Finally Wren arrived at a roadside and checking her smart watch it was twelve pm sharp. The screen glowed with the time, and Wren's eyes widened as she realized how much time had passed. It was relatively darker, the shadows cast by the trees stretching out like skeletal fingers. Since Wren was new to the outskirts of the city, she didn't know any navigation skill in mind. She had no one to contact, and she had men she didn't know if she could take down alone trailing behind. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the distant hum of insects.
She decided to climb a nearby tree which could hide her petite frame and hold her weight. The branches creaked beneath her as she ascended, the leaves rustling softly. And luckily she was up in the tree when the men came. "Scout the whole area in the forest, that girl can't leave today, or the boss wouldn't spare us. Those minerals are valuable materials and we can't lose it." "Roger that." The men's voices were low and menacing, sending a shiver down Wren's spine.
As the men left, Wren sat up in the tree, taking deep breaths. The air was thick with tension, and Wren's heart was still racing from the close call. She wanted to know more of this boss they spoke of, but she had a trip to catch up with. The thought of the bus and her journey ahead gave her a sense of determination. She got down momentarily after their departure and had prebooked a bus, so her main agenda was getting to the bus stop as fast as she could.
But fate wasn't on her side, as she was soon caught by a waiting figure from behind. "Got you little girl." He snickered, Wren recognized him as the man in the bus. "You caused us enough trouble but not today. I would teach you a lesson." The man's voice was dripping with malice, and Wren's instincts screamed at her to fight back. The man retorted before calling the rest of the team. Wren knew she was in big trouble now. It was either the mineral or her life.
Wren's eyes widened as the man grabbed her from behind. She struggled to break free, but his grip was too strong. She knew she had to think fast if she wanted to escape. With a swift motion, Wren used her weight to pull the man off balance. She managed to break free for a moment, but the man quickly regained his footing.
Wren knew she couldn't outrun him, not with the rest of the team closing in. She needed to think of something else. She recalled the chemicals she had gathered in the academy, specifically the smoke bomb. She had stored it in her bag, hoping to use it in a future mission.
With a quick rummage through her bag, Wren found the smoke bomb and tossed it at the man's feet. The smoke erupted, enveloping the area in a thick fog. Wren took advantage of the distraction to break free and make a run for it.
She sprinted towards the bus stop, the smoke cloud providing cover for her escape. She could hear the man's angry shouts and the footsteps of the team closing in, but she didn't dare look back.
As she reached the bus stop, Wren saw the bus pulling away from the curb. She sprinted towards it, waving her arms wildly to get the driver's attention. The driver saw her and slammed on the brakes, bringing the bus to a stop just as Wren reached it. She leapt aboard, slamming the door shut behind her.
Breathless and shaken, Wren collapsed onto a seat, her eyes scanning the bus for any signs of danger. She knew she wasn't safe yet, but for now, she was one step ahead of her pursuers. The smoke bomb had given her just enough time to escape, and she was grateful for the academy's training.
...
Meanwhile,Wren felt everything wasn't over yet as the driver took a brake causing her body to take a push. She saw the approaching men in black, and her heart took a leap. Weren't they tired, she was frustrated yet she needed to think fast in an escape plan. So before the men approached the bus, she activated a poison bomb to make those who inhaled the poison and had weak lungs faint easily. The air was filled with a fine mist that spread quickly, and Wren watched as the men stumbled and fell to the ground, clutching at their chests.
Then she snuck off from the back, before entering the bushes, hiding silently. The darkness enveloped her like a shroud, and Wren held her breath, listening to the sounds around her. It was two in the morning and Wren was getting agitated. The bus for the trip was supposed to take off at five, and a trip from the academy to the city was approximately four hours long. And here she was at the outskirt and men trailing relentlessly behind. She was getting really annoyed with these men who were like cockroaches - easy to kill but hard to get rid of. The comparison made her grit her teeth in frustration.
As she waited, Wren's mind began to wander to the mysterious boss the men had mentioned. Who was he, and what did he want with the minerals? She knew she had to be careful, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was in over her head. The silence was oppressive, and Wren's senses were on high alert, waiting for any sign of movement. She knew she had to stay hidden until the bus departed, and then she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. But until then, she was trapped in this limbo, waiting and watching.