Thank you so much @XxThejellyBeansxX (you should totally go look at their account) for the new cover and for an update on Hope's tattoos on her arms! The song is Sleepwalking by Bring Me the Horizon! Mature themes up ahead (hehehe) and enjoy the long chapter since it's been a bit.

(Hopes POV)

     The bombs went off first, exploding the already destroyed warehouse. That was our green flag, we jumped out of the insurgents' guns already drawn and ready to shoot at anyone. The other insurgent team took towards the other entrance towards the gym and gun range guns also drawn. I don't hear any of Jordan's men as we move in through the huge hole that once was our front entrance. Evan and Craig took the lead while I was really squished between Tyler and Brian, John and David behind us. I don't even know how we fit through the tiny hall. 

     Evan quickly looks to his left down the hall towards our old rooms and the gym and range, while Craig quickly looks to the right.

     "Clear," they both say in unison. "Nothing but bodies over here honestly, especially in the old meeting room," Craig says. We slowly push forward as we hear thuds on the roof. So far so good, did the bombs really do a number on them?

     Gunshots started picking up as well as some yelling. Evan looked back at us and nodded at us, giving me one final look before looking down the hall again, gun drawn. Before I could round the corner, Craig looked back at the old meeting room. A gunshot rang almost right next to us and the next thing I know I'm looking at the back of Craigs' bloody open head, as his blood splatters all over me and my clothes as well as a part of Tyler. Craig slumps to the ground, already dead. 

    I don't think I blinked, breathed, or moved on my own for the next minute because the next thing I knew Brian, Tyler, and I were in the old meeting room making sure that everybody lying down was for sure dead. Except for me, I finally came to my senses as Brian was pulling me towards the gym now, where most of the gunfight was happening. Everything was going according to plan one second, and the very next second... Craig died right in front of me. What the actual fuck just happened?

   Evan was kicking open any closed doors and was prepared to shoot anyone in them. Brian and I watched behind us, while Tyler and Evan pushed forward, John and David watching our backs. The footsteps on the roof moved toward the range where it was blown open. The gunshots started to die down the closer we moved toward the range, and once we got there, we were greeted by the other insurgent team and air team. We all looked at each other in confusion, there was no possible way the bombs as well as the small gunfight killed all of Jordans' men. Besides, where were Jordan and Seth? Where were their bodies at?

     "Where's Craig?" Jon asked only looking at Evan. I was taken back to just a few minutes ago where his blood sprayed across my face and clothing. Evan just looked at Jon and he understood. I felt my heart feel heavy, but I couldn't afford the emotions at the moment. We were on a mission and we had to stay focused.

     "Where's Jordan at or even Seth?" Brian asks, looking between Evan and Jon. The two share a look with each other before looking towards everyone, seeing if they've seen them. Some of us shake our heads no.

     It felt like my heart dropped even more. Everything is going wrong, why is nothing going according to plan? I look towards Evan as he looks at the ground, trying to think of something, anything. The next thing I know, I hear a range of different gunshots and the propeller of Lui's helicopter starts to slow. My head yanks toward the sky as I see the helicopter start to fall sideways toward the ocean behind us. I gasp in horror just as the others are looking at the sky too. Evan and Jon both reach for their earpiece.

     "Lui! Lui are you there?!" Evan yells into his earpiece. He's trying not to look panicked but he's struggling.

     "Lui tell me you there! Tell-" What sounded like an explosion that collided with water, I can only guess the worst. I bring a hand to my mouth, trying not to scream. Everything, everything is falling apart faster than my brain can realize.

      "The battlefield became bigger," Tyler says looking out towards the open hole of the range. I look out of the blasted-away wall, not understanding what he means. Jon lets out a small gasp before turning to Evan.

     "That was the flaw in the plan, we accounted for them just being here in the warehouse. They could be in this whole area, the whole shipping dock!" Jon says to Evan, but loud enough for us to hear. 

     I felt like I was going to get sick, there was no time to plan for anything. We had to move and now, they knew we were all in here. Evan looked around at all of us as his eyes lit up with an idea.

     "Stick to the teams, we move from the west and east exits and move up towards the abandoned buildings up ahead. We'll regroup in the center building right where the road splits into two. Tyler, Brian, David, Kryoz, Hope, and I will take the West exit, everyone else will take the East one." He looks at everyone for confirmation but ultimately lands his eyes on me. We all nod our heads in agreement and form our groups again. Evan, Tyler, Brian, David, John, and I made our way towards the furthest west exit.

     As we made our way back towards the meeting room and kitchen, I tried to hold my breath as I knew that we were going to pass Craig's dead body again. We turn left and go out of the hole in the kitchen, Tyler and Evan leading the way. Before I leave the warehouse that I used to love, I take one glance back at Craig lying on the cold ground, I feel my eyes become heavy with tears but I don't let them fall. Brian puts a hand on my back and gently pushes me forward, I turn my head back around, leaving my old life behind.

     We made it out of the warehouse carefully and were able to make it to the first building, only two more to go before I can see Autumn and Holly again. Till everything is safe and over with. Two more until I can confirm everyone's safety, to make sure that no other shit happens, that no one else dies. 

