BENEATH THE SURFACE

Lena's POV I could sense the weight of the occasion enveloping us like a thick blanket as we gathered together to plan. Though the air was thick with stress, it also carried something else: will. Before, we had stared down the sinister shadow of Sergeant Beckett; today it seemed different. This is related personally. "Okay, everyone, pay attention!," Finn's voice grabbed us out of the noise. "We must treat this very seriously. Beckett will not offer us another chance. I looked about the improvised gathering and saw our allies' concerned faces. While some were familiar—like Mara and Jacob—others were fresh, a patchwork of courageous souls pulled together by a common purpose. I became somewhat accountable for every one of them. They counted on me, on us. "Lena," Finn said, staring straight at me. "He is looking for you specifically. We should make use of that for our benefit. I ate hard. You want me to be bait? The idea set me off in terror. "Yes, but we will be ready," he said, his gaze calm. "His behavior is what we have witnessed. We can trap him if we can call him out. "What if it doesn't go?," said Jacob cut in, worried about something. "What if he sees it coming?" Then we'll adjust, Finn said, relentless. We still have to try, though. Our best shot is this one. Their expectations felt as weighty down on me. "Okay," I responded, my voice stronger than I felt. "But I need you all to swear to keep near. I would not do this by myself. Mara nodded and started to approach closely. "We will be right there with Lena. There are others fighting this as well. Her words set a spark in my chest. Lena the terrified girl was no more just now. Lena was the warrior; she was ready to face challenges. Still, under that bravery, I harbored uncertainty. Suppose I lacked the strength required? I felt a flutter of hope among the terror as we polished our scheme. We would reverse Beckett's own methods on him. Every element we covered helped the sense of purpose to develop and I knew we had a chance. Night fell and the battlefield was unnaturally calm, the turmoil of the past replaced by a tense serenity. An uncomfortable mood was created by the dancing shadows the flickering torches created around us. Each of us braced for action as my heart hammered in my chest behind the cover of ancient trash. "Are you prepared, Lena??" Jacob murmured, his words hardly heard. I inhaled deeply to help me to relax. As ready as I'll ever be. "Remember, the moment he shows up, we have to follow the strategy," Finn said in a sobering tone. "No heroics." "Got it," I said, even though I yearned to face him squarely. But I knew better. I have to pay close attention. As we waited, minutes seemed like hours and the tension grew like a coiled spring about to snap. As uncertainty started to seep in, a familiar shape surfaced from the darkness. Beckett moved on, his assured walk reflecting little of the prior turmoil. "You are Lena," he said, his voice full of contempt. You couldn't resist the spotlight, I knew. I looked at Finn and Jacob. It was this. " Beckett!!" Heart pounding, I yelled, moving outside the rubble. "You no longer scare me!" He laughed; the sound was terrible. "Beautiful words for a girl without anywhere to run." "Maybe," I said, trying to straighten myself. But I have no fear of your games or you. "Foolish, really," he remarked, sounding patronizing. "But I'm pleased to comply if you want to play." Rising his hand, he indicated to his men concealed in the darkness. They suddenly sprang out, encircling him like wolves poised to attack. Though panic shot through me, I stayed still. Now! Finn yelled, and the others answered right away. We promptly started our ambush. My heart pounding, I ducked and avoided, surprising the closest soldier with my gunfire. But I turned and saw Beckett's icy stare fixed on me, a predator stalking his target. "Lena!," Jacob yelled, his voice piercing the clamor. I hardly had time to respond as Beckett shot ahead. "You're not going anywhere!" he shouted, iron-like gripping my arm. An adrenaline surge tore across me. " Let go of me!" Hurrying against him, I yelled. But as I battled, he tightened his hold and I felt a flash of agony in my shoulder. You think you can escape? he growled. Without your buddies, you are nothing. I started to suspect that at the same time. Was he right? Could I really be nothing without my buddies? I saw Jacob sprinting toward me, his eyes wide with terror, just as terror began to overwhelm me. "Lena!?" Get back! Driven to shield him, I yelled. But Mara showed behind Beckett, her motions quick and exact before I could respond. She yelled determinedly, then tackled him from behind, sending the two of them down to the floor. I started to feel relief. She cried, "Go!" The fire in her eyes lit a feeling of direction within me. Leveraging the anarchy, I wrenched out of Beckett's grasp, driven by adrenaline. Running for Jacob, I grabbed his hand and yanked him clear of the chaos. "Lena, we cannot be leaving Mara!" Jacob objected, panic tingling his voice. She will be alright. We have to get back together! My heart racing, I persisted. Shouts, gunfire, and the collision of bodies surrounding us as we ran—aspects of battle. The urgency of the moment drove us ahead, but in the rear of my mind I couldn't get rid of the anxiety Beckett would find us once more. When we arrived at the brink of the battlefield, our allies were reorganizing. Finn was barking commands to guide our last fighters. Lena, Jacob!" He yelled as we got closer. "You really did it! WHERE is Mara? "She's holding Beckett back!," I said With a tight voice. "We have to assist her!". Finn's face grew firm. 'No! We have to retreat. We cannot afford to lose anybody else. We have to be smart about our counterattack planning. Although we want one. His words sank in and I sensed the collision of feelings inside me. While Finn was correct, I wanted to save Mara. We cannot charge in a blind manner. "I cannot just walk away from her!" Desperate scratching at my neck, I said. "Neither can we," Jacob murmured, massaging my shoulder. Still, we have to be strategic thinkers. Beckett cannot be let to prevail. They were right, as much as I detested to say. Mara was tenacious and not prone to giving up quickly. I said, "Okay," my voice faltering. "We must, however, move quickly." Our heads were filled with a strategy, and we reassembled with our allies ready for our next step. As we got ready, the seconds passed like hours, adrenaline coursed through me. I sensed the suspense rising once more as we neared the battle scene. Though the air was thick with anxiety, as we progressed I could see Mara still battling, holding her own against Beckett. Her will in her eyes set something within me. Now, each of us was battling for another—our lives, our hopes, our future. Whispering to Jacob, "This is it," I felt a fresh sense of direction. We enter and divert his attention; Mara moves. He nodded, a stinging glance in his eyes. "Let's do this." We broke onto the battlefield and caught Beckett's eye. " Hey, Beckett! " I yelled, my voice crystal clear. "You believe you can pull us all down?" His eyes narrowed as he turned to meet us, fury in them. You return for more? Stupid children. Though I felt the weight of his words, instead of dread I felt rage building inside me. "We are not retreating this time!" Mara grabbed her opportunity at that same moment. She sprang at Beckett, taking advantage of the diversion. The two of them crashed, and I saw her fight with everything she had. Lena, Now, Finn yelled, bringing me back to earth. Hurrying forward, we moved to surround Beckett as he wrestled Mara. Though I could see the desperation in her eyes, I also sensed strength. She was standing her ground, but it wouldn't last very long. My aim was true, I fired my weapon at Beckett in one quick motion. The bullet hit him in the side, and he staggered back screaming in agony. "Get away from her!." Jacob cried out, his voice urgent. Mara pushed against Beckett, leveraging surprise as a tool. Lena screamed fiercely, "Now, Lena!" We shot ahead together, our united might overpower him. As we collaborated and pushed back, I experienced the excitement of success.