Hidden Flame

I planned to meet Mikael at the airstrip just before sunset. His deliveries to the border always happened at dusk, so when the sky bled into shades of molten gold and crimson, I knew it was time to go.

The massive plane loomed on the runway, its back hatch gaping open like the mouth of some great beast. Soldiers moved in a steady rhythm, loading crates of supplies for the troops. The scent of fuel and metal hung thick in the air, mingling with the crisp bite of the evening breeze. My pulse quickened as I spotted Mikael standing near the hatch, now dressed in his pristine uniform, his brown curls tucked under his military cap. The second he saw me, he exhaled slowly, resignation flickering across his face.

"You made it," he said, his voice tight.

"Sure did," I replied, trying for nonchalance.

"I kind of hoped you wouldn't," he admitted, eyes scanning mine for any sign of hesitation.

"Yeah, I can tell." I forced a weak smile, but Mikael's expression remained rigid, his concern unyielding.

He stepped forward, closing the distance between us. His brown eyes, usually warm, were dark with something heavier now—something that made my stomach twist. "Olivia, are you sure about this? I mean, really sure?"

There were a thousand uncertainties looming ahead, a million ways this could go horribly wrong. But the alternative—doing nothing—wasn't an option. I was my mother's daughter, and standing by while others suffered wasn't in my blood. Fear clawed at me, but purpose burned brighter.

"I'm sure," I said, forcing steel into my voice. I needed him to believe it. Maybe it would make this easier for both of us.

Mikael nodded, though the crease in his brow didn't smooth. "Okay."

"Hey, Mikael!" a soldier called from beside the plane. "We're all loaded up and ready to go!"

"Alright, I'm coming!" he shouted back before turning to me again, urgency sharpening his tone. "Here's the plan. You climb up the ramp and stay low with the cargo. Once I'm in the cockpit, I'll close the hatch before takeoff. You'll be secured inside."

I nodded, heart pounding against my ribs.

"When we land at the base, you need to move fast. As soon as the hatch opens—before the soldiers start unloading—you get out." He pressed a small, worn compass into my palm. "Head north for about a mile. You'll hit the wall—you can't miss it. My cousin will be there waiting to get you into Vorrath. Do you understand?"

I swallowed, my throat dry. "I think so."

Mikael's jaw tightened. "You can't just think. You have to know. You have to be ready for anything."

I knew he wasn't just trying to scare me—he needed me to grasp how real this was. I wasn't stepping into an adventure. I was walking straight into enemy territory, leaving behind everything familiar. And there were no promises I'd make it back.

"I am," I said, standing taller.

His eyes searched mine for a moment. "If you get into trouble, you run. You fight like hell and get back here. But otherwise, keep your head down. Don't draw attention. Do you understand?"

"I understand."

There was nothing left to say. He had given me everything he could—his warnings, his instructions, his worry. Now, all that remained was the silence between us, thick with the weight of what this might mean.

Mikael hesitated before stepping closer, his arms wrapping around me in a tight embrace. For a moment, we weren't here on this runway, we were in my backyard under the summer sun. Mikael with his toy trucks and me with my barbie dolls, sitting in my sandbox side by side. I clung to him fiercely, knowing this could be the last time. The last time I'd feel his steady heartbeat against mine. The last time I'd be safe.