Somewhere else in those dungeons, Jason and Nick were also running away from something, as they dragged a seriously injured Corporal Merwin with them.

No matter how many bullets they fired, that strange entity kept chasing them...

Several times he had asked them to leave him behind, but Jason had promised he wouldn't leave anyone behind as long as he still had breath.

Just then, a call from the radio caught the attention of the marines.

《...that's Rachel!》  Nick looked over at Jason, clearly worried about her; the first lieutenant answered her call for help, but got no more response.

However, the signal indicated that her position wasn't very far from theirs and so they resumed running, hoping to meet with the whole group...
But when they reached a cave with a deep cliff, the only person they encountered was Colonel King.

《What happened to Rachel?》  Nick asked after joining him, now in despair.

《We...we were ambushed by the enemy...he opened fire on us and...Rach...she fell.》  Eric headed for the cliff as he staggered back and forth, shocked at what he had just done.

Eric had cut the rope that tied him to Rachel to avoid falling with her...Nick tried to call her name in vain, because no voice came out of there.

But they didn't have time to stop and cry, as something else was approaching them and they absolutely had to keep going.

《We need to fall back. Now!》  Jason screamed and so the group of four men withdrew inside a temple.

Although the situation had calmed down, they couldn't rest at all; as for the injured one, Merwin was leaning against the wall adjacent to the main door, which they decided to close to avoid being vulnerable.

《Slow down. He could still be here.》  Of course, Eric was referring to the Iraqi enemy, but Lieutenant Kolchek was forced to reply that was the least of their worries, thus capturing Colonel's attention.

《You believe in God, sir?》  When Jason asked for that, Eric denied it.

《Absolutely not.》

《Well, start believing. We are under attack by...I don't know what, you wouldn't believe me even if I tried.》  When he told that, Jason still had an incredulous expression on his face.  《Hell...I don't believe it and I was here.》

There, Eric couldn't help but notice that he was distracted, as if he had something in his head he couldn't get rid of...

《Lieutenant. May I ask what happened to Officer Hale? I remember seeing her with you during the Iraqi attack...》

Again, the marine's certainties broke when he heard your name, in front of that sudden question.

《Don't know, it's since we sunk down here that I can't get in touch with her.》

Jason seemed to have lost something important...still, Eric King ignored that feeling, as there was much more to think about in that moment.

《I see. You're obviously confused, but you cannot allow yourself to be affected by it...what if she were–》

But suddenly, Jason took a step toward Eric, interrupting his speech.

《Y/n isn't dead. Not yet.》

In that moment, Nick was distracted by that immense view, but not enough not to hear his friend's words, which left Eric speechless.

《I saw what happened to Rachel and she didn't make it, how can you think an academy girl like her could have survived alone? That's bullshit Lieutenant, she's not even a soldier!》  Eric raised his voice suddenly, clearly annoyed by Jason's manners.

Until the sergeant got in the way too.

《No, Rachel died because of you and always you got us into this mess! You better get us out.》  Nick spoke harshly to the colonel, who looked at him hatefully and arrogantly.

《Do you want to repeat that?》  But Nick didn't, and even Jason was forced to restrain himself from further provoking Eric.

《Mpf. That's what I thought.》

Of course, their situation was more complicated than it seemed and arguing was certainly not the best option...but soon, the silence returned inside the temple as the artificial lights suddenly went out, putting the three men on guard.

Apparently, they weren't alone, someone was spying on them all the time; by now, for that small group of soldiers, it was difficult to figure out who the real enemy was.

While Eric watched over Corporal Merwin, Jason and Nick scoured the temple's main hall and they found the generator that King had repaired with his wife, some time ago.

《...someone's taken a serious dislike to this thing.》  Nick spoke first as he watched the sparks crackle from there.

《Sabotage?》  Jason asked.

《Looks it. Watch my back.》  Nick put down his rifle and leaned over to try to put the panel back in place, where some wires had been strangely cut.

As for him, Jason waited for him to finish the job.

