Through the ghost
Did you hide yourself away?
Are you living through the ghost?
Did you finally find a place
Above the shadows so the world will never know?
The world will never know you like I do
"Move your ass, soldier!" Commander Valkery Syn ordered to a lanky blonde marine who was falling behind on her obstacle course.
Her steel gaze was enough to get the soldier moving at double speed up the net wall. I watched in disbelief at my former self as she pushed her fringe out of her eyes. I myself had dislocated my knee cap stumbling up the wall. I had to admit John was right the dip dyed purple hair was atrocious.
"Lighten up, Syn" Brian mused from beside her and nudged her with his elbow.
"I'll lighten up when you find me soldiers" She hissed back and pushed the clipboard she was holding into his chest before walking onto the obstacle course. Wow…I really was a bitch…
Brian smirked down at the clipboard and turned to see the action. I walked next to him and smiled at his expression. He never took his eyes off her…well…me. I knew he wouldn't be able to hear me so I stood contently and watched her.
"Eric Fantom, step forward. The rest of you can go" She hissed. I looked around the old base and spotted a few familiar faces but there was one in particular that caught my attention. My former self didn't even notice John was there with the rest of the crowd that gathered around the course. He was watching like a hawk with his arms crossed and his usual stern expression.
"I have three soldiers including myself, I need at least one more to form a task force and I need them by yesterday" Valkery hissed at Brian.
"You have one" Brian said firmly and caught her by surprise.
"I can't let you leave your team high and dry, Brian" She said firmly and crossed her arms.
"They'll survive without me" He replied.
I held my arm over my head as the memory shattered like a piece of glass.
"Syn!" John called as he stormed into the training room where Valkery Syn had a poor marine in an arm bar on the ground. She didn't even flinch and continued to apply more force to her submission hold until the blonde haired marine tapped out.
The black and purple haired Commander patted her opponent on the back before getting to her feet.
"What?" She glanced to John before taking a swig out of her water bottle.
"You can't pick and choose soldiers from unit 6" He stated.
"Unfortunately that isn't your decision and if someone should want to talk to me it should be Asher, not his field grunt" She spat back and pushed past him. No eye contact or anything, she just brushed him off like he was nothing. I was kind of beginning to hate my former self.
I walked after John as he followed her to the locker room and stopped her by grabbing her arm before she could open the door to the ladies locker room. The expression on her…my face was one I knew too well, he was about to get hit…
"What do you want me to say John?" She hissed angrily and stared daggers at him. I remember the stress and anxiety I had over choosing a team, hell being responsible for a team scared the shit out of me back then. I would be damned if I didn't rise to the expectation though, pushing myself was something I'd excelled at in the marine corps. It was do or die.
"I didn't force Brian to join my team" She added firmly. She couldn't have cared less what he thought of her but she'd rather let him hear the truth from her.
"Your team?" He all but laughed.
"Your team is nothing but a group of misfits and rejects that the military didn't want" He said firmly.
"Get your hand off my arm before I break it" Valkery stated firmly and plainly. The spark in her eye told me she'd do anything to prove him wrong and I did.
"And you as their leader? You won't last a day" He hissed. I had to admit young John was also a dick.
"You're pathetic John, truly. No wonder Brian was so keen to leave and join a real team" She spat and smirked at his pissed off expression. I knew I liked to piss off John but this was a little excessive. Granted he did insult my team.
"You're playing with fire Valkery, watch yourself" John added and let go of her arm.
"Is that a threat, soldier? To a higher ranking officer? Asher will not be pleased" She teased. I widened my eyes in surprise, I really was obnoxious. John and I had run for the role of commander but I had got it because of my martial arts background and experience in the field.
"Unlike you I didn't get forced into the military by murdering an innocent man, it is my choice to be here and I would love nothing better than to see you fail. I would rather join the goddamn girl scouts than be outranked by a criminal!" He spat.
People assumed what they would and rumours went around like a massive game of Chinese whispers. They didn't know the true story and I didn't correct them.
