After the heated battle, Richards and the surviving members of his squad retreated back to their apartment, their adrenaline still pumping from the intense firefight. They moved swiftly and efficiently, checking their surroundings for any signs of lingering danger.
Inside the apartment, they took a moment to catch their breath, the weight of the recent encounter evident in their sweat-drenched brows and labored breathing.
"Are they the ones that are attacking the facility, Mr. Williams?" Richards said, glancing at William who had a troubled expression.
"Yeah, they are the ones," William confirmed.
"Well, it seemed like they followed us. It's dangerous to stay here longer, we have to move out and resume our journey."
"Uhm…Captain," Edward interjected. "Are you serious? It's literally dark outside. We won't be able to see anything in the way and risk another encounter."
"So you are saying that we should stay put until dawn, which is more dangerous because we don't know if that's only them. Who knows, there could be hundreds of them flooding into the city within an hour. I don't want to risk staying here, Edwards, we have to move."
The tension in the room escalated as the squad debated their next move. The weight of their exhaustion and the uncertainty of the situation hung heavy in the air. Richards knew that every decision he made could mean life or death for his team, and the responsibility weighed heavily on him.
"We can't afford to wait here until dawn," Richards reiterated firmly. "If they followed us once, they could do it again. We need to take the initiative and get out of here. It's not like we are going blind here; we have Ahmad," Richards said, extending his arm toward Ahmad.
"I know the way sir," Ahmad assured. "Even if it's dark."
"See!" Richards exclaimed in a determined tone. "We have Ahmad, and he knows the way. Trust in his skills, and we can navigate through the darkness."
"Well, you are the captain, sir, you decide, we follow," Edward said, acknowledging Richards' leadership. The rest of the team nodded in agreement, their trust in Richards unshaken.
Richards took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their trust and the gravity of the situation. He knew the risks involved in venturing out into the dark, unknown territory, but they had come too far to turn back now.
"Thank you, everyone," Richards said gratefully.
The team began making final preparations, checking their weapons, adjusting their gear, and loading up the horse-drawn carriage with their supplies.
Richards approached the young girl, crouching down to her level.
Ahmad nodded and began speaking to the young girl in Arabic. She seemed hesitant at first but then started to share her story with him. Ahmad turned to Captain Richards and translated her words.
"The man who attacked us gave her bread in exchange for telling us where we were, sir."
"Wait what?" Richards furrowed his brow, trying to comprehend the gravity of the situation. The revelation sent a chill down his spine, knowing that their movements had been betrayed by someone they had encountered.
"Are you sure, Ahmad?" Richards asked concernedly.
"Yes sir, the girl gave out our location in exchange for bread," Ahmad reiterated.
"Oh how evil they are," Richards clenched his fists angrily. "To use a kid for their sinister purposes," Richards continued with frustration evident in his voice.
"Antonio!" Richards called, and Antonio promptly stepped forward, ready to assist his captain.
"Sir, what can I do for you?" Antonio asked, his eyes showing concern for their current predicament.
Richards took a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking. "We still have some of the biscuits not yet opened right?"
"That is correct sir…" Antonio said, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Why are you asking?"
"Well, you see Antonio, the men who attacked us earlier had used this poor little girl as a pawn," Richards explained and continued. "They gave her bread, probably one of our rations, to coax her into revealing our location. They exploited her innocence for their own sinister purposes."
Antonio's eyes widened in disbelief and fury. "Those heartless monsters! Using a child like that," he seethed, his hands clenched into fists.
"So can you bring me those biscuits, and bottled water also so I can give it to her," Richards said.
"Right away, sir," Antonio replied. He swiftly retrieved the biscuits and a bottle of water from their supplies and handed them to Richards.
Richards returned to Layla, who was still sitting quietly, unsure of what to make of these soldiers who had suddenly entered her life. He crouched down and offered the biscuits and water bottle to her with a warm smile.
"Layla, these are for you," he said gently, pointing to the food and water. "Go home now, and don't talk to strangers. Is your home near here?"
Ahmad translated Richards' words, and Layla looked up at the kind captain, her eyes brimming with gratitude. She nodded, clutching the provisions to her chest.
"Yes, my home is nearby," Ahmad conveyed Layla's response.
"Good," Richards replied, offering a reassuring smile. "We will leave now, okay, we don't want you seeing you again or following us and giving our location. Return home as soon as we leave this city, is that understood?"
"She said okay, sir," Ahmad said.
Richards nodded, satisfied with Layla's response. He stood up and signaled to his team that it was time to go. They couldn't afford to linger any longer in the city, not with the threat of the attackers potentially closing in on them.
Outside the apartment, Richards barked orders to his team as they mounted their camels respectively.
"Keep your eyes peeled, everyone," Richards commanded as they mounted their camels. The squad members took their positions, alert and ready for any sign of danger. "Our rules of engagement remain the same. Shoot if there is a clear indication of a threat."
"Hurrah!" The soldiers under his command responded in unison.
With Ahmad leading the way once more, the squad set off through the vast desert terrain. The night was still dark, but the moon's soft glow provided some visibility.
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