Letter to maria

pte

Withou

tened, and measured. He grinned every time she avoided a question. His silent campaign was fueled by every lie she told to keep herself safe. He didn't want her to bow down. He wanted her to fall apart. Maria stood on the balcony that night and let the icy wind sting her skin. Under Leonardo's quiet scrutiny, she could feel the perfect, polished, and dangerously fragile false life beginning to buckle. She seemed to be mirroring everything. Her privacy had been taken away. Yet she remained silent. Leonardo was reading in his bed inside. He was shielded from the darkness he was orchestrating by the warm circle of light cast by the lamp. He gave Maria a knowing, but not friendly, smile when she entered. His voice seemed to be filled with love as he said, "Come to bed." She was hesitant. She then silently entered the building after dimming the balcony lighting. Even though play had begun, this was not a chessboard. In whispers, glances, and shadows, this was war. Additionally, neither could afford to lose. As the sun set behind the jagged mountain

thered her team as the night fell. "Tonight, we take back our future," she cried out loud and clear. for the people, the truth, and the memory of those who are no longer able to fight." As Eva and her team entered the government data center, tension was high all night. The cold, fortified structure, a secretive fortress, loomed ahead. Although Eva's heart raced, her face remained composed. Her years of hacking experience made it possible for them to get around security systems and get inside. The weight of their mission, which was to destroy the servers, erase the data, and expose the surveillance, was felt in every step. Alarms rang throughout the complex just as Eva was about to set off the explosives. Maria said, her voice shaking with fear, "They've caught us." Eva's thoughts raced. They had been tampered with. The government was hunting as well as watching. Gunfire broke out. Diverting behind consoles and steel pillars, the rebels dispersed. Maria was pushed toward an emergency exit as Eva grabbed her hand. Eva's side was pierced by a sharp pain as they ran; a bullet had hit her arm. "Continue moving!" Gritting her teeth against the pain, Eva ordered. The government forces swarmed like a hurricane outside. Despite being outnumbered, Eva's precise commands kept the rebels on track. Nonetheless, the price was high. Maria got caught in the crossfire and stumbled. As bullets ripped through the night, Eva threw herself forward to protect her friend. "Eva!" Maria held onto her side as she gasped. Eva yelled, "No time," dragging her to safety. The mission was unsuccessful. Worse, it had revealed the location of the rebel