I•C•E// r.s.l.❣

2.3

"Bravery never goes out of fashion. That is a very nice way is saying that bravery will always remain in the world. Another statement is that bravery is the state of being the only person who knows you are afraid. So basically, bravery is not the lack of fear but assuming control it.
The world as we know today is based not only on peaceful solutions but sadly on wars as well. So the very first example of bravery I can give you of is of military bravery. Imagine the soldier lying in the trench, rifle in his hands, bullets flying above his head, explosions sounding in the background. He knows that the very next he may take may be his last. But it's his bravery and courage which pushes him forward eventually enabling him to grab victory. "

"Bravery is measured in voices - decibels even. Because we all know that low, sad whisper in our minds that will stop at nothing to fill you with fear, to stop you from doing what you're doing. Well, fear shouldn't push you down, it should wake you up for that millisecond where whatever you have just done does not matter, and that is what our six brave men and women are doing right now." David spoke. The helicopter was silent, as we all had our tiny ear devices put on to hear what he had to say back at the HQ. "They may all come back tonight, some may not, or we may lose some of the best spies to have ever touched down on this organisation. But they volunteered to run into enemy fire to save one, just one other spy-"

"We aren't actually running into enemy fire, right?" Ellington broke the silence, and we all chuckled. It was his first proper mission; shame it was a difficult one.

"Bravery is what is setting them apart from ordinary people, to heroes. And we wish them the best of luck tonight. May they be watched over and spared, to come back home as heroes." He finished his speech quickly, chugging water as the spies clapped.

He only did this speech if he knew that people weren't going to come back alive. The last time he did this, 10 spies were sent on a mission.

Only one came back 'alive'- brain dead.

I looked at each individual face of my friends. Casey and Sierra were chattering, Riker had his hand on his gun, Rocky stared into space and Ellington looked terrified.

It was funny how everybody changed when the stakes were raised. Hell, I wish I could see myself in a few moments.

We were given guns, grenades and all that jazz along with a bulletproof vest. Attached to these were little cameras, in which what we came across could be broadcasted at the underground base. They could also watch from iPads, and switch from person to person.

Technology was evolving nicely at the organisation.

"10 seconds to landing."

It astonished me how fast they tracked Athena. When I brought her back, she had a chip implanted in her arm along with everybody else which helped detect where you were as long as you were alive. To find out she still breathed, was a relief.

The back door opened, 6 ropes descending down to the top of the building Athena was trapped in. We all slipped on gloves and grabbed a rope, praying for the best.

Fear only properly hit me when my boots hit the ground, the impact finally getting to me that this is one of the few missions where I wasn't depending on myself alone. That despite youngest, I was in charge.

The helicopter then landed, and we met together.

"What now?" Casey asked, her eyes glassy.

"We go in, in pairs. One at the front, one watching behind. I don't know the plan of this place, but once I do, I'll spread the word." I locked eyes with them all. "Do your best. Good luck."

I went with Ellington out of choice, mainly because I wanted to look out for him otherwise my sister would lynch me (the irony).

Finding an entrance was easy, walking in the dark wasn't. I feel as if this was a hospital before; despite it slowly decaying, it had that weird hospital smell.

I stopped dead in my tracks, Ellington bumping into me. "What?"

I looked around. "Voices."

Athena Carmichael

"Let's play a game." Tobias, was his name. "It's an adaptation of truth or dare; truth or kill."

"How does that work?"

"We'll ask each other questions, when we feel that one is lying, we can hurt that person. The biggest liar, dies." One of the men behind me untied my hands. I felt my wrists, which now had rope burn. "You should feel right at home."

His presence didn't frighten me one bit. He thought it did, but I was just a good actress. "I'll go first. Why are you here?"

"To kill you."

"Then why haven't you done that?"

"Because it wouldn't be fun." He smirked. If he wasn't some sadist, narcissist loser, he's be kinda cute.

"My go." He sat down dangerously close to me, his hands now on my thighs. I sighed, why are all guys such creeps? "Do I scare you, lovely?"

"Even if you tried." I snorted.

"Then why are your legs shaking?" He winked, and brought his fist to my face. The impact of the punch most likely sprained my neck, but it gave me a view of something.

The little balcony that overviews the room. And the two people crouched behind it, guns at the ready.

"My turn." I spat some blood out beside me. Tobias smiled. "You have a red dot on your arm."

"No I don't." The moment he turned, he was shot on the arm. I smirked as he cried out in pain.

"I think she was right." Ross appeared, Ellington beside him. As I looked at all the available exits, my friends appeared. "Game over, let her go."

"No, no- the game is not over!" Tobias cried out.

"You need some serious-" the moment I stood up, he held me at gunpoint. "Be that way."

"You move and she dies." He grinned. "New game."