Ethan followed the trembling informant through a hidden hatch on the floor of the village storehouse.
One Falcon stood guard over the bound accomplices, his rifle leveled at their heads, while Jason finalized the ambush positions. Falcon 2 and 3 sprinted toward the ridges, their silhouettes disappearing into the swirling snow to relocate the heavy birds.
Ethan descended a narrow, stone-carved staircase that reeked of damp earth and rot. As he reached the bottom, his flashlight cut through the oppressive gloom, revealing a long corridor lined with iron-barred cages.
It was a haunting sight. Dozens of women and young girls were huddled together on piles of straw. They were of varying ages and builds, but all shared two things in common: they were covered in grime and bruises, and despite their suffering, they possessed a striking, ethereal beauty that explained why they had been targeted.