《...》

《Ow! Shit!》  Nick cursed loudly as he got an electric shock, catching the attention of the other.

《Stop fucking around. Hurry up!》  The boy with the cap ordered sternly when he heard the sergeant complain.

《...you're still pissed about what he said earlier, right?》

Suddenly, Nick asked without taking his eyes off the generator; though Jason kept to look around, he understood perfectly and for a moment he turned to peer at his friend under the visor.

《Eh. You should have looked at yourself first buddy.》  Jason chuckled briefly, before turning serious again  《But that's it, I can't stop thinking about Y/n. I don't even know where the fuck she is and if she's really okay. And now, we just needed these fucking monsters to make our shit worse...》

Nick just nodded with his head down, agreed that those things weren't human; anyway, hearing his friend speak in that way made him thoughtful.

Damn Jason, Clarice has disappeared before our eyes...and now Rachel, how much hope we still have before we can find Y/n...

But Nick regretted his thoughts almost immediately and the two Marines broke off the conversation when he repaired the generator and all the lights around turned on again...

Anyway, Nick managed to guess what he was thinking in his head when heard Jason talking on the radio with the colonel.

《Dropkick, this is Mailman Two-One Actual. We're heading deeper. Over.》  The blond on the other side of the earpiece agreed to proceed, closing the call.

On the contrary, the idea of ​​giving up looking for you was completely foreign to Jason Kolchek, as took the first step into the dark and unknown corridor ahead of him.

• • •

After resuming regular breathing, you turned to the stranger who saved your life.

《...thanks for—》

But you froze when you noticed he was wearing a matching green uniform, the same one used by Iraqi soldiers.
You stepped back abruptly but the pain in the wound made you fall backwards.

However, the soldier did nothing but raised both hands in the air.

《Don't worry, I have no intention of harming you.》

Despite his words, you watched him carefully so as not to miss any suspicious movement on his part.

《How do I know you won't do it later? We are enemies, after all.》  You said without letting your guard down...

But nothing happened.

《Believe me, our ethnic differences are the last issue right now. There's nothing more important than getting out of this place alive.》

Well, he was the first Iraqi who didn't try to kill you and you could talk to...maybe, you had made some progress compared to before and for this you giggled nervously.

《Well, your friends thought differently. As you can see, they didn't spare themselves to do this to me...》  Of course, you said referring to the bruises that had formed on your face, along with the dirt and blood; besides, your clothes were tearing and you had nothing else to use to be able to defend your body properly.

At that moment, the soldier approached you slowly; he could guess who did that to you and thought you were also lucky to be able to escape from his Captain; Dar hadn't spared himself even on a young girl like you, he thought compassionately.

《Anyway, we need to think about that wound now. Can you get up?》  Suddenly, the man proposed after seeing the condition of your leg.

Then, he held out his hand to help you stand up and you accepted it with some gratitude, really hoping his intentions were good.

《Yes, I think.》  But when you tried to stand up again, the wounds on your leg forced you to sit on the piles of stone that were nearby; your skin burned terribly and you had nothing to disinfect yourself with.

Damn it, I left the first aid kit in my backpack!

Anyway, you would have stopped the blood even without that and so you tore the right sleeve of your top to wrap it around your injured calf with a tight knot, biting your lower lip to fight the pain.

《...I believe it can go for now. Hope it doesn't get worse.》  You added in a low voice, maybe not to show yourself even more pitiful than you already were, especially in front of that Iraqi soldier, who had done nothing but stare at you with a worried look.

《Don't worry, I won't leave you behind.》  After that, the soldier brought his open palm towards you.  《Let's try to get out of here by helping each other...do you agree?》

In that moment, you thought it was the right thing to do, because you couldn't go on alone, now aware of the presence of that strange creature; so, you reciprocated the gesture by crossing his hand with yours.

《Okay, let's do it.》

Just then, he introduced himself as Salim Othman, Lieutenant of the Iraqi Ground Forces; now that you thought about it, you had heard that name from the bastard one and his face reminded you of the soldier who stood in front of Jason with the rifle down.

