Hello everyone, just to reiterate this is going to be the last chapter for about four weeks due to going home...I have just want to say thank you. This whole concept started during a difficult time in my life and it gave me something to look forward to every week. Knowing that there were a small group of people that actually liked something that I wrote, still sometimes perplexes me and I will always be grateful.
Seriously I cannot say how thankful I am
MsJackson53-as always thank you for your continued support
Something I wanted to bring up is the beginning to every chapter. I should have explained a while ago but these are going to be snippets of James's life from before the outbreak, before the group, and with the group…it will be random.
Hope you all enjoy the chapter
The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop; reporters around the podium, Generals, Senators, and Congressmen all are smiling watching the moment as if they had contributed to it at all.
And I guess in a way they did, they can say to themselves that we are responsible for this day, after all we sent him to war didn't we?
I say nothing; I stand like the good little soldier with the thousand yard stare trying to keep up the fake smile long enough so no one gets suspicious…so that I can go back.
The president continues droning on and on about what a great day this is for not only for the Country but also my family, as if he truly understands. And for a moment I believe it too and then the thoughts come rushing back.
Screaming, that was the first thing I heard, someone…A friend, maybe an enemy at the moment though I can only think about the fire that's about to consume my body, the screaming is replaced by the sound of my heart beat as I drag my body out through the wreckage in into the streets of hell.
I can see almost nothing due to the lateness of the hour but the sounds are loud enough, women and children screaming, gunshots, the sound of burning flesh sizzling in the wreckage perforates my eardrum and reminds me to keep moving.
"Law" a voice calls for me, I turn and see my friend Alex taking cover, even the darkness of night can't stop me from telling that my friend is in a bad way. I start running towards him knowing in battle every second matters…
A joke is told and the laughter brings me back to the land of the living, why couldn't it be me? The question that escapes my lips every day, why did he have to die?
Out of habit a scan the room until my eyes land upon her….even in grieving she gives off a glow. She wipes a tear from her eyes and sits calmly and quietly…ever the stoic even during a ceremony that only reminds her that this nineteen year old kid is alive, and not her husband.
Beside her is his daughter, only a year old staring back at me as if knowing I am the one responsible for her Daddy never coming home.
The president comes over and slips the medal over my neck and whispers a nearly silent congratulations and steps back to face the crowd.
"Airman First Class James Law is awarded on behalf of the President and Congress the Medal of Honor…" my mind blanks as I look out among the faces, I want to scream "Not me…its him that should be honored not me…he would still be alive if I had just…."
My thoughts are drowned out by the clapping, but that's not what I hear…I hear a soft cry from his little girl and that breaks through and chills me to the bone… the question returns why you and not him?
I can only answer I don't know.
Chapter 14 "In harm's way"
My head goes underwater for the fifth time and for the fifth time I struggle to hold my breath as the rough hands hold me under.
The feeling of over a thousand knives stabbing my body hits me as I count in my head 'one, two, three' soon I reach thirty and unwillingly I breathe in filling my lungs with icy water and I wait.
Seconds go by and I realize something is terribly wrong I'm not breathing air I'm still submerged. Another few seconds go by and the panic starts to set in as I realize the game has changed, more time goes by and the darkness starts to creep in.
I thrash violently against the hands that keep me in water; I desperately try and yell which allows more water to seep in.
Just before I'm completely gone I feel myself being dragged up, I break the surface coughing and hacking trying to expel whatever fluid that was still in my lungs.
Loud music fills my ears as I see the group of three men gathered around me laughing, the one who's their leader runs his greasy hand through my short hair and yanks me up so I face him.
"So tell me about Alexandria" my blood runs cold at the mention of the name. "How do you know about that?"
A thin smile across his face "it took a while but the boy talked… after we took turns with him"
I feel disgusted as the man looks at me before he laughs with the rest of his gang "Just kiddin, we didn't do anything to the boy" he slaps me across the face and gets closer "But we will and if you don't tell us what we want…it won't be pleasant"
I can barely hear what the man says due to the music and not to mention my exhaustion "tell me how you know the name?" I croak
The man motions for the two men leave after they get me out of the icy water and tie me to a chair. After they leave the man turns the music off and I breathe a sigh of relief.
It had been two days…wait, no…three days…two?
It had been a while, memoires filling my mind. Rick is defiantly looking for us, especially if Carl is missing too. Why didn't I just take him home when I found him? No don't think like that, you have to protect him and get him out of this…don't play the what if game.
"We have people everywhere, inside your town, your neighbors, friends…" I think back to everyone, wondering if I could have been so blind before it dawns on me that the man is smiling again.
"Fooled you twice, come on you can't be this gullible" He slaps me across the face for the third time…second? And then goes over to a table where various items are littered about.
You…are not gullible, your just…just what, my mind is swimming beyond my control, did they drug me?
"I have to tell you, we were about ready to pack up and go home till we heard your car…and I have to admit you both were quite the catch.
"Where's Carl?" my voice sounding weak and tired, devoid of any confidence. The man stops for a moment and looks over "Is that his name?" the man turns back toward me with a coat in his hand.
I'm silent, cursing myself for giving away any piece of information. "I will admit, that kid is stubborn and a bit of a fighter too. The man reveals a scar on one of his arms, "but I wouldn't worry about him…he has uses to us"
Another grin and I want to throw up, the man throws the coat on the floor near me and I read the symbol on the sleeves along with a badge. Commonwealth of Virginia Constable. Alexandria.
"Did you forget that that was in your car" the man goes back to the table and begins looking around again. I feel the guilt building up to the point that I'm worried that it's going to spill over.
"You know that people are going to come looking?" I with certainty
Without missing a beat the man responds "I think we can handle your people, we've known about Alexandria for a few months now, none of your people can handle this world"
They don't know about Rick, they've underestimated us…yes.
He gets so close that I can see his yellowed teeth, smell his last meal.
"So James" the use of my name sends an involuntary shiver up my spine as he continues "you and Carl are not going to leave here, alive. I'm going to let anyone and everyone do what they want to you and Carl…Just between you and me a lot of them are lining up outside Carl's cell"
His message sinks in as I try to come up with something to get me some freedom or at least spare Carl for a moment, the man starts walking towards the door as I let out a small laugh.
He steps back and glares at me "something funny"
"You, really have no idea who your fucking with" a smile fresh on my face as the man opens up the door
The smirk reappears on his face as he coolly states "Neither do you"
So I hope that you all seriously enjoyed, please leave a review if you did and again you can Private message me if you have any questions. Thank you reading.