"That's it! I'm done." Charlie barely got out of the way in time as the irate nurse stormed by. With a quick glance over her shoulder, Charlie smirked when she saw that Miles hadn't been so lucky. The tall brunette was just beginning a rant that was sure to make Charlie's uncle's eyes cross. Rolling her eyes as Miles tried to get away from the woman with a quick apology, Charlie knew from past experience with that particular nurse that her uncle would be soothing ruffled feathers for at least another half hour.
Turning back to face the make-do hospital, Charlie's smile faded. Whatever had finally pushed the nurse over the edge, she only hoped it wouldn't send any of the few other nurses packing too. The rebels honestly couldn't afford to lose anyone else – not with so many of their soldiers left wounded and dying in this room alone.
She looked around, feeling the first stirrings of despair. This latest rebel base that Miles and Nora had led her to wasn't anything special. An abandoned middle school, maybe, in another life. At its center was the infirmary – an especially important asset since the great General Monroe was doing everything in his power to wipe all rebels off the map.
The infirmary was a small enough room, even if it did manage to house an ungodly number of broken bodies. There hadn't been even half as many this morning. But that was before Monroe had turned the only other nearby rebel camp into a ball of fire this afternoon.
Fingers straining, clenching, Charlie lurched forward, moving quickly toward the side door. She had to get out of that room. If she had to look at those crippled men and women for a second longer, she'd probably do something drastic. Maybe take a decade off Miles' life by going after Monroe herself-
Bursting into the sunlight, Charlie gasped, letting the fresh night air race through her nose and into her lungs, faintly aware of the door slamming shut behind her. Reaching for the side of the building, she could barely stand still. But her eyes followed her thoughts freely. They scanned the horizon, taking in everything. Assessing it. Planning for a suicide mission.
Charlie knew, almost as soon as she let the idea sink in, that she couldn't put it into action. She couldn't kill Monroe all by herself.
At least not yet.
She'd have to plan it, make sure everything was just right. Get Miles to go for it. Maybe leave Miles in the dark if he didn't agree…
Closing her eyes, Charlie shuddered. She couldn't think about losing the only family she had just yet. She opened her eyes, grateful that the involuntary swell of panic had faded.
Not yet. The whisper echoed through Charlie's mind. An echo and a promise.
She would save Danny. Her, Nora, and Miles would save him from Monroe. But then…
Charlie's breath came more easily now, knowing what she would do. Finally knowing how she could fight back.
She'd find Monroe – and she'd kill him herself.