Of course, he could say the same about you.

《Well, we met just before the earth sank beneath our feet...you were with that soldier, right?》  When Salim said that, he was clearly referring to Jason and you simply nodded.

《Yes, he tried to help me despite everything.》  There, you put a hand on your chest and felt your heart was beating fast again.

《I really hope he's okay.》

Salim saw you worried about him and smiled genuinely, but he couldn't help but hope that even the US soldiers were aware of what was happening there and that there was no need to continue this damn war between them...anyway, he pulled a lighter out of one of his many pockets, as he thought about it.

But you looked at him with a weird face.

《...do you really wanna walk in the dark with just that?》  From your pants pocket, you took out your flashlight, the only thing you had left after the chase and still worked, fortunately.

《You just said, we have to help each other so let me do this, at least.》

Salim turned to look at you, not having noticed your determined tone earlier, but he was still offended by your answer.

《Hey, this tiny light has saved my life a couple of times so far, just like this metal stake! Don't underestimate anything.》

When he said that, you parted your lips when noticed he had a long metal bar with a pointed tip tied on his back.

《W-wait, don't tell me that you–》

《Yeah, I killed a demon with this.》  He explained letting you see his weapon...after he found himself in the ruins of an ancient temple, he accidentally lost his rifle and when he was chased by one of them, he killed the monster with a metal stake by sticking it in his chest.  《Also, I saw its skin catch fire when the sunlight touched it. This is their weakness.》

You kept listening to him as Salim gave you information about those strange creatures. As you thought, there were others, unfortunately...

《Like any living being, they can be killed. A stake through the heart.》

《It may be stupid, but they almost look like vampires. And those canines...》  You suddenly said, maybe trying to name those monsters, but in that moment Salim paused to stare at you.

《That's definitely what they are. I've never seen anything like it before and to think they've been here all this time...》  He answered you with a serious look.

Does he really believe they are another species on this earth?? ...well, I'm not so sure about that...

Suddenly, you tripped on your feet by mistake, but Salim was already ready to grab you and put his arm around you.

《Sorry, the wound still burns, but I think I can keep up with you.》  You said looking down, feeling a little uncomfortable, but the Iraqi one's expression softened.

《No problem, lucky I was able to find you down there.》  He said walking with you, but without letting you go.  《Can I ask you why a girl like you was there? You don't look like a soldier at all.》

When he said that suspiciously, you left a chuckle out.

《That's because I'm not. I'm just a warrant officer of the US Army who didn't think find herself in the midst of an armed conflict...》  When you told why you were there, Salim listened to your story without saying anything and thanks to that, the pain to your calf stopped tormenting you for a while.

《I see. In the wrong place at the wrong time...is that what they say in your language?》  Anyway, Salim seemed worried more about that than looking at the pathway ahead of you two, but fortunately you were the one carrying the flashlight.

《Yeah. Such a great ass, uh?》  You said that ironically, but hoping he didn't despise your jokes so much.

《Uhm, what about you...why were you there?》

You felt like you asked a silly question, the answer was obvious, as it was obvious that he was on that mountain too, shooting at your group and was better for both of you not to think about it now.

Definitely, the black-haired man's response surprised you.

《I decided this was going to be my last fight. I don't want to have anything to do with war anymore...I have a son who is waiting for me at home.》

Salim looked in front of him, while you listened to him in silence. Then, you placed a palm on his shoulder.

《Well, that's a good reason to fight one last time now. You'll see him again soon, trust me.》

It was hard to believe, but Salim was relieved to have found someone to lift his spirits, especially after he was swallowed up in that godforsaken place...

Thanks to you, he had thought about his son Zain and this gave him greater confidence and strength to continue the road to safety, although it was full of risks and dangers that, unfortunately, neither you and him didn't know yet, but that most probably could have faced together.

...wait for me, Jason.

You thought as you accelerated your pace decisively.