Chapter 5
The words hit the yard like a shot.
Several soldiers turned toward Torres.
Ava kept going.
“When my team was hit, I was trapped under the second vehicle. I watched two men walk through the smoke. One of them checked my pulse.”
She stared straight at Torres.
“He said, ‘Leave her. She won’t last an hour.’”
Torres’ lips parted.
Ava’s eyes did not leave his.
“I remembered your voice.”
For the first time, Torres looked scared.
Harris stepped between them, his face turning dark with rage.
“Sergeant Torres?”
Torres snapped, “She’s lying!”
Ava pulled out a small black recorder from the file.
Old.
Dented.
Wrapped in tape.
“I hoped I was.”
She pressed play.
Static filled the yard.
Then a man’s voice crackled through.
Cold.
Familiar.
Torres’ voice.
“Target package confirmed. V-9 is on route. Payment clears tonight.”
The entire base went dead silent.
The recording continued.
Another voice asked, “Any survivors?”
Torres answered, “Not after sunrise.”
A soldier in the back whispered, “Oh my God.”
Torres lunged for the recorder.
Ava moved faster.
She caught his wrist, twisted, and drove him to one knee in the dust.
May you like
“You should’ve lowered your voice.”
Read Part 6 to see what happened when Torres tried to call her a ghost story.
