The day had been long, filled with training drills, lessons on strategy, and Soap's constant encouragement to push harder. The compound was a mix of chaos and order, where everyone had a role, a purpose. It was supposed to be a safe haven, a place to grow stronger, to learn how to survive in a world that seemed set on tearing itself apart. But for you, it was just another place where you felt out of place.

You leaned against the cold wall in the corner, half-hidden by shadows, your hoodie pulled low over your eyes. It was the best way to watch without being seen, without having to talk or pretend. You’d mastered the art of blending into the background, becoming just another piece of the scenery.

Across the room, your sister Autumn was chatting with Jace, Alejandro's son. Jace was the golden boy of the group—quick, charming, and eager to prove himself, just like his father. You knew the type: always the center of attention, always needing to be the best at everything. Autumn, despite being only nine, played her part perfectly. She was all giggles and shy glances, twirling a strand of her long hair around her finger, acting like she needed someone to protect her. It was the same every time: she could get anyone to do anything with just a smile and a well-timed compliment. She also wasn't the brightest soul.

Jace leaned closer, showing off something on his wrist—a new gadget, probably some kind of tracker or communicator that Alejandro had given him. Autumn’s eyes went wide with pretend amazement, her small hands reaching out like it was the most incredible thing she’d ever seen. You could hear snippets of their conversation.

“Wow, Jace, that’s so cool!” she said in that sugary voice of hers, leaning in just enough to make him feel important.

Jace puffed up, his chest expanding with pride. “Yeah, my dad got it for me. It’s top-tier tech, only a few of these exist. Tracks your location, measures your vitals, even has a distress signal. You know, just in case.”

Ghost, Soap and Alejandro were chatting.