     We were slowly making our way through the building till we heard gunshots off in the distance. Evan holds up a hand, making us stop in our tracks. As soon as we all stopped, the gunshots stopped. We all gave each other a look but finally landed on Evan as he reached for his earpiece.

     "Please tell me everyone is accounted for over there?" Evan asks quietly to the earpiece. Although I couldn't hear it, Evan's face calmed and the sigh of relief said everything that I needed. 

     "Just be careful over there." He nods his head and looks back at us in confirmation that they are okay.

     He takes his hand away from the earpiece and slowly starts walking forward again, we follow suit. With my index finger just centimeters from the trigger, I was ready to shoot anyone who dared to show themselves to us. I tried to keep focus on what was ahead of me, but I kept checking behind us every few seconds, scared of anyone trying to catch us off guard. Brian gave me a confused look.

      "If it'll make you feel any calmer, I don't mind walking backward and watching our backs." His gaze turns from me to Tyler, David, and Evan in front of us. 

     Evan gave one simple nod and just like that Brian was carefully walking backward, watching anything in the shadows that dared to move behind us. I wanted to breathe a sigh of relief but I knew that this war was far from over, so I just kept my guard up and continued to walk slowly behind Tyler, David, and Evan. 

      We silently made it out of the building and were already entering the next one. As John entered last, Evan held up his hand again making us stop in our place once more. He quickly brought his hand to the earpiece again and listened to what Jon was saying. His eyes became wide as he took his hand away.

     "They're here, they just walked into the building and know we're in here, we have to move now!" Evan quietly exclaims. As soon as he finished talking, I could barely hear the talking coming from the other side of the abandoned building.

     The next thing I knew, Brian and John were pushing me toward the concrete stairs next to us Tyler following behind us. As I reached the first step and started climbing up, I started to hear yelling on the other side of the building. This was soon followed by a gun or two shooting in our general direction. Bullets were being exchanged by both sides now but I was still being pushed up the stairs and out of the way of fire. 

   I reached the second-floor landing and turned back to make sure everyone else made it up as well. Brian and John were right next to me looking around the floor to make sure that no one else was up here, Tyler standing guard next to me. The gunshots finally stopped but the yelling continued, it sounded like it was getting closer too. Evan rounds the corner of the stairs as fast as he can, blood splatters on his black jeans and on the back of his black shirt, David is nowhere to be in sight. I opened my mouth and took a step toward the stairs before Evan was basically ripping my arm out of its socket to get me to move, he was leading me away from the stairs and the commotion that was happening downstairs.

     "Where's David at?!" I exclaim to Evan as he's pulling me around a corner. He doesn't answer me and continues to drag me away towards the other end of the building. David is dead too...

     We round another corner and see another set of concrete stairs that lead both up and down. More yelling comes from behind us, I turn and see at least three of Jordan's men catch sight of us before aiming their guns right at Evan and I. Evan shoves me out of their sight and towards the ground just as shots are fired at us. I look over at John, Brian, and Tyler and see they both took cover as well, getting their guns ready to fire back. I hear more gunshots now, but these ones seem further away, away at the other building it seems like. I give Evan a worried look but he just shakes his head no.

     "Worry about this first." He says quietly in my ear. I nod back and look over at John and Brian again as they start to shoot now. Tyler looked in the other direction to make sure no one came that way.

     I grab onto my AP Pistol, finger on the trigger, and risk a look from the cover. There were already bodies bleeding out on the cold concrete floor, but more yelling could be heard from the other staircase including our staircase in front of Evan and me. I turned my head back in a panic and aimed for the stairs in front of me, pulling the trigger as I caught sight of someone that I didn't recognize. I watch as blood splatters on the concrete wall of the staircase, and the body of the man slumps forward already dead. I heard more footsteps rushing up the stairs as I was pulled to my feet. I caught a glimpse of what looked to be red hair, but I was already on the next floor with Evan. The footsteps continued and the gunshots started back up, but this time it sounded like more gunshots and yelling were happening on the ground floor, and did I just hear Autumn yelling for me too? What were they doing over here?!

      Evan turned us around the corner before his grip on my hand loosened and he was being punched by Jordan. I brought my AP Pistol up and shot at Jordan, I watched as the bullet-sized hole on his right shoulder started to bleed heavily. He doesn't even wince as he turns to me and smiles as if he found his long-lost love. Another punch to Evan's head and he was slumped down on the ground now, out cold. Jordan tosses Evan's gun out of the broken window and it falls all the way to the ground.

     "Ah, of course he would be with you. I'm glad I went after him and not your other boyfriends." Jordan's smile turns sinister now.

     I fired another shot at him, but I didn't get to see where it landed on him as he knocked the gun out of my hands and was trying to grab at me. I managed to kick him in the groin and start to run away from him. He grabs onto my ankle while hunched over in pain and brings me to the ground as well. I scramble to get up but Jordan still has a hold on my ankle and is dragging me towards him. I kicked at him with my other leg and managed to loosen the grip. I yanked my other foot free and pushed myself up off of the floor so I was standing on my two legs again. I ran towards the stairs just as I saw Seth coming up to this level. I look back and see Evan still on the floor as Jordan runs after me.

