The week went by, and that meant Giovanni’s training had already begun.To be honest, his clumsiness and resilience were pretty much on the same level.He’s so stubborn that, no matter how many times I repeat something or try to teach him, it’s like he has to fail six times before accepting I’m right.But I’m not complaining — deep down, I was expecting something way worse.

  After a long day of classes and training, around seven in the evening, it was time for his individual sessions.Everything seemed normal — or at least, that’s what I would’ve said.I noticed something strange in his eyes, like he wanted to ask me something. He kept that look for almost an hour, until he finally spoke up.

  “Franca,” he said, hesitantly.

  Even though I was his superior, I let him address me like that to build some trust and mutual respect.

  “What’s up?” I asked. Something told me his question wasn’t going to have a simple answer.

  “Are we really crossing the border?”

  In that moment, I understood the mix of curiosity and fear in his eyes.A few days ago, a rumor had spread about a potential border-crossing mission — and that didn’t mean an isolated conflict. That meant suicide.

  “The border” was what we called the nearly natural boundaries that separated us from the Union for Equality — the other side… where being captured meant slow, cold torture.And when it came to those inhumane acts, they didn’t discriminate by age or gender. In fact, if you were a woman or if your sexuality didn’t align with their imposed morality, things could get even worse.

  They were willing to sacrifice everything for their cause while terrifying their own stolen and repressed people — and spreading panic in ours.Their top politicians never stopped preaching about human rights, about equality above all, claiming we were the real dictators, clueless about freedom.But their territories were divided between a people drowning in misery and a few isolated pockets of obscene capital.There was no way to rise in that society.Everyone ate the same, wore the same, earned the same.There was no escape.And if someone found one, they condemned the people they loved in the process.

  I’d seen it with my own eyes.I knew what they were capable of.And that’s why, even if it hurt a thousand times over, I understood there was no other way.

  The truth was, I’d heard the rumors too — but I had no idea what was true and what wasn’t.

  “I don’t know anything about that,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “And even if I did, I couldn’t tell you. But it’s not something we need to worry about right now. No one’s sending you anywhere.”

  “Alright…” Giovanni said, though his tone and expression said it wasn’t enough.

  “We’re done for today, Rex,” I told him with a half-smile. “Go rest. Tomorrow’s going to be even tougher.”

  “Rex? I knew you were older, but not old enough to forget my name…”

  I’d given him that nickname because his humor and attitude reminded me a lot of a character from Invincible, an animated adult show based on a comic I read years ago.Besides, the nickname helped distract him from the operation rumors.

  “I’m not that old,” I said, crossing my arms with a grin. “You just remind me of that cartoon, and I decided to name you after him.Plus,” I added, “everyone here’s got a nickname, right? Or do you know Captain Azrak by his real name?Rex suits you.”

  I knew it would work.His admiration and his ego were bigger than his doubt.As soon as I said it, he smiled again, and that contagious spark lit up his face.He grabbed his things and ran across the nearly endless field.I was sure he’d tell all the other cadets — but for now, it had served its purpose.

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  I sighed and decided to take a shower.After that, maybe I’d stop by the small chapel on the base.

  And so I did.As soon as I arrived, I was met with the soft light of candles and warm bulbs that seemed to wrap everything in a quiet calm.The wooden pews glowed beneath it, and the altar radiated a sense of peace that felt oddly familiar.It had been a long time since I’d been here.

  I knelt and began to pray.Then, more than praying, I found myself whispering:

  “Is this the right thing to do? What is the right thing in these circumstances?”

  It felt more like I was asking myself than asking God.Maybe because I needed a human answer more than a divine one.

  I stayed in silence.The image of my mother suddenly came to mind.I imagined her laughing at me or saying, like she used to, that I’d always end up in this place asking for a way out.

  The knot in my throat tightened.My parents were no longer in this world, and I had no idea what happened to my siblings.I had assumed they were dead — though deep down, I still held onto a flicker of hope.

  That’s when I heard the wooden door creak open behind me.

  “Franca,” said Donal. No mistaking his firm voice. “We need to meet.”

  I stood without a word.I nodded and, before leaving, made the sign of the cross.

  “What’s going on, Donal?” I tried to ease the mood with a smile. “Guess the rumors were true, huh?”

  But it didn’t work.And that confirmed something serious was coming.

  I followed him through the hallways until we reached the office.No surprise — Kika, Claire, Damian, Owen, Anya, and Azrak were all already there.

  I looked at each of them.I realized I hadn’t crossed paths with Azrak even once in all these days.And that wasn’t by accident.

  I’d been avoiding him ever since he publicly humiliated me.I’m not talking about that night at the bar, but a few days later, during an incident where I tried to help — and instead of a “thank you,” Azrak shut me down in front of everyone:

  “Stop following me. Don’t look at me. Don’t waste your time. It’s never going to happen.”

  I don’t know if he said it in the heat of the moment or if he just took the chance to be brutally honest.Either way, I chose to bury that memory — for now.Now wasn’t the time.

  Donal didn’t take long to break the silence.

  “I’m going to be direct,” he began, looking at each of us one by one, until his eyes landed on Azrak.“We have reliable intel that there’s going to be a private party on one of the islands across the border.”

  A party.In another context, it might sound harmless, almost trivial.But here, in this world, a party in the Union for Equality meant something else: an opportunity.Or a trap.

  “It’s an exclusive celebration, for a select few,” Donal continued. “The advantage is that it’ll be a masquerade — no one’s expecting uncovered faces.The downside is that there’s no way to bring weapons. Nothing. At most, communication devices — small earpieces to send and receive intel.We’re going in. Fast.”

  The air suddenly felt heavier.Donal paused before continuing.

  “We’ll split up. Four will go inside: Azrak and Franca as one couple, and Anya and Damian as the other.” He paused slightly, gauging our reactions.“The rest will be stationed for extraction support. If either team fails to exit, there is no rescue operation. You pull out and report.”

  That last sentence hit like a rock in still water — cold, brutal, with no room for sentiment.

  “The objective?” Owen asked, his voice more serious than usual.

  “Information,” Donal answered immediately. “There’s talk of documents and exchanges that could change the course of multiple operations.We don’t know exactly what it is, or when during the night it will happen, but you must stay alert.No attacks. No risks that could reveal your identity.If you’re discovered, or if things spiral out of control, abort and get out immediately.”

  My heart was beating a little harder — but I didn’t show it.I glanced sideways at Azrak.He hadn’t moved a muscle.

  Donal continued:

  “Preparation starts now. You have one week,” he said, letting the words drop like weights.“You’ll have to learn their customs, their behavior — even the dances seen at these events.You cannot draw attention. There can’t be mistakes.”

  One week.To train in something that had nothing to do with combat, strategy, or physical strength —but everything to do with moving like them.

  “You’ll receive specific lessons,” Donal went on. “Simulations. We’ll teach you how to toast, how to walk, how to smile — if necessary.By the time you step on that island, I don’t want anyone to be able to tell you apart from the real guests.”

  The full weight of the mission settled over us.It was more than go in, observe, and get out.It was infiltration into their world — becoming part of it, even if just for one night.

  “Questions?” Donal asked, arms crossed.

  We all looked at each other for a few seconds.No one said a word.