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

Chapter XXIII (TRIGGER WARNING)

"Wow. How mature. You people are a bunch of assholes," Mia mutters, and I can tell that she's at a loss for what to do. Mackenzie tries to get away and fight Tom, but it's no use.

By the time I spot the third man, it's too late. He approaches Mia from behind and knocks the gun right out of her hand in one swift motion, then throws his arms around her stomach and lifts her off her feet. Mia struggles, trying to kick the guy.

"Fuck you! Let me go, asshat!" She yells.

"C'mon, boys. Let's take 'em back," Stan says. The other two men nod and start dragging us away with them.

Not realizing that the entire time, the other half of our group has heard everything.

AVERY

Music: Ice River Run from Pac-Man World 2

After hearing the commotion taking place with Mia's side of the group, we look at each other and all know one thing: The rest of our friends are in danger, and we need to go after them before it's too late.

"Brielle, you stay here with the hovercraft. We're going after the others," Sam instructs Brielle. Brielle nods, not seeming too happy about the instructions she's been given.

Sam, Elle, Heath, Luke, and Skylar take off. I start running as well, but I'm immediately stopped when Brielle wraps both of her arms around me and starts pulling me back. "No, Avery. You're not going anywhere," she tells me sternly.

"Let go of me, Brielle!" I yell, struggling to break free of her grasp.

"No! I'm not going to risk losing you again!" Brielle yells back, her grip on me tightening more and more.

"LET. GO!" I shout, managing to break free of her grasp. I turn around to face my older sister, and I can just see the uncertainty in her eyes. So I tell her, "I can do this, Brielle. You have to trust me."

Brielle looks at me with hesitance, and I can just sense how difficult this decision must be for her to make. She's been doing everything she can to protect me over the past few months, and while I appreciate her concern, she goes way too overboard with it and embarrasses me, even if we're not in public. Plus, I'm not her baby sister anymore. She has to let me make my own decisions sometimes, and right now, I need to do this.

But at the same time, I understand why Brielle would be against this idea. After all, I have been kidnapped twice, which is probably what she meant by not wanting to lose me again. Besides, this is dangerous work. One wrong step and me and my friends could be done for.

After what feels like forever, Brielle finally takes a deep breath and shuts her eyes. When she exhales and opens her eyes, she tells me, "Alright, Avery. Go."

I don't waste a single second. I start running before Brielle even has a chance to change her mind. "Guys, wait up!" I call out.

"Be safe!" I hear Brielle yell to me from behind. My heart flutters a little bit. She's still looking out for me, but she's finally letting me do what I want to do, no matter what the risk could be.

What an amazing sister.

By the time I catch up to the others, we've come across an ice pond with several small platforms of ice. The six of us leap and run across them with a combination of precision and caution, while at the same time still keeping a brisk pace. At one point, Sam stumbles at the edge of a platform and nearly falls in, but his hero ends up being Elle, surprisingly.

"Thanks, Elle," he gasps after being pulled back to safety. Elle nods and nudges him forward, and the two of them waste no time catching back up to us.