Night settled over the village like a heavy blanket. The heroes stood outside Robertland Marie's home, preparing to leave.Thomas and Sophie thanked them both for their kindness. Pooch lingered."Nice meeting you," he said awkwardly. Marie smiled and hugged him again. Pooch froze still not used to being touched with kindness."Will I see you again?" Pooch asked quietly. "Of course," Marie said. "I'll be right here." Pooch swallowed. "Why aren't you scared of me?" Marie touched his cheek gently.
"Because you may look rough on the outside… but I can feel the good inside you."Pooch's eyes filled with tears. "I don't want to leave, master…"Thomas put a hand on his shoulder. "We have to go."And the heroes slipped into the shadows.
The Jail Sophie whispered, "First person to get is Johnl."They moved through the dark village, sticking to alleys and broken fences until they reached the jail a three‑bedroom house reinforced with bars, sandbags, and a metal door. Pooch crouched near a small ground‑level window."Master… basement." They lay flat and peered inside. A man sat in a cage bearded, exhausted, barely conscious.
A guard flipped through a magazine, bored. Thomas whispered, "We need to confirm it's him." Sophie rose to move and a flashlight beam snapped toward her. Without hesitation, she threw a dagger. The guard dropped instantly. Another light. A shout."Who's back there!" Sophie drew her bow, leaned around the corner, and fired. One guard fell. Another ducked and returned fire with some type of automatic assault weapon.
More guards rushed in from the street. A truck screeched to a stop nearby.Thomas cursed. "They're surrounding us. We need to get inside." He grabbed the back door. Locked.Pooch stared at him. "Really, master?" Thomas shrugged. "Worth a try." Gunmen poured into the alley behind the Jail, rifles, shotguns, pistols. Thomas slammed the door again. No budge, Thomas flared his aura and the door tore free, sending Thomas flying in with the door Pooch and Sophie dove in and layed flat covering there heads. Bullets tore into the walls behind them and all over the Jail.
The heroes on the floor as the barrage shredded the house. When the shooting paused, Thomas checked himself a graze wound, already healing thanks to his aura. Pooch peeked up Another barrage erupted.They hit the floor again.Then a voice shouted from outside "Move in!" Footsteps thundered toward the house. Inside the House Sophie held up a small glass jar the witch's spell."Good thing I kept this."They sprinted deeper into the house, searching for the basement door. A guard burst in behind them. "Get down!" Pooch appeared behind him and slammed into his back, knocking him flat. More guards shouted. "There by the basement!" Sophie found the metal door. "Here!" She yanked it open as gunfire erupted.
She tossed the spell toward the guards a flash of light froze them mid‑step, unable to move.The heroes rushed downstairs. Sophie shot the basement guard in the leg, dropping him without killing him. Thomas jumps on the guard and knocks him out and grabbed the keys and tossed them to Sophie.She unlocked the cage. John looked up, eyes blurry and saw Thomas glowing faintly in the dim light."The man…" John whispered.
"Thomas." Thomas helped him up. "Yes, old friend." John eyes watered. His body trembled with weakness. "Thank you…" Sophie supported him. John says in a weak voice "thank you all" Thomas turned toward the stairs."Stay here." The spell upstairs had worn off. Guards were ready.Thomas says wait here till I call you. Thomas stepped into the hallway aura flaring and moved. Fast. Too fast for the guards to track. He struck with precision disabling cracking knees knocking weapons aside disarming striking throats and breaking bones the guards had no idea what hit them before they could react Bullets fired but by the time they aimed, some shot there comrades by mistake trying to shoot thomas bullets went everywhere Thomas got hit a flesh wound on his arm but he kept going. His aura flared bright, blinding. Everyone shielded their eyes.For a moment, Thomas looked like something more than human a figure of light in the ruined jail filled with bullet holes. Then the glow faded.The guards lay defeated around him. Sophie and Pooch emerged from the basement with John.Thomas lifted John's arm over his shoulder. "We have to go." They stepped out into the night, passing walls riddled with holes, furniture splintered, and the aftermath of the firefight.The heroes disappeared into the darkness carrying John to safety.