Of course, Corey wasn't so foolish as to think he could turn the resistance with just Kerry's few words. Three days later, television broadcasts showed Glo shaking hands with Corey, playing repeatedly for several days as if ensuring no one would miss it. Even the most steadfast members began to doubt their judgment. When Corey was assassinated, they became even more convinced that Glo had betrayed the organization. Now leaderless, the resistance stood on the brink of dissolution.
As the new year began, De Silva asked his wife Basali, "I haven't seen Glo for a long time. Could something have happened to her?"
"De Silva, I've been meaning to tell you - Glo has betrayed the organization."
"That's impossible!" De Silva exclaimed.
"It's true. It's been almost six months."
"Then who's leading the resistance now?"
"There is no leader. The core members have scattered. The resistance exists in name only."
De Silva became agitated. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"What good would it have done? What could you have done?"
"What about Alena? What has she been up to lately?"
Basali responded irritably, "I don't know. Ask her yourself."
Alena had formed her own group, the "Courage Alliance," with her loyal followers, now numbering over a hundred. Unfortunately, just three days after its formation, the Illuminati targeted them, and Alena was placed on their wanted list.
One morning, as the family was just getting up, someone rushed in asking, "Are you Amandine's family?" De Silva had a bad feeling and countered, "Who are you?"
"Don't ask - you'll understand later. Come with me quickly."
Alena approached, "Why should we go with you?"
"The Illuminati are coming to arrest you. Hurry, or it'll be too late," the visitor urged anxiously.
Alena glanced at De Silva. "Brother, do you trust him?"
"He seems sincere. I choose to trust him." De Silva turned to call his wife and mother, but Nicola refused to believe it and wouldn't leave. While they were trying to persuade her, the Illuminati had already surrounded the house.
The stranger drew his gun and fired at the doorway with a "bang!" hitting an Illuminati soldier trying to enter. The family was startled by his quick action, giving them no time to think. "Find a place to hide. I'll hold them off. Help is coming."
"Be careful," Alena said gratefully.
Nicola, having experienced war, remained calmer and led the two girls to their basement. De Silva stayed up, gun ready at the entrance. Alena took out a communication device called "Starlink" and urgently called, "Collin, my house is surrounded by Illuminati. Bring people immediately."
The stranger at the door was engaged in intense combat with the Illuminati forces. Fortunately, there weren't many attackers, and they hadn't broken through yet. Alena poked her head out from the entrance, "Brother, go help him. I'll handle things here!"
De Silva was no fearless warrior - just standing there took all his courage. When asked to go out, his face turned pale. He moved hesitantly, looking more like someone heading to execution than to battle. Alena couldn't bear to watch, "Brother, hurry up, be brave."
Just as he was about to leave the room, a bullet pierced the wall with a "crack!" hitting a picture frame opposite, shattering the glass. Soon after, the stranger retreated into the room, his right shoulder bleeding from a bullet wound. He muttered, "This is bad! I can't hold much longer. Where's the backup?"
As he spoke, two more bullets whizzed into the room. He turned to see De Silva, "Why are you still here? Find somewhere to hide." De Silva felt relieved and said, "Thank you!"
Alena came up from the basement, grabbed the gun from her brother's hand, and said, "Brother, get out of the way. You're useless!"
She crouched next to the stranger, "Soldier, you're brave. What's your name?" The man, taking cover by the door, turned to see a young woman and reassured her, "Don't be afraid, our people will be here soon."
"What's your name?" Alena asked again, deeply interested in this brave warrior. The soldier looked puzzled, wondering why she would ask his name at such a tense moment, but he answered anyway, "I'm Sean."
"I'm Alena!"
While they were introducing themselves, the Illuminati threw a tear gas grenade into the house. As smoke filled the air, Alena covered her nose with one hand while grabbing Sean's clothes with the other, "Quick, come to the basement."
Once all five people were cramped in the basement, intense fighting broke out above. Sean exclaimed happily, "Our people have finally arrived!"
After about ten minutes, everything went quiet. De Silva asked, "Who won?"
"Why don't you go check? Are you afraid of that too?" Alena was clearly disappointed in her brother. De Silva, wanting to maintain his masculinity in front of his wife, stood up and cautiously walked out. Sean moved faster, already outside. Soon, he called out, "Everyone come up! The enemy has been eliminated."
Alena's people arrived late, but together with the others, they numbered over fifty. Sean, holding his wounded shoulder, told De Silva's family, "Our mission is complete. You should leave quickly!"
Alena pushed through the crowd and said emotionally to Sean, "Brave soldier, I hope we'll meet again."
"I'm sure we will." After Sean left, Alena felt as if her heart had gone with him. It was the first time she had felt such attraction to a man.
"Where are we going?" De Silva asked. He had already accepted Alena as the family's pillar of strength.
"We'll discuss it in the car!"
Twenty-two members of the "Courage Alliance" had come to their rescue. De Silva's family of four got into one car, and the group quickly left the premises. After driving for over two hours, they arrived at an abandoned warehouse. After everyone got out, Alena called over a young man, "Collin, where are the others?"
"They haven't returned yet. I told them to meet here at six tonight." Alena nodded, "Good!"
When they were alone, Nicola finally asked, belatedly realizing the situation, "Alena, what exactly did you do? How did you provoke the Illuminati?"