The air was thick with smoke and death. It clung to Maria’s skin, filled her lungs and made her eyes burn. Gunfire and screams cut through the night, sharp and endless. The world around them was nothing but flames, bullets, and blood.
She and Gerald moved fast, dodging bodies, weaving through the wreckage of war. Their boots crunched over broken glass, twisted metal, and fallen men, foes and friends alike.
Every step was a risk.
Another explosion rocked the ground, sending up a spray of dirt and debris. Maria ducked instinctively, her heart hammering in her chest.
Gerald’s voice cut through the chaos, steady despite the madness. “Snipers on the south ridge. Two on the upper balcony. Machine gun nest near the east tunnel.”
Maria nodded, gripping her rifle tighter. “Got it.”
She moved
