Marcus's point of view

As I stood by the truck, the distant hum of the city mingling with the faint rumble of the motor, the chilly night air hurt my face. Ahead, the docks loomed, silent but not motionless, their darkness thick with the tension that only arises when peril lurks in the shadows.

Alec, behind me, looked at me and adjusted his rifle's strap. His voice was low as he replied, "This feels too easy."

"It's not," I answered, continuing to stare at the lines of cargo containers in front of me. "They will be monitoring the region. Whether we like it or not, we are entering a trap."...