A Partisan's Fight - COMPLETED!

Chapter Forty-Seven

Content Warning: Graphic results of violence.

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As usual, Aldrik had been right. It was getting too dark to really find any kind of a trail. Besides that, they had no idea what they were looking for other than a body. There was no distinguishable tracks, and, without having Albtraum to help them, it was pretty damn impossible to locate any other trace of him.

"Mina, this is going to be impossible. We cannot call out to him without possibly alerting the guards that brought him out here. This is just too dangerous." Aldrik rubbed his forehead as they trudged through debris.

"We have to find him. We cannot give up." Her heart felt like it was being squeezed. All the things that she could have told him were spinning through her head. She couldn't let the last moment she had with him be their typical morning routine of leaving for guard duty. The least she could have done was forgive him. It had been that simple. A small gesture that could have been said in a matter of moments, yet here she was. A woman looking for a man with only guilt and worry rooted deep within her. "We have to split up."

"Out of the question. Have you lost your mind, Mina? If those men found you they would kill you!" He beamed her with his flashlight before pulling it away enough for her to see the worry radiating from his face.

"I will be all right, Aldrik. Just stick close enough to hear me when I yell. I still have my knife on me. It is alright." She squeezed his arm and gave him a reassuring smile.

"You think trying to make me feel comfortable with you wandering out at night with vengeful guards on the loose will make me change my mind? No, Mina. I will not have you putting yourself at risk." He shook his head obstinately. He had a valid point, but this was far from being a typical mission. All of their lives were at stake. They had to make choices. Sacrifices.

"Thankfully, I am of age to make my own decisions, Aldrik. I love you like a brother. As far as I am concerned you are my only family left. Let me do this." She rubbed his cheek before taking a step back.

He was battling with the idea. It was as plain as day in his face. Finally he nodded. "If there is any sign of trouble, you get back to that truck and you lock those doors. Do you understand me?"

Nodding, Mina remained serious. This was no joking matter. There was nothing funny about stumbling around in the dark, looking for someone who may have several blood-thirsty men surrounding him and watching for their next victim. This may have been her home, but she was still at war and war changed rational people. These were beyond irrational times. "I will. I promise."

He gave her a curt nod before going his separate way.

Mina watched him for a moment, before turning and heading toward where the bakery used to be. They'd already searched much of the area, but the bakery, the local grocery store, and a small development had yet to be combed through. If they were to find him, those would be the last areas to check. They wouldn't have another opportunity until the next evening to search if they didn't find anything tonight.

Mina held the flashlight out. She looked around the rubble, not seeing much other than a lot of broken building pieces. There was shattered glass everywhere. Bricks lay blown up in piles of dust and broken boards. Sighing, she tried to remember everything Aldrik had said. This was the only suburb that she knew about that had been destroyed. This had to have been where he was. They made an example of him. Aldrik's words echoed through her mind. There were many ways to deal with traitors. One prime example was hanging them up for everyone to see.

The realization struck her. They were looking at this all wrong. They were focusing on finding a body within the rubble, not hanging up for the world to see. She stumbled over the broken down wall of the bakery. She was able to walk right through it while looking at the stars. The roof had been ripped clean off. She shined her light around any form of beam that would work to hang someone from. Still not seeing anything, she moved to the back of the building and gasped.