Page 105 of Rescuing Sophia

“Oh, right.” I laugh. “My mistake. Maybe it’s Iron Man then?”

We continue our descent, each meter gained a victory against the storm and gravity. The sounds of combat from above grow fainter, replaced by the crash of waves below. We’re close now. So close.

Throughout the perilous journey down, I keep the superhero narrative going. When we pause for the RUFI to reset our ropes, I tell Luke we’re using our ‘Spidey-sense’ to find the safest path. When the rain lashes at us, I say it’s Aquaman trying to give us a boost.

Despite the danger, despite the storm and the sheer drop below us, Luke relaxes his death grip, and he looks around with curiosity rather than fear.

“Are you a superhero?” he asks as we near the bottom.

I smile down at him. “Nah, I’m just a regular guy. But you know who the real superhero is?” I pause for effect.

“No.”

“Your mom. She’s the bravest, strongest person I know.”

As we continue our descent, I can’t help but reflect on the weight of Luke’s words. The innocence of a child, coupled with the harsh reality of what he and Sophia have endured, makes our mission feel even more crucial. We’re not rescuing hostages; we’re reuniting a family.

After what feels like an eternity, my feet touch solid ground. I stumble, my legs shaky from the descent and the weight of Luke. Around me, I hear the others landing, their breathing heavy and ragged.

“That was awesome! Can we do it again?” Luke looks up at me, his eyes shining.

“Maybe next time, buddy.” I can’t help but laugh, relief and amusement washing over me. “Bravo team is coming down now, and we don’t want to be in their way.”

One by one, the rest of my team touches down. Walt with Sophia, who collapses to her knees the moment she’s on solid ground. Violet looks shell-shocked but alive.

The rest of the team, including the RUFI, are all accounted for.

“Command,Charlie team is on the ground,” Ethan calls in our progress.

“Copy that, Charlie team. Bravo is on their way.” CJ’s voice crackles through our comms. “What’s your status?”

Ethan looks around, taking a quick headcount. “All packages secured. Requesting immediate evac.”

The storm surges, the wind driving sheets of rain against the cliff face, and the water below churns, slamming against the rocks. There’s almost no ground—except for a jagged outcropping of rocks that juts out from the base of the cliff. The sea crashes against it, sending sprays of cold salt water into the air.

I glance back up at the looming cliff we just descended, barely able to make out the figures of Bravo team on their way down. The compound is lost in the storm above, but the faint sound of ongoing combat continues. Alpha team is giving Malfor’s men a run for their money and will be the last to exfil.

“Charlie team, this is HQ.” CJ’s voice comes through, thick with static. “Exfil chopper is en route. ETA three minutes.”

Those three minutes stretch into what feels like an eternity. We take up defensive positions, eyes locked on the cliff top, muscles tense, waiting for any sign of pursuit.

The distant sound of an approaching helicopter reaches us.

It emerges from the darkness like a ghost, its rotors slicing through the night air, hovering just above that jagged outcropping of rocks. A single line drops down, swaying in the storm’s fury.

My heart pounds, and my muscles tense.

The wind howls, the storm almost mocking our situation as Itighten my grip on Luke, the kid trembling in my arms. His small hands clutch at my gear, knuckles white. Earlier, when we were scaling down the cliffs, I joked with him about playing superhero. It got him to laugh—just a little—but now, with the water crashing against the rocks below and the storm battering us, his fear creeps back in.

“One line, everyone clips in. First four with the rescuees.” Ethan’s voice crackles through the comms, steady as ever, cutting through the chaos. “We go in pairs. Move fast. Stay together.”

I glance toward the jagged rocks jutting out ahead—the only place solid enough to get a foothold. The water surges, slamming against the base of the cliff, the spray soaking through my gear. I shift Luke in my arms, forcing my voice to stay light.

"Remember, we’re still playing superhero, right? Gotta make a quick dash and catch that rope." His wide eyes meet mine, and I give him a quick wink before nodding toward the outcropping where the helicopter lines whip violently in the wind. “Then we fly through the air.”

“Fly?” Luke tries to put on a brave face, but he trembles in my arms.

"On my go," Ethan orders.

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