Hidden Flame

The air between us felt light now, the secrets kept were all in the open. He was still sitting near me, his presence grounding in a way I didn't know I needed—until the doors to the command center suddenly slammed open.

The loud bang made me jump.

Sergeant Nelson was through them first, his breath ragged, his face tight with urgency. A group of soldiers followed closely behind, their uniforms crisp, adorned with military pins that marked their high ranks. These weren't just any soldiers. These were the kind of men who only showed up when things were at their worst.

"We have a problem, sir." Nelson's voice was sharp, cutting through the stale air.

My father rose from the table immediately, his entire posture snapping into command. He didn't ask what the problem was. He already knew.

"Our detectors at two separate border points have been triggered," Nelson explained, his words clipped, like he barely had the breath to get them out.

Another soldier stepped forward, an older man with streaks of gray cutting through his black hair. His face was unreadable, but his voice held the weight of dread. "And our air defense satellites have picked up movement. Unidentified, but deliberate. It's them."

A sharp, invisible hand wrapped around my throat, choking the air from my lungs. My stomach turned to stone.

I knew what this meant and looking at my father, he did too,

"They're coming." My father's voice was steady, but the declaration sent a cold dagger through my chest. "They're coming for Olivia."

The room fell into a dead, suffocating silence.

Nelson swallowed hard, nodding. "Yes, sir... we believe so." His voice was tight, barely holding back the terror that none of them dared to show.

My father exhaled through his nose, his expression grim but unwavering. "We've prepared for this." He turned toward the soldiers, his voice ringing out with the sharpness of command. "Get your tactical ground infantry teams in position. Get our air defense pilots in the air. man your regions." He squared his shoulders, his presence alone enough to demand obedience. "Defend Cadence. Hold the fort. We ride this out."

The room erupted into motion. Orders were shouted, boots pounded against the floor as soldiers scattered, leaving the room and moving with trained precision to their posts.

But I was frozen.

This was happening. This was real.

I barely had time to process before my father was in front of me, his hands gripping my shoulders. His eyes burned into mine, demanding my full attention.

"Listen to me, Olivia," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Stay here. Stay hidden. I'm going to do my job and fight this."

"Dad..." My voice cracked, tears already blurring my vision. I didn't want him to go. I didn't know what would happen.

"I will be alright." He pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead, then locked his eyes with mine. "This is what I do."

I nodded because I knew there was nothing, I could say to change his mind. My father had been a soldier his whole life. A leader. And now, he was going into battle again.

For me.

He took one last look at me, then turned and disappeared through the doors. The second he was gone, the floor beneath me felt like it was crumbling. My heart shattered under my skin.

***

The doors burst open again, but this time, it was my friends.

Tristan was at my side in an instant, his hands cupping my face, tilting my chin so I'd look at him. "Hey, look at me," he said, his voice a steady anchor in the chaos. "Don't panic. They prepare for things like this. It will be okay."