"If those thugs manage to get their hands on better equipment... No, it's almost certain they will. These guys scavenge every day, looting their neighbors' homes, killing anyone they can find. Their stockpile must be huge by now. If they're willing to pay the price, they can get whatever they want."
Nova's expression darkened as he muttered to himself. "If they get their hands on those kinds of weapons, I'm not sure we'll survive the night."
His eyes were clouded with helplessness. He hadn't done anything wrong. All he wanted was to survive, keeping a low profile and planning for the long haul. And yet, here he was, on the edge of disaster.
"Chief, is it really that bad?" Lin Yue asked softly, noticing the shift in Nova's demeanor.
"Yes," Nova sighed deeply and then explained his concerns. "The thugs have been scouring the area for weapons and supplies. If they find something deadly, we won't be able to hold out much longer."
Lin Yue stayed silent, while Li Ya glanced between them, seeming hesitant before speaking up.
"Boss, I have an idea... but it's dangerous."
"Tell me!" Nova's eyes lit up. Desperation pushed him to grab at any chance to change their dire situation. If those thugs had their weapons and blocked the door again, they were finished. The shelter, just a small living room, wouldn't last long against flamethrowers or grenades.
Li Ya took a deep breath. "It could work, but it'll need Lin Yue to take a risk."
Lin Yue looked up, meeting Li Ya's gaze. "What do you mean?"
"Among the three of us, you're the best fighter," Li Ya continued. "It's nighttime, which works in our favor for a stealth operation. If you go outside and draw their attention, we can launch a two-pronged attack—fighting from inside and out."
Lin Yue nodded in agreement.
"However, there are risks. One: the thugs might set up guns to guard their positions, and if we open the door, we might lose our only defense. Two: if we don't get this right before dawn, you'll be exposed. Once the sun rises, they'll spot you immediately. If that happens, escaping will be nearly impossible, and if you die out there, it's game over for us in here too."
Nova stared at her in silence, the weight of Li Ya's words sinking in. Was he really going to send one of his own to die? Lin Yue had been his comrade for days, and the thought of losing her now was unbearable. But the numbers were against them, and the shelter was a sitting duck. What other choice did they have?
"We can do this!" Lin Yue suddenly spoke up, determination in her voice. "Li Ya is right. If I go, I'll hold them off as long as I can. I'll buy us enough time to make it to noon."
Nova's expression tightened. "You'll die out there. It's a suicide mission."
Lin Yue smiled faintly, her eyes full of resolve. "I'm not afraid to die. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you alive, Chief."
Nova was torn. His heart screamed to stop her, but his mind knew it was their best shot. He couldn't deny the grim reality—this was the only way.
"But how will you get out?" Li Ya asked, clearly concerned.
Lin Yue turned to the window, her gaze flicking to the dark sky. "Through the window."
"Can you handle it?" Li Ya asked, eyebrow raised.
"I've got this," Lin Yue said confidently, giving a playful wink. "Climbing walls and walking rooftops? That's basic soldier training."
"Lin Yue, this isn't a drill. You don't have a safety rope, and the conditions out there are deadly. You could fall—"
"I know the risks," Lin Yue cut her off. "But we don't have time for hesitation. Just protect the Chief!"
Without waiting for further protest, she moved swiftly to the window. She pulled open the curtain, lifted the window frame, and let the night air rush in. Slipping out, she jumped from the ledge, her movements smooth despite the heat from the pipes and air conditioning units beneath her. The heat was intense—she could feel it sapping her strength, the danger of falling at every step.
Nova rushed to the window, his heart pounding in his chest. He watched her climb across the perilous edge, every move a calculated risk. One wrong step, and it was over.
"Lin Yue!" He shouted, but she was already gone, disappearing into the shadows of the night.
"Boss, get back!" Li Ya pulled him away from the window, her tone urgent. "If they're setting up outside, you'll be a target standing here!"
Nova clenched his fists, torn between anxiety and the cold realization that Lin Yue was their only chance. "Trust her," he whispered under his breath. "This is our only chance to survive."
"Boss, I know it's hard, but sometimes, to survive, we need to make impossible decisions," Li Ya said, her voice calm but firm. "Don't be soft-hearted. If we hesitate, we're dead."
Nova nodded slowly, his heart heavy. "I know. But... I'm still human."
He forced himself to focus. "I just have to believe she'll make it."
Li Ya was right. In times like these, being too soft could get them all killed.
As they waited, silence fell over the room. The tension was suffocating. Nova tried to stay calm, but the minutes dragged on, stretching his nerves thinner by the second.
Morning was approaching, but there was no sign of Lin Yue. Had she made it out alive? Was she hiding somewhere?
Suddenly, a sharp, rapid burst of gunfire echoed from above, snapping Nova out of his thoughts. The fight had begun.