Chapter 7 The Standoff in the Cave

"Suspect's location confirmed! Everyone, eyes on one o'clock, get ready to move!" The SWAT team leader's voice boomed through the cave, shattering the silence.

I clenched my fists, my palms slick with sweat.

Even though I thought I was ready, my heart pounded like crazy when the moment came.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from deep within the cave, followed by a massive explosion. Debris flew everywhere, and dust filled the air.

"What the hell happened?" Michael's face went pale as he yelled.

"Michael, the suspect set off a bomb!" A SWAT member, clutching his bleeding arm, stumbled over.

"Damn it!" Michael muttered, then barked, "Bomb squad, get in there and defuse it! Everyone else, follow me!"

I stuck close behind, ignoring the danger, and rushed deeper into the cave.

The smoke from the explosion stung my eyes.

In the dim light, I saw Mia surrounded by SWAT members. She had a knife to her neck, screaming, "Don't come any closer! I'll do it, I swear!"

"Mia, listen to me," Michael said, his voice firm but edged with concern. "Put the knife down. We can work this out. Just tell us what you want."

"Work it out?" Mia spat, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. "Twelve years I've waited for answers, twelve years of living with this pain! And what did I get? Nothing! He walked free, while my family…" Her voice broke, her grip tightening on the knife.

"Twelve years ago?" My heart sank. Could this be about Aiden's case from back then?

I tried to remember, but my memories of Mia were fuzzy. I only recalled she was the daughter of my dad's old colleague and was close to our family when we were kids. But after Aiden's incident twelve years ago, she moved away from Harmony Village, and we lost touch.

"Mia, what are you talking about? Can you explain?" I tried to keep my voice calm, hoping to ease her tension.

"Explain? Fine, I'll make it clear!" Mia turned, her eyes bloodshot and wild. "Twelve years ago, your precious brother killed my husband and child for his mission! He even tried to kill me to keep me quiet. If I hadn't jumped into the river and survived by luck..."

"That's a lie!" I blurted out. I couldn't believe Mia's words. How could Aiden do such a thing?

Mia let out a bitter laugh, her voice filled with sorrow. "Of course, you don't believe me because you don't know the truth! You and your parents are just his puppets!"

"You're lying!" I shouted, my fists clenched so tight they hurt. "Aiden would never do something like that!"

Mia's pale face twisted into a sinister smile. She coughed up blood, staining her lips and making her look even more unhinged. "Believe what you want, but see for yourself!"

With a shaky hand, she pulled a USB drive from her blood-stained pocket and, using the last of her strength, tossed it toward me. "Everything you need to know is on this. See for yourself if I'm lying!"

The USB drive flew through the air, and I instinctively caught it.

The cold metal sent a shiver down my spine, matching the chill in my heart.

I gripped the USB drive tightly. It felt like I was holding a live grenade, ready to blow my world apart.

"James, don't!" Michael lunged forward, his hand outstretched. "She's delusional, out of her mind! Don't you dare touch that drive!"

Mia laughed maniacally, coughing violently. Blood spilled from her mouth, making her look even more terrifying. "Crazy, am I? Open your eyes, James! The truth will set you free, even if it destroys everything you hold dear!"

Before her laughter died down, she suddenly raised the knife and plunged it into her chest.

Blood gushed out, soaking her clothes and pooling beneath her.

"Mia!" I screamed, my eyes wide with horror, my heart feeling like it was being crushed.

Mia fell backward, collapsing into the pool of blood. The knife slipped from her hand, clattering to the ground.

Her eyes stayed wide open, her pupils dilating, but her lips still held that eerie smile, as if mocking my ignorance or pitying me for the truth I was about to uncover.

I stood there, frozen, unable to move. I could only watch the bloody scene unfold, feeling like my world was falling apart. Could Aiden really be the monster Mia claimed?

Mia's death felt like a heavy weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

I couldn't believe that Aiden, my hero, could be a murderer.

"James, are you okay?" Isabella's worried voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I shook my head, not speaking, and looked down at the cold USB drive in my hand.

The truth, Mia had said. Was I ready to face it, even if it shattered my world?