Chapter 355: The Transport Truck Jolted Along the Rugged Mountain Road

The transport truck jolted along the rugged mountain road, its metal frame rattling violently. Elena Ward and Dr. Alice Monroe clung to the side rails, their knuckles turning white from the strain. The cabin was thick with silence, broken only by the relentless roar of the engine.

"Half an hour to the supply station," the driver called over his shoulder without turning.

Elena stared at the distant mountain range, her chest heavy as if weighed down by stone. She had assumed the frontlines were in a stalemate—never imagined the reality would be this perilous. Adrian Stone's parting words—"Find a good man and settle down"—now felt like a grim prophecy.

"Lost in thought?" Alice nudged her shoulder.

"Wondering if we'll make it back alive," Elena replied with a bitter smile.

The truck lurched violently, nearly throwing them both off. Alice gripped the handrail, her face pale. "This road's trying to kill us!"

Finally, the vehicle ground to a halt in a hidden mountain hollow. The driver jumped out, swiftly unloading supplies. "Rest while you can. We move out at nightfall."

Inside the tent, Elena mechanically shoveled food into her mouth. The rice tasted like gravel, but she forced herself to swallow. Every ounce of strength would matter in the days ahead.

"Get some sleep," Alice said, drawing the makeshift curtain.

Elena lay on the cot but couldn't quiet her mind. The distant thunder of artillery echoed like a drumbeat against her ribs. She remembered Adrian's warm smile, the hesitation in his eyes before he left.

"Fall in!"

The command shattered the silence. Elena bolted upright to find the transport squad already assembled, each soldier carrying a mountainous load yet standing tall.

"We're splitting your supplies," the captain said tersely. "Stay close. Don't fall behind."

The night swallowed them whole, their path lit only by the faint glow of flashlights. Elena stumbled after the column, her pulse hammering. The real trial was just beginning.

The howling wind seemed to whisper warnings of the dangers ahead. Elena clenched her fists until her nails bit into her palms. In this moment, she was no longer the delicate field medic—she was a soldier.

The squad advanced in silence, soon vanishing into the endless dark. Far away, artillery flashes flickered like the eyes of death watching from the shadows.