     I ran past the stairs so I could get away from both of them, but huge arms were being wrapped around me and I was hoisted over someone's shoulders. I tried looking up and saw Seth kneeling over Evan's body examining it to see if he was still alive. Seth brought two fingers to Evan's neck before I saw Seth's head being punched up by Evan.

     This caused Jordan to get distracted for just a second but that's all that I needed. I was able to kick at his lower back and he dropped me. I fell onto the concrete but was quickly back on my feet. He reached out to grab me but I dodged him and right-hooked him in the face. Once I did, I scanned the ground for my gun, seeing it more towards Evan and Seth, but they were engaged in their own hand-to-hand fight at the moment. Where was our help at?! Where's Brian or Tyler or anyone?!

     I drove towards my gun but just as my fingertips grazed the metal, Seth kicked it toward the stairs and it fell down to the floor below us. I couldn't get up in time, just as I was pushing myself back up Jordan was pinning me back down. Just as he did I kneed him in the gut to get myself that space to free myself from his grasp. It knocked the wind out of him and his grasp did loosen, however, I wasn't fast enough this time. As I was pushing him off of me he grabbed ahold of both of my legs and both of my arms. With his hold on me, he deadlifted me off of the ground with no ease, despite still trying to catch his breath. I noticed the gunshots downstairs becoming increasingly louder, help is coming, hold out longer Hope.

     "You're fighting is much better since last time." He basically cradles me now, I was so bound with his arms. "However, it's still not enough to beat me sweetheart." He lifted me closer to his face as he actually placed a kiss on the top of my head.

    I squirmed and tried to fight my way out of his grip but it was just too strong, I was not escaping. I watched as we walked away from Seth and Evan, Seth landing another hard blow to Evan's already red and bloody face. This punch though, sends Evan to the ground hard, there were already a few small blood splatters here and there on the concrete floor, and more pooling from Evan's head on the floor. 

     As I continued to struggle for freedom, a single gunshot rang out on the floor, and the next thing I knew I was dropped on the concrete and Jordan fell on top of me, pinned yet again. I quickly looked for the source as to where it came from but so far nothing. I tried to push him off of me but he was too heavy, even for me. He groaned in pain as he slowly reached for his back waistband.  He puts one hand in the middle of my chest and lifts himself off of me, but doesn't move his hand from my chest, I'm still stuck. 

     I heard my name being called, I was barely able to turn my head to the side as I see John running towards us. Two gunshots go off this time, one from Jordan's gun and the other from John's. I watch as Jordan's shot landed almost dead center of John's chest, John's colliding with Jordan's shoulder, taking out a bullet-sized chunk. John slumps down to the ground and I can't see him move anymore. Jordan is wincing now and his hold is weak now, I push his arm that's pinning my chest and he falls on me again. I try to shove him off of me but he's using his weight to hold me down in any way that he can. The gunshots from the floor below us start to secede, the yelling dying down now also.

     "I... said... you're... not leaving... me," Jordan grunts in pain to me. I was tiring quickly, I was struggling to even move him a few inches now.

     His weight was making it extremely hard to breathe. Another gunshot goes off but Jordan doesn't react, it didn't hit him or me, but it was definitely on this floor. I continued to get him off of me, even though I knew I was barely moving him. I was struggling to breathe now, and I couldn't get another breath of air in my lungs. From the corner of my eye, I see a pulverized covered in blood Evan, as he staggers toward us slowly. He finally reached us and shoved Jordan off of me just enough with his foot, I was able to finally wiggle out from beneath Jordan and take a few deep breaths trying to get the air back in my lungs. 

     I was sitting up now my back against a big stack of wooden boxes still trying to catch my breath. Evan brings up a gun to the still-lying and barely-moving Jordan and fires a single round to his head a few splatters of blood splash on my face but I barely even react to it, how could I after today? After that shot, it felt like the building was finally quiet, there weren't any gunshots, no more yelling, is it finally over? 

     Evan buckled over now, he was on the concrete floor on his side right next to me. It pained me to move, but I pushed myself to him and brought his hand to my two fingers. His heart is still beating thankfully. I felt everything slowly start to give out as well and before I noticed, I was partially slumped over Evan now, unable to move anything.

     "Oh my god, Hope, Evan!" I heard Autumn's voice cry out to me. It hurt so much to move I couldn't even lift my head up to see where she was coming from. I felt Evan's fingers lightly graze my arm, but I knew he needed my attention and I tried my best to listen to him.

     "Told... you... keep you... safe." His voice was very quiet but also rough at the same time like he was strangled, he was really struggling. 

    I heard and felt him cough a few times as what sounded like blood hitting the hard floor from his coughs. More running and footsteps were coming after Evan and me, but the one that I could see first was Brian. The look on his face was almost devastated as if he was expecting to see me dead, but when he saw me still holding on he scooped me up off of Evan and held me.

    "It's finally over Hope, we won, the war is done now." He was crying into me now, I felt the tears finally escape from my eyes as I was bawling into him now.