I winced as Valkery brought back her fist and slammed it into his jaw. John touched his jaw in surprise and glared and her while wiping the blood of his lip. She went for another hit but he caught her fist. I knew she was holding back because she was on thin ice with the Colonel from the last time a marine pissed her off. I've had broken arms, a fracture in my skull, snapped ribs and too many bruises to count from marines playing dirty but you break a man's arm one time and everyone looses their god damn minds.
"Don't do anything stupid, commander" John chided simply and leaned forward to whisper something in her ear but she gave him a harsh head butt.
"Punch up!" A marine yelled as Valkery pushed John against the wall with her arm against his throat. He could've fought back, though he'd get nowhere. He didn't even try to hurt her…me
"Commander!, get off my soldier!" Sarge yelled at her. Her head snapped in Sarge's direction then back to John.
"I'll see you on the battlefield John" She said simply before releasing him from her hold and walking into the locker room.
"Fuck!" I heard John curse and lean back against the wall.
I looked into his eyes and saw regret mixed with sadness almost. It was strange seeing him so raw. I couldn't comprehend the stupidity of this man to rile up Valkery Syn, he was either very brave or he wanted a reaction out of her…well me.
"You're an idiot" I chided and followed after him as he entered the men's locker room.
"Got beaten up by the Commander I see" One of the marines that had gathered to see the fight asked with amusement.
John didn't say anything he just walked to the sink to observe the damage on his face in the mirror.
"What are you? A bunch of gossiping skirts? Get out!" Asher ordered as he entered the locker room.
The soldiers piled out one by one snickering and laughing. Sarge locked the door behind him and turned to John.
"What did you do, John?" He asked sympathetically.
"She can't just take Brian from beneath us…malicious bitch.." John stated and trailed off. He winced as he wiped off the blood from the cut in his lip with paper towel.
"Serves you right" I snickered.
"It's his choice" Asher stated and let out a sigh.
"I know but it's the wrong goddamn choice, he's joining that team because he's in love with Valkery not because he wants to" John stopped wiping the blood from his lip and stared at Asher.
"And you're not?" Sarge questioned with a concealed smirk. Both John and I gave Sarge the same look of disbelief.
"What? That shifty bitch, no!" John replied in a higher pitch than normal.
"I'm not blind, John" Sarge added.
"Leave it, Ash" John said firmly.
"Why does it bother you so much, John?" Asher questioned in a firm tone.
"Because he should be on unit six not her team, he's too damn good to blow it away for one woman" John stated. I understood his frustration but all in all it was Brian's decision after all.
"Let him decide that" Sarge stated and unlocked the door behind him before stepping out.
I watched with softened eyes as John sat on the bench to the right and pulled at his dark hair in frustration.
"Fucking. Valkery .Syn" He said softly and laid back on the bench. I never knew how I affected him so powerfully.
I closed my eyes and when I opened them I was in the familiar cab of a chopper.
"RRTS 1 come in" Sarge called into his mic as the cab swayed then stabilised.
"RRTS 1: Sinister, I've been hit" I snapped my head to the direction of the speaker in shock.
My eyes trailed back to John who looked to Sarge with wide eyes.
"Shit" He stated in a voice just above a whisper.
"Move out" Sarge ordered and shouldered his weapon.
The old taskforce filed out one by one and I followed behind John. The team approached the RRTS unit one chopper that was engulfed in flame except John, he looked left then right before taking off to the right.
I jogged next to him and looked up to see two motionless bodies on the grass about twenty metres away from the chopper. Oh god, that was me…
I knelt next to John and looked down at my former self's bleeding wounds.
"Valkery?" John asked softly and she drowsily moved her head in our direction. Her hand moved for her rifle and I could almost feel the agonising pain as she got into a crouching position.
"John" She replied in relief and suddenly her eyes widened at the red dot on his forehead.
"No!" I yelled but they couldn't hear me.
"Get down!" She pushed him to the ground and flew back as the bullet made impact with her chest.
"Sin!" John called desperately and crawled over to her body.
"Sarge she's over here" He called into his mic as she drifted into unconsciousness.
"Sin!" He called desperately and quickly unzipped her Kevlar vest. I jumped at the sound