"Formation!" Thomas shouted.
Thomas's shout snapped the soldiers into action. They fanned out, forming a ragged line, their rifles rising to meet the threat.
Then the woman moved. She rushed forward. Her body jerked with sharp, unnatural motions. The white dress dragged through the mud as she sprinted toward them with terrifying speed. Her head tilted at a strange angle, and her mouth hung open as if frozen in a silent scream.
Bang!
Before she could get any closer, her head burst apart. Her body dropped heavily into the mud with a wet thud, twitching once before going still.
For a moment, no one spoke. Only the sound of heavy rain filled the air.
"That scream…" one of the soldiers finally muttered, his voice low and uneasy. "Even with this rain… that kind of sound would carry far."
At the rear, Jaxon's gaze sharpened. "We need to go. Immediately," he said urgently.
Thomas did not hesitate. "Move! Pick up the pace!"
