The Jungle

Tobin Michaels crept at a snail’s pace through the dense foliage of the Latin American jungle, his senses heightened and his body tense with anticipation. He'd been tracking the trafficking operation for days, gaining intel as he went, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. As he approached the clearing, he heard a rustling in the bushes. Tobin froze, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon.

Suddenly, a young girl burst into the clearing, her eyes wide with fear. She looked to be no more than twelve years old, her clothes torn and dirty. Without hesitation, she fled headlong into the jungle.

Tobin's mind raced. This wasn't part of the plan, but he couldn't ignore the girl's plight. Memories of the child he'd failed to save in Afghanistan flooded his thoughts. He pushed them aside, and made the decision to pursue this girl. He had to save her.

He followed the girl through the dense undergrowth matching her speed with little effort. And without much noise, his training as a Marine guiding his every move. When he finally caught up to her, she spun around, her eyes filled with terror.

"Please, don't hurt me," she pleaded in broken English.

Tobin held up his hands, his voice qiuet, calm, and reassuring. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm here to help. ¿Cómo te llamas?"

The girl hesitated, then whispered, "Maria."

"Maria, I'm Tobin. I'm going to get you out of here, but you have to trust me. ¿Confías en mí?"

Maria nodded, although Tobin knew that any level of trust would be earned beginning now. Together, they navigated the treacherous jungle, the dense foliage and tangled vines making their progress slow and arduous. Tobin's keen senses, honed by years of training as a Marine, were on high alert as he listened for any signs of pursuit.

He moved with a silent efficiency, his footsteps barely making a sound on the jungle floor. Maria followed closely behind, mimicking his movements as best she could. Tobin paused, holding up a hand to signal for Maria to stop. He tilted his head, listening intently. In the distance, he could hear the faint sound of voices and the rustling of leaves.

"They're coming," he whispered, his voice low and urgent. "We need to move faster, now."

Tobin took Maria's hand, guiding her through the undergrowth. He used his knowledge of terrain and concealment to their advantage, leading them through areas where the foliage was thickest, making it harder for their pursuers to follow.

As they pressed on, Tobin's mind raced with questions. How had the traffickers responded so quickly to Maria's escape? How were they tracking Tobin and Maria’s moves so perfectly?The more he thought about it, the more he realized that something didn't add up.

He thought back to the briefing he'd received from his employer. They had provided him with detailed intelligence on the trafficker's whereabouts and patterns, but now, it seemed that the information may been too perfect, too convenient.

Tobin's instincts, sharpened by years of combat experience, told him that he was walking into a trap. But who was behind it? And why?

As they continued their flight through the jungle, Tobin used every skill he had learned as a Marine to keep them safe. He found hidden streams and water sources to keep them hydrated, and he foraged for edible plants to keep their strength up.

But even as he focused on their survival, Tobin couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He scanned the jungle, looking for any signs of movement or hidden dangers. He knew that the traffickers weren't the only threat they faced in the jungle - there were also wild animals, treacherous terrain, and the ever-present risk of exposure to the elements. And snakes. Tobin fucking hated snakes.

As the sun began to set, Tobin knew they needed to find shelter for the night. He led Maria to a small cave he had spotted, hidden behind a curtain of vines. Once inside, he created a small fire, providing warmth and light in the darkness.

Maria huddled close to the fire, her eyes wide with fear and exhaustion. Tobin sat beside her, his mind still racing with unanswered questions. He knew that their survival depended on his ability to unravel the mystery of who had betrayed him and why.

But for now, his priority was keeping Maria safe. He had made a promise to protect her, and he intended to keep it, no matter the cost. As the night closed in around them, Tobin kept watch, his senses alert for any sign of danger. He knew that this flight would test his skills and his resolve, but he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. For Maria's sake, and for the sake of his own redemption, he would find answers to the questions he had about what felt so wrong about this mission.

As night fell, Maria, exhausted and scared, finally opened up to Tobin. "They were working with someone," she revealed, her voice trembling. "Someone I think from your people."

Tobin's blood ran cold. "What do you mean? My people? Gringos? Who were they working with?"

“No, someone in your group. They knew you were coming. I don't know his name, but I heard them talking. He's someone important, someone high up."

Before Tobin could process this shocking revelation, the sound of gunfire erupted outside the cave. The traffickers had found them.

Tobin reached for his weapon, his mind racing. He had to protect Maria at all costs. But as he checked his gear, his eyes fell on the tracking device his employer had insisted he carry.

"It's for your own safety," they had assured him. "If you're injured or wounded, we can locate and extract you quickly."

Tobin had trusted them, but now, as the pieces fell into place, he realized the terrible truth. The tracking device wasn't for his safety; it was a means to monitor his every move. And now, it had led the traffickers straight to them.

As the gunfire intensified, Tobin felt a sharp pain in his neck. He reached up, his fingers finding a small dart. His vision blurred, and he stumbled, his weapon slipping from his grasp.

Maria screamed, her voice distant and muffled. Tobin fought to stay conscious, but the darkness was closing in. He had been betrayed, and now, he and Maria were at the mercy of those he had once trusted.

As he slipped into unconsciousness, Tobin's last thoughts were of Maria and the promise he had made to keep her safe. He had failed once before, and he wouldn't let it happen again.