Operation M.I.A: Missing in Action (IN NEED OF REVISING)

Chapter XVII

Because I don't know how many more of them I'm going to get.

After another minute of walking, Elle starts slowing down for almost no reason. When Sam backtracks to join her, she points through a small crack in the trees and says, "I think I see another cabin through there."

"Why do all of our opponents pick the most obvious of places?" Mia mutters to herself as we walk through the small crack.

ELLE

Music: Don't Leave Me Alone from Nemesis 2 MSX

Somehow, I have this natural instinct of sensing danger ahead of time. Whether it's some sort of supernatural human instinct or just something I get lucky with, I'm always able to predict an attack ahead of time. For example, every time we walk into a field or open area, I always just know that something or someone is about to attack us.

And 99% of the time, I'm right.

Now, while this isn't the exact same situation, it's close enough. I spot a cabin through the trees, which is good enough evidence to me that something is going to happen if we investigate. Despite this, we investigate anyways.

Yeah, we're not your average group of early teens.

Unlike most cabins we've visited, this one actually seems to have a purpose. The first vibe I receive from the cabin is that someone uses it primarily for hunting. Inside are a few small cabinets for food, a hanger for either weapons or coats, and a lion fur rug lying on the floor. A single bed rests in a corner, and only two other doors can be seen from here.

The only thing the cabin's really missing is... occupants. This emptiness, combined with the fact that none of us are speaking, really creates a unsettling ambiance. We disperse and check around the cabin. As expected, I stay with Sam the entire time. The two of us first walk to the other two rooms to check them out. A quick peek inside the first room reveals absolutely nothing.

But inside the second room, which is a pretty small bathroom, there actually is something to be found. A mid-teen girl is sitting in the bathtub, curled up into a ball, sobbing into her arms. Her hair is a fairish brown color, and she wears a gray sweatshirt and jeans. Neither Sam nor I recognize her, though.

She looks up at Sam and I, and asks, "W-who are you?"

"We're here to take you home," I reply softly, bending down to be at eye level with this girl. "What's your name?"

"Kylie," she replies, sniffling.

Sam and I help Kylie to her feet and walk back into the living room. Sam starts to say, "Hey, we found a captive," and is shushed by Avery.

"What?" I hiss.

Avery points to the other room. Sam and I peek our heads inside for a second, more thorough, look, and find a large, brown bulldog sleeping on a dog bed. A sign labeled, "WARNING: BEWARE OF DOG" is hanging above it.

"That's the hunter's dog. He likes to leave it in charge whenever he's out doing something. It's specially trained to attack intruders if disturbed," Kylie explains.

"Y'know, I'm not surprised," Mia sighs.

The rest of the team proceeds to lead Kylie outside, asking her questions. Some of them she's able to answer, others, not so much. However, something catches my attention, so I don't join them right away.

Above the bed are three different pictures. All three feature the same two men, neither of whom I recognize. One pictures shows the two of them flying in a helicopter, the one in the middle depicts them being out in the wild with hunting rifles, and the third one shows them in front of a very large building of sorts. The building almost looks like a corporate building, so this one has me interested.