Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. She glanced over at the man—the so-called veteran—who had retreated to the side, his hands still shaking as he wiped the sweat from his brow. His eyes were cast downward, avoiding contact, and Kristen felt a surge of indignation.
This wasn’t the heroic figure she had imagined; this was someone lost, floundering in a moment that called for bravery and clarity. A sense of dread settled deep within her as she wrestled with her thoughts, knowing that this encounter was far from over.