A/N How was the chapter? Let me know what you think? Also, would anyone be interested if I made a Covenant story? If so, give me a PM and any idea's you might have for it.
Aiming with the gun, I had yet to hit anything but air for two whole hours. This was starting to become pointless and annoying. Standing with my feet close together, I sighed as I looked out toward the distance. Squinting with my eyes, I glared at the red dot that had been sprayed on the tree. Lifting the heavy gun in my hands, I enclosed both my hands around it before firing. Feeling the familiar force of the bullet push the gun back in my hand, I could feel the familiar anger spread through my chest. I had missed – again.
Looking over to Helen with a huff, she too stood with the gun raised before her. The only difference being that she had managed to hit the tree. It might not have been the red dot, as the few bullet marks either skimmed on the side or were located at the high top or low bottom; but it was still better than me at this point. Sighing, I lowered my gun to watch Helen fire her own with determination. I wonder if she's done this before. She seemed to know what she was doing – somewhat.
Watching intently as Helen fired, I wasn't paying attention to the soldier as he walked toward me. Feeling his large hands on my shoulder, he turned to face my body back toward the tree "Stop looking at her, and focus" sighing as I looked at the target, the soldier still stood behind me "get into position" doing as he said, I stood with the gun raised with both hands.
Feeling his eyes roam around my body as he circled, not at all bothered by the loaded gun I was holding, he came to stand behind me once again. Placing his hands back on my shoulders he kicked my feet apart, and if it weren't for his hands steadying me, I would have fallen over. Feeling his chest press up against my back, I felt a sudden sense of confinement as a wave of warmth flowed through my cheeks and body "Relax your shoulders" he said with a slight squeeze. Moving his hands to my waist, he bent me forward a few centimetres to make my stance stronger "now…pull the trigger"
Doing what he instructed, I breathed a sigh before pulling the trigger back. Hearing the bang of the hammer, the bullet cut through the air to wedge itself straight into the thick wooden tree. Lowering the gun, I glanced at the bullet hole just below the red mark "Better" he said before taking a step over to the side, crossing his arms over his chest again "now do it again" looking at him, I felt lost as the warmth of his body had left from behind me.
Feeling my heart thump in my chest, I stood firm in the position he had put me in. Aiming the gun again, I pulled the trigger. Listening to the sound, the bullet landed a few centimetres away from the previous one. I had managed to get somewhat closer to the red target. Looking over to the soldier, I watched as he stood unfazed. No emotion on his face. I wondered if he was impressed or not. Staring into each other's eyes, it took him a few second to move from his position to pass by me. Heading straight to the table, he called us over "Alright. That's enough. Come over here"
Following his instruction, me and Helen looked at each other before walking over to the collapsible table. Standing on the opposite side of the soldier, we placed our guns down as he picked up one of his own "Watch carefully" he said while holding up the black gun. Starting to disassemble the weapon, he gave us a few instructions before reassembling it. Placing it down when he was finished, he gestured to our own guns "I want you to give it a try" nodding my head lightly, I was hesitant but as Helen started, I did to.
After managing to disassemble it with only a little complication, I soon came to realise reassembling was a lot harder than taking it apart. Fiddling around with the different parts, I had forgotten how the soldier had done it and I was starting to become frustrated. Where did all the parts go? What comes next? Looking over at Helen, she was also struggling to put hers back together again.
Sighing as I looked up to the sky, I noticed the sun was still high in the sky, but it must have been nearing lunch time. Standing as I looked down at the gun, I still couldn't figure out where everything went, and to make it even worse – the soldier was still watching us "Where does this go?" asked Helen as she held up a piece of metal in her hand.
"Figure it out" replied the soldier sternly, not at all giving a hint or trying to help. Keeping my eyes down, I focused on my own task.
Using a vast range of guessing and common sense, I laid down the gun onto the table "I'm done" I said, not sounding all too confident in my work. Looking up at the soldier, he picked up the gun, turned and fired. Expecting the loud bang, all that could be herd was the disappointing, small clang of metal. The bullet hadn't fired which meant I hadn't assembled it right.
Placing down the gun, the soldier sighed as he watched Helen for a few more seconds as she struggled "alright. That's enough for today" gesturing with his hands, the soldier started to pack up the duffel bag "we'll continue this tomorrow. Go back to the bunker"
Leaving the table, me and Helen quickly made our way back to the entrance of the bunker. Pulling open the rectangle door in the ground, Helen descended into the light filled room first. Following behind, I closed the door above me before stepping down the ladder and landing both feet on the ground. Dusting my hands off "What do we do now?" asked Helen as she went to sit at the kitchen table.
Glancing down at the bloodied and sweaty clothes, I sighed in disgust "I'll go see if there's any clothes we can use" heading toward the end section of the bunker, I looked around under the beds and in the small cupboards that lined the walls. Not finding anything, I walked into the storage room. Searching around the bundles of ammunition, guns and food, I eventually found some fresh shirts. Bigger and longer than the size needed, it was better than nothing. Taking them out to Helen, I handed her one before gesturing to the bathroom "go take a shower" I said with a smile "I'll wait"
Nodding her head "Thank you" she said before taking the shirt and making her way over to the bathroom. Closing the door, the sound of the pumps hummed through the bunker as the shower was switched on.
Looking down at the white plastic floor beneath my feet, I watched as the dirt and blood from my body washed into the drain with a swirl. Using the soap I had found, I continued to clean myself until I felt human again. It all felt so relaxing, and for a moment I had almost forgotten where I was – almost.
Once I was done, I stepped out and dried myself with the coarse towel before dressing into the baggy grey shirt. Rolling up the long sleeves, I walked out of the bathroom to see Helen laying on her bed with a book in her hand. I wonder where she got that from.
Drying my hair with the towel, I smiled as Helen looked lost in the book. Turning to go, I jumped as the soldier stood behind me; a menacing form in all black. Dropping the towel and clutching my chest in fright, I let out a yelp "You scared me" I muttered under my breath as my heart continued to race beneath my chest.
Watching him bend down, he picked up the towel and handed it to me. Not a single word leaving his covered lips. Taking it from his hands with a barely audible thank you, he moved over to the kitchen table and sat down. Standing still, I watched as he took apart his gun piece by piece. Laying it out on the table neatly, he started to clean the several different parts with a cloth. I didn't know what it was, but for some reason I found it fascinating to watch. Taking steps backward, I felt myself press up against the wall. Sliding down, I sat on the floor before focusing my direction of site on his precise and deliberate movements.
"Are you going to keep staring?" he asked suddenly; not at all looking at me.
Feeling caught, a rush of heat washed through my cheeks turning them red "I…I didn't mean to" I lied, bowing my head down.
"Come over here" he said while picking up another piece of his gun; wiping over it with his cloth. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I got up from the floor and took hesitant steps toward him. Sitting down on the chair opposite him, I looked at what he was doing.
A few minutes passed when I asked "Did you need something?" the silence in the bunk making me become anxious.
"No..." he said while placing the cloth over to the side "I didn't want you sitting on the floor. It's not good for you" watching him start to put his gun back together, I felt – confused. Manipulated. Leaning back in the chair, I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Are you always going to be this way?" I asked, feeling a sense of confidence and annoyance.
"Yes, it is. We've already discussed this – you're my responsibility. As well as that baby" he said gesturing to my stomach with his head.
"Sitting on the floor isn't going to hurt anything – or anyone" I said with distaste in my voice "…If things had been different, this never would have happened. And if I had the chance…I would have gotten rid of it" stopping his actions, the soldier looked up to me.
"…Then why didn't you? If you hate it so much…" he said while staring at me intensely. Clearly he didn't like what I had to say. Sitting speechless in my chair, I shifted uncomfortably. I didn't have an answer "you would've had plenty of opportunities. Yet you did nothing…Why?" he demanded while leaning further over the desk; make me shift back to get away "they were going to kill you sooner or later. Why not get it over with? Why wait and let them get what they want?"
"…I don't…I don't know" I said, stuttering my words. Why was he getting so angry? Why did he care so much? "…Erik…" I finally said. Looking down, I continued "he told me that he was going to help me…but he didn't…he lied to me. Manipulated me into thinking I had a chance – that I was going to see my family"
"Is that what you think of me? That I'm going to betray you. Take you back. Leave you"
"What else am I supposed to think? You're a killer…your supposed to be helping them, but instead your helping us…How do I know it's not all just a lie? That you're like him?"
"Haven't I proven it already? If I was what you think I am, you wouldn't be here. You'd be in that facility, tied down to bed and forced to do what they want…" Looking up, I know what he was saying is right "…when you escaped, you came to me because you were smart. You knew that I was your only chance to get out…and I knew you were mine…What happened can never change, and the sooner you learn that, the better. And as for that" he said pointing to my stomach "you're not getting rid of it…it's not just yours" sighing, the soldier leaned back in his seat "…get comfortable. We won't be leaving here anytime soon. Not until you give birth"
Paralysed with shock at his words, I soon snapped from his hold upon hearing his last sentence "You want us to stay here – for months? You want us to have the baby – here?" I said gesturing to the underground bunker.
"Yes. It's safe. No one knows where here, and if we need supplies – I'll get them" he replied. Looking at me with a heated gaze, his sharp blue eyes pierced me with authority; as if me and Helen don't have a choice.
"And then what?" I said, staring straight back "I have a baby? Where do we go? Where does that leave me?...A mother at sixteen, and you – a father. What kind of life is that? We don't even know each other"
"We don't have to know each other…If you're worried that I'll leave, then don't…All that you need to know, is that I'll provide for you…both of you" he said while looking behind me toward Helen as she lay reading her book; oblivious to our conversation.
"I'm not worried about you leaving. I'm worried about this…child. Erik told me what you are. What they did to you…and if it's anything like that, then I'm afraid. This isn't normal" feeling my chest clench, a sting pinched at my eyes as I looked down at the swollen bump on my stomach. It had grown so much in such a short amount of time "it's going to be a monster" I said just above a whisper "…and monsters only live to be used"