Chapter 124: Chapter 124: The City Strikes Back
Just as things seemed to be falling into place, the city made its move. It started with a series of small, coordinated attacks on the outer edges of the slums. Patrols were ambushed, supply caches destroyed, and safe zones were raided. The strikes were surgical, precise—meant to destabilize the growing resistance.
"They're testing us," Ty said grimly as he, Cole, and the rest of the crew gathered to discuss the latest attacks. "They want to see how we react."
Cole nodded, his jaw clenched in frustration. "They're trying to weaken us, keep us on edge. We can't let them."
"They're hitting us where we're vulnerable," Maria said, her brow furrowed. "We need to shore up our defenses, make it harder for them to get in."
Zack, always ready for a fight, cracked his knuckles. "Or we could hit them back. Show them we're not afraid."
"We can't get reckless," Lina warned. "That's exactly what they want. If we start making mistakes, they'll capitalize on them."
Cole leaned over the map spread out on the table, his mind racing as he considered their options. The city was hitting them hard, but they couldn't afford to overextend themselves.
"We need to be smarter," Cole said finally. "We're not going to win by playing their game. We need to force them to play ours."
Maria nodded. "Agreed. But how do we do that?"
Cole's mind churned as he thought about their next move. The city had the upper hand in terms of resources and manpower, but they had something the city didn't—knowledge of the slums. They knew every alley, every building, every shortcut. That was their advantage.
"We make them come to us," Cole said, his voice firm. "We set traps, lure them into areas where we have the upper hand. We use the slums against them."
Zack's grin widened. "Now you're talking my language."
Lina crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "It's risky. But it could work."
Ty nodded, his face set with determination. "Let's make them regret ever stepping foot in our home."
---
The crew spent the next few days setting up their defenses. They reinforced barricades, set traps, and created decoy safe zones to lure the city's forces into ambushes. It was a dangerous game, but they had no other choice. If they were going to survive, they needed to fight smarter, not harder.
As the city's forces moved into the slums, they were met with resistance at every turn. The traps worked, catching patrols off guard and disrupting their movements. Cole's crew hit them hard, taking out small groups of soldiers and disappearing before reinforcements could arrive.
The city was growing frustrated, their strikes becoming more erratic as they tried to regain control. But the slums belonged to Cole and his crew, and they weren't about to let it go without a fight.
---
One night, after a particularly successful ambush, Cole and Lina found themselves alone again, sitting on the rooftop of one of the fortified buildings. The adrenaline from the battle was still coursing through Cole's veins, but for the first time in days, he felt a sense of calm.
"You did good today," Lina said, breaking the comfortable silence.
Cole glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "We all did."
Lina's expression softened, and for a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something more. But instead, she just smiled back and leaned her head against his shoulder.
Cole didn't say anything, but the warmth of her presence next to him was enough. In that moment, despite the chaos and the uncertainty of what was to come, he felt... at peace.
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