, rubber gloves snapping into place.

As I reached for the patient's wrist, the soot cleared just enough for me to see the face.

Major Egan.

For a split second, the world went silent.

Then training took over.

"Pulse weak but present," I said sharply. "Shrapnel wound to the left shoulder. Possible concussion. Let's move!"

We lifted him onto the table. My hands didn't shake — not outwardly — but I could feel my heartbeat pounding behind my ribs like an engine trying to stall.

"Scissors," I said.

The nurse handed them over, and I cut through his torn sleeve. Blood welled around the embedded metal.