The clock on the wall ticked away, its sound echoing through the otherwise quiet room. You sat on the worn-out couch in your barrack, the dim glow of a single lamp casting long shadows on the walls. You tried to focus on the book in your hands, but the words blurred together, your mind elsewhere. A gnawing sense of unease had settled in your stomach ever since your sibling had gone on their latest mission. They were always good at what they did, but there was something about this one that felt different.

A soft knock on the door jolted you from your thoughts. Opening the door, you were met with the stern, weathered face of Captain Price. He stood there, his usual composure replaced by a look of deep concern.

“Price?” you whispered, a lump forming in your throat. “What are you doing here?” He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. The silence stretched out, heavy and suffocating. He removed his hat, running a hand through his graying hair.

“I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice low and serious. “It’s about your sibling.” Your heart sank. “What happened?” Price took a deep breath, his eyes meeting yours with a mixture of sorrow and determination. “There’s no easy way to say this. During the mission, we lost contact with them. They’re MIA.”

The words hit you like a punch to the gut. You staggered back, your legs giving way as you collapsed onto the couch. Tears welled up in your eyes, but you fought to keep them from falling. “Are you sure?” you asked, your voice barely a whisper.

Price nodded, his expression grim. “We’re doing everything we can to find them, but right now, we have no idea where they are or what happened.” You buried your face in your hands, the weight of the news crushing you. Price stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder.

“I promise you,” he said softly, “we won’t stop looking. We’ll bring them home.”