5 miles away from R.O.F Base
Zachary Goode:
I looked out the window of the car we were in hollowly. Cammie's parents and my dad looked at me concerned.
Agony.
I'm in complete and utter agony. I've called out her name so many times. But it wasn't any use. It would never be any use. I kicked the seat in front of me. Everyone turned to look at me. I told her. I told her not to leave. But that was no use. I'm useless. I shuddered at the thought.
"It's not your fault, Zach," Matthew whispered. To hell with that. They've told me that but it was my fault. I could have stopped her. If only I'd held her closer and brought her with me...but that would have been against her will. Had I done that she would never forgive me. I sighed putting my face in my hands. I shook my head and my body trembled. It took every last bit of strength I had not to cry. If I cried one more time, I would seem weak. Preston's voice suddenly came into my mind. What he had told me countless times really.
Zach. Just because you show emotion doesn't mean you're weak. If you cry it does not mean you are weak. If you show it, it doesn't make you weak. You know, it actually makes you stronger, Goode. Show some emotion. It's only natural. It's what makes us human.
I want to believe Preston right now. But I can't. Or I won't bring myself to. I sighed once again. Through my comms unit, I heard the commotion going on inside the R.O.F's base. All of a sudden I heard Julie's voice. I perked up at the sound of her voice. Then I heard her name.
"Cammie!?" Julie asked. There were audible gasps. I sucked in a breathe. "Cammie. You shouldn't be here. You were supposed to be...where are the others?" Julie asked worriedly. She's alive. That's a good start.
"Did you place them?" Cammie asked. I let out an exhale of relief. "Julie! Behind you!" There was a calmness in her tone but I knew better. I knew she was wary of the situation at hand. I heard fighting. I bit my nails and my dad took my hand.
"Stop that," He said sternly. "I know how you feel?"
"Really?" I say mockingly. "How would you know, Townsend?" My father raised an eyebrow at the use of his last name but didn't scold me. Instead, he answered my question.
"That feeling you are experiencing is the same feeling I get when I know my son is being reckless and is trying to get himself killed in the heat of battle. So yes, Zachary, I d know how you feel?"
"I am not reckless!" I protest half-heartedly.
"Yes, you are." Abby piped up. "Remember Moscow?" I shook my head.
"I was trying to save my father, Abby," I mutter. She shook her head.
"That's not how I think of it." She says somewhat gloomily. My father nodded.
"That's true," He said thoughtfully. "I remember telling you to go and save yourself and Abby. But of course, as always, you don't listen to me. You're reckless. If you keep disobeying you'll end up in a casket underground." My father says darkly.
"I wanted to save you." I protest.
"And I told you to save yourself." He retorts. He sighs shaking his head.
"If only you'd listen..." Dad says somewhat angrily.
"Cammie is also reckless at times," Rachel whispers. Her whisper pierces the silence. Everyone looks at her. "I guess it's the Morgan genetics. Matthew is also reckless. I always wondered how much longer I have with them before they do something so stupid it'll kill them."
"That's true. It's an attribute I wish she hadn't inherited. Although I would get reckless to save those I love. So does Cammie. Is she doing it to save all of us or..." Matthew looked at me as he trailed off. "Or is it to save you?" Everyone looked at me. I heard static in my comms then Cammie yell out, "Adam!?"
Everyone tuned in to hear what was going on.
"Cammie! They're waiting. Zach's waiting." Adam said slightly out of breath.
"Don't you think I know that?!" Cammie says yelling slightly. I let out a breath. What's going on in there?
Cammie's POV:
We had taken down the R.O.F's agents but I knew more reinforcements were going to come. Adam clutched onto my arm trying to pull me away. I stood my ground.
"Stop!" I yelled at him. "I'm not leaving." I grinned my teeth as he grabs my shoulder that I'm pretty sure is dislocated.
"Why not?" He asks furiously.
"Because I owe it to her. She saved my life. Now it's my turn. She's the one who gathered everyone to rescue us didn't she?" Adam's eyes glittered with hidden emotion.
"Yes," Adam says softly. "Fine. I'll help you save her. I owe you anyway."
"No, you don't," I say confused.
"Yes, I do. You may not know what I owe you but I owe you. Trust me. We'll help each other. Ok?" I nod slowly. Reluctantly I let Adam help me fight off the R.O.F agents. Once we finished Julie looked at us. Panic flickered across her face.
"I need to place one more bomb but I can't go. I need to protect my squad. Can you two go for me? It'll be quick. An easy in-and-out. Please?" She pleads. I nod and Adam takes the box Julie hands him. "Go straight ahead for 48 yards then turn left. There should be a door 5 feet from that turn to the right. Place the bomb there and that should terminate this base. GoIt it? And you two? Avoid fighting as much as you can." We nod and run towards the place Julie told us to place the bomb in.
There were about 5 enemy agents running our way. I would probably hurt myself more if fought them but then again I had already worsened my condition by helping Julie. I didn't mind. This was my job. And even though we lived confined to not knowing if we'd return alive or not, I liked my job. Actually, I love my job. It's what keeps me going. Adam glances at me quickly and hands me the box that contained the bomb. Adam quickly sneaks a look at me before charging towards the enemy agents. He took them all out swiftly. My body relaxed as he took down the last agent. Suddenly someone grabs me from behind and I let out a yelp in surprise. Then all of a sudden I'm back at Gallagher with Joe Solomon lecturing the whole sophomore class.
Notice things.
I glance at the figure. Male, white, hazel eyes, black hair, 5'9", about 160 pounds. He was heavier than I was. So I used his own weight against him. He fell on his back and I took it as a chance to hit him in his vital parts. I went for the head and with one blow he was out cold. I sighed in relief. Adam yelled my name in panic. In my ear, through my comms unit, I heard a sharp inhalation of air and heard a male voice swear, "Fuck. She's in trouble."
Zach.
My heart started racing all of a sudden. He was listening to everything that was going on. I needed to make it out of here alive. For him. For us. I sucked in a breath and knew I had to place the bomb. We ran into a few more agents and fought them off. Adam and I fought them off one by one but with every blow I threw at them and received, my body throbbed. I held in a whimper and kept fighting because I put myself into this situation. I smiled bitterly and ran with Adam towards the room. We made it. I silently thanked God.
I took the contents out of the box and started to put them together. All I had left to do was set the time frame. I looked at Adam who looked worried. I sighed.
"Adam? Time frame?" I asked.
"Um..." Adam trailed off. "I'll ask Julie," He asked Julie through comms who responded with, "10 minutes. Set it for ten minutes."
Adam and I glanced at each other. The last time I had placed a bomb I had almost died and Adam and James had been there with me. All 3 of us almost perished and when we made it out alive we thanked God.
I let out a breath and set in the time. "Cammie!" Adam yelled in surprise. I whirled around just in time to see Adam and I were being surrounded by enemy agents.
"Adam..." I say softly. He just glances at me and shakes his head. I look around and we're outnumbered.
Zach, I'm sorry.
A tear trails down my cheek. I talk into my comms unit and Adam watched his features softening. "Zach...Blackthorne Boy... je t'aime...and to everyone else listening I'm sorry."
I hear a rise of voices. "No!" Zach whispers. If only I could be with you. I'm sorry.
I looked at the enemy agents and embrace myself for the incoming blow.
James' POV:
"...and to everyone listening I'm sorry."
As I heard those words leave her mouth I exited the van. Everyone else followed out. Matthew Morgan reached me and held me back. He whispered, "James no."
I looked at him and said, "I'm going. Let me help them. My brother and my childhood friend are there. I owe them, Matthew Morgan. And you do too." Once those last four words left my mouth I immediately regretted it. Matthew stumbled back a little at the words and his eyes clouded with regret. At this opportunity, I ran towards the building. I heard struggles behind me but I didn't dare look back. I kept going forward.
"James!" I heard Zach yell. "You'll only get yourself killed. There are 7 minutes and counting! You won't make it. Come back!" I heard the struggle and pain in his voice as it trembled. Emotions threatened to consume me but I pushed them back. That text from earlier...
*Flashback to when we got to the van*
My father came up to me and hugged me. I sighed deeply and welcomed my fathers' embrace. I swore in Japanese. I looked at my father whose face held a grim expression.
"Here," He whispered into my ear. "It pinged earlier...I think...it's from that women. I didn't look at it..." His face shows his conflict of emotions. I hold him tight and take the phone. He goes and greets the others. I stand alone in the clearing and suck in a breath as I realize my father is right.
It is from that women.
James. James. You stupid boy. You didn't really think I wasn't going to hurt them, did you? I told you. Matter of fact I warned you. Now you're paying the price.
-C
*Flashback over*
I ran faster trying to block out Zach's yells. I enter the base and attempt to follow the sounds I hear. As I keep rounding corridors, I bump into Julie who immediately grabs my arm and pulls me the direction I came. She shakes her head at me.
I get out of her grip and run faster. "Adam!" She yells. But before she could reach me I turned the corridor. I ran and ran. My internal clock said I had 3 minutes. I bump into Cammie and Adam. I let out a sigh of relief. They glance at me in horror.
"2 minutes and 30 seconds and counting!" Liz's shrill voice said through the comms. We were surrounded in a matter of seconds.
"Guys..." I start but Adam cuts me off.
"What the hell are you doing here!?" Adam snaps at me. "You act like the older brother? Really? Seriously, you should have stayed in the van. I came here to save you. Even if I died. Now we're all going to die." I glance at Cammie pleadingly and she only gives me pointed look. She shakes her head and we all brace ourselves for the blow.
But it doesn't come. All the enemy agents just run. And just like that, we're left alone. I start running and I notice they're right behind me.
"How far away are we from the exit?" Cammie asks panic coloring her tone.
"At least 10 meters. The nearest. It'll take us to the southeast. I came from the southwest which is much farther."
"Guys!" Liz says worriedly. "55 seconds!"
We sprint even faster. 4 meters...3 meters...2 meters...
The explosion goes off and we brace ourselves for what comes next.
"Adam, James, Cammie!" Liz yells. Her voice is the last thing we hear before it consumes us.
Zach's POV:
I call out her name before I hear the sound of the explosion. I whirl around to face the destruction. I dropped to my knees. Everyone stared at the base in horror. I heard Rachel murmur incoherently and start sobbing. I start breathing raggedly.
Cammie...no...God no...please no...
My body shakes. My eyes water with tears. My father rushes towards me and hugs me.
"Zach..." He says softly. "Zach..."
Je' tamie...
Those were your last words to me. My body shakes more violently this time. Then I heard all of your gasps. Your final breath...no...
I look up at the building in the distance as it burns and let all my emotions out in the absolute pain I felt at the moment. I let it all out.
Without you Cam...
I'm nothing.
Thx for waiting for this next chapter. What do you think is going to happen next? All answers to come in A Dangerous Game. I also couldn't have gotten this chapter done without the song, "Attack ON Titan" by Hiroyuki Sawano and Mika Kobayashi.