Hide and Seek: The Mad Girl Sees All novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61

“Yes!” Garrett’s reply was crisp and decisive.

Lana didn’t let go of the communicator. She glanced down at the cracked earth beneath her, then lifted her gaze to the distant wall of gray mist.

“Evacuate first. All border outposts, fall back about nine miles. We’ll adjust the exact distance once the supercomputer finishes its calculations,” Lana ordered.

There was a two-second silence on the communicator.

Garrett’s voice faltered. “Nine miles? Chief Advisor, that means our buffer zone would be-”

“The lives of our soldiers matter more!” Lana cut him off.

“Execute,” she ordered.

“Yes!” Garrett replied.

Lana ended the call. The wind swept in from beyond the front line, carrying the gritty smell of dry earth. She stood next to the sandbags, staring up at the sky for a while-the darkness was closing in, and the night was almost pitch black.

“Lyra,” Lana called out.

Lyra was crouched by the armored vehicle’s wheel, still messing with the cracks in the ground using a stick.

“Hm?” Lyra replied.

“We’ve finished checking all the Wraith invasion zones. Do you want to stay here tonight, or take the helicopter back to the Command Center?” Lana asked.

Lyra jammed the stick into the ground and stood up. “Let’s go back.”

She smoothed out her wind-tousled hair and added seriously, “I kind of miss the cafeteria.”

Lana couldn’t help but smile, then hit the comms again, patching through to Zoe at the Command Center.

“Zoe, Lana called for her.

“Chief Advisor!” Zoe replied in a flash.

“Get dinner ready. We’ll be there in three hours,” Lana said.

Before Lana could finish, Lyra had already darted over, her head practically glued to the communicator.

“Zoe!” Lyra called out.

“Lyra!” Zoe replied.

“I want braised pork!” Lyra said.

Lyra started counting on her fingers. “And chicken stew with mushrooms!”

Zoe’s laughter bubbled through the communicator. “Alright, I’ll get it all ready for you!”

“And rice! Make it a huge bowl!” Lyra chimed in.

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“Okay, a big bowl coming right up.” Zoe replied.

Lyra grinned, already dreaming about dinner.

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After ending the call, Lana strode toward the command post, her steps quick and purposeful. The officers on duty were already lined up, waiting for her.

“Starting today, all outposts are to fall back,” Lana announced.

She swept her gaze over the officers present.

“The exact distance will be determined by the Command Center. Until further notice, no one is to approach the gray mist buffer zone,” Lana ordered.

The officers stood at attention and acknowledged the order.

Lana then turned to the captain of the 7th Assault Squad. “Return to your squad. No need to follow us anymore.”

The Captain opened his mouth, looking like he wanted to say something.

But Lana was already walking away. “Lyra and I will take the helicopter back.”

Twenty minutes later, a military helicopter lifted off from the temporary helipad behind the front line, its rotor blades slicing through the night.

Lyra had her face pressed against the window, peering down at the ground below.

The lights on the ground shrank into tiny dots, the front line’s outline fading into a thin line. Beyond that, the gray mist swallowed up every trace of light, leaving nothing but a vast, pitch-black void.

She pulled her gaze back, leaned against her seat, and closed her eyes for a moment. A thought popped into her head: ‘Lights are still the prettiest thing.”

Three hours later, the helicopter touched down on the Command Center’s helipad.

The door swung open, and Zoe was down there waiting, waving up at them.

“Lyra!” Zoe called out.

“Zoe!” Lyra replied.

“Come on, let’s go! Dinner’s ready!” Zoe said.

Zoe reached out, grabbed Lyra’s hand, and started pulling her toward the cafeteria.

Lyra took a few steps, then suddenly stopped and glanced back at Lana.

Lana stepped off the helicopter, tablet in hand, and started toward the Command Center building.

“Lana, Lyra called out.

Lana’s steps faltered for a moment.

Lyra jogged back and grabbed Lana’s sleeve. “Lana, where are you going?”

“I have to take care of the retreat orders,” Lana replied.

Lana glanced down at her sleeve, which Lyra was holding onto. “Make sure you eat well, don’t wait up for me.”

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Lyra didn’t let go. She looked up at Lana with stubborn determination, her eyes shining under the helipad lights.

Lana, Lyra called out.

“Hm?” Lana replied.

“Isn’t everyone just drinking nutrient packs?” Lyra asked.

Lana’s hand paused for a moment.

Lyra’s tone was serious. “I’m not dumb, you know.”

“The cafeteria always cooks up a bunch of food just for me, but I’ve never seen anyone else eating there./

“And every trash can in the hallway is full of empty nutrient pack wrappers.”

“This whole week, at every outpost, I saw everyone just eating nutrient packs.”

Lana opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Lyra let go of her sleeve, lifted her chin, and her tone shifted. “I already know. There’s a food shortage everywhere-no one having proper meals anymore.”

“Lana, I’m going to do my best in the game. I’ll make sure everyone gets real food, and real meat too.”

“Trust me, I’ll make it happen!”

Her voice grew louder, the light in her eyes shining even brighter.

Lana stood frozen, a lump in her throat she couldn’t swallow.

Lyra had noticed everything-watching in silence, shouldering it all without a word-and now, she finally spoke up, her tone full of gravity and resolve.

Lyra suddenly stepped closer, her voice turning soft and playful, the last word trailing off.

“So…”

“Lana, can we eat together tonight?”

She clasped her hands behind her back, leaned in, and her eyes curved into a smile.

Lana’s throat felt dry. She swallowed hard. “Okay.”

“Yay!” Lyra bounced in place, then spun around and called out, “Zoe, come cat with us!”

Zoe paused, waving her hand instinctively. “I’m good…”

“Come on, join us!” Lana’s voice came from behind, stopping Zoe before she could finish.

Zoe glanced up at Lana, then at Lyra.

Lyra grabbed both their hands and started dragging them toward the cafeteria.

“Come on, come on! The braised pork’s gonna get cold!” Lyra called out.

As they pushed open the cafeteria door, four dishes and a soup were spread out on the table, waiting for them.

The braised pork sat on a white porcelain plate, its rich, glossy sauce shining under the lights.

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The chicken stew with mushrooms was still steaming, the mushrooms and noodles had soaked up all the savory broth

There was a plate of smashed cucumber, bean sprouts stir-fried to perfection, and a steaming pot of seaweed and egg drop

soup.

Only one set of chopsticks and a bowl.

“Chef, could you bring us two more sets of chopsticks and bowls?” Lyra called out.

“You got it!” The chef answered, and quickly placed two more sets in front of Lana and Zoe.

Lyra plopped down and went all in-chopsticks in her left hand, snatching up braised pork, spoon in her right, dipping straight into the soup.

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