Chapter 11

11

SCARLETT

T he sharp, acrid scent of smoke clung to the air, mixing with the dull hum of soldiers working to restore order. She moved on autopilot, her mind locked in a loop, replaying every decision, every moment of the fight—and every second she had spent thinking of Ros.

She found herself near a quieter section of the base where the chaos of recovery was less intense. Izzy was there perched on a crate, her face smudged with dirt and exhaustion, but her eyes were still bright with relief. When she saw Scarlett, her expression softened into a welcoming smile, but it quickly turned to concern as she noticed the weight hanging over her friend.

"Scar, you did an amazing job today," Izzy began, trying to lift her spirits. "You kept this place running. We'd have been lost without you."

Scarlett managed a faint nod but didn't meet Izzy's eyes. "Yeah, well, it wasn't just me. We all did our part."

Izzy, always perceptive, picked up on the hollowness in Scarlett's tone. She shifted, making room on the crate beside her. "Come on, sit down. Talk to me. There's more going on, isn't there?"

Scarlett hesitated, the words caught in her throat. For a moment, she thought about brushing it off, keeping the pain locked away like she had been doing since Ros broke things off. But the battle had stripped her defenses bare, leaving her too raw to hide anymore. She sat down heavily beside Izzy, staring at the ground as she finally spoke.

"Ros ended it after the rescue mission."

Izzy's eyes widened in surprise, but she stayed quiet, giving Scarlett the space to continue, but she didn't.

"Didn't even know you were together. Last we talked about it, you had a crush was all. You must have moved fast."

Izzy didn't sound impressed. Scarlett could tell from her tone that she now knew that Scarlett had been lying to her.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Iz. I shouldn't have kept it from you to you. We weren't together last we talked, but I'd stupidly kissed her in her office the night before. I was mortified, and Ros had told me to forget it. I was way too embarrassed to admit that to you."

"But why didn't you tell me after you got together, though?"

"It was so exciting and new. And I didn't want to risk anyone finding out and have everything come crashing down around me. I mean, I knew the risks with breaking the rules, but I still didn't think it would end this way."

"Fine, I'll forgive you. Why did she end it, though?"

"She said it was too dangerous and that we were risking everything being together," Scarlett continued, her voice trembling. "And I know she's right. But it feels like my heart's been ripped out."

Izzy placed a hand on Scarlett's shoulder, her voice soft and understanding. "I'm sorry, Scar. I know how much she must have meant to you. Your face matched your name when you told me you had a crush on her!"

Scarlett shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "During the attack, every time I heard an explosion, every gunshot, all I could think about was her. What if I never saw her again? What if this was it? It terrified me."

Izzy's expression grew more serious. "That fear is real, Scar. It's part of what makes relationships in a place like this so hard. But you can't let it paralyze you. You both survived today. You both made it through."

Scarlett's gaze drifted to the horizon where the setting sun was casting long shadows over the base. "But what about next time? What if next time we're not so lucky? Ros ended it because she's scared, and I get it. I'm scared too. But I don't want to live without her."

Izzy's grip on her shoulder tightened slightly, a mix of sympathy and firmness in her voice. "Love is always a risk, especially here. But you have to ask yourself, Scar, what's worse: losing her because of something out of your control or losing her because you were too afraid to fight for what you want?"

Scarlett felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she wiped it away quickly. "She said it was the right thing to do, that we'd both be safer apart. But it doesn't feel right. It feels like I'm giving up on the best thing that ever happened to me."

Izzy nodded, understanding the conflict tearing at Scarlett's heart. "I won't lie to you, Scar. If you go to her, if you fight for this, there will be consequences. People are already talking. If they catch on to what's really going on, it could ruin both your careers."

Scarlett looked up at Izzy, the fear in her eyes stark against the determination brewing beneath. "But if I don't, I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I'll always wonder what could have been. I don't want to live like that. I can't."

Izzy smiled gently. "If this is what you want, if she's what you want, then fight for it. Screw the consequences. You're strong, Scar. You can handle whatever comes."

Scarlett's breath hitched as she considered the reality of Izzy's words. Going to Ros meant accepting the risks—the scrutiny, the possible repercussions, the danger of being caught in something that could destroy both their careers. But what was the alternative? Living with the empty ache that had settled in her chest since Ros walked away? Knowing that she let fear dictate her life?

Scarlett stood up, a renewed sense of purpose solidifying within her. The battle had shown her what really mattered, what she couldn't live without. And that was Ros. She might lose everything by pursuing this, but she knew in her heart that she had to try. With a final look at her friend, Scarlett turned and headed toward Ros's quarters, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. She knew the risks, the potential fallout, but for once in her life, she was ready to face it all head-on. She wasn't going to let fear dictate her choices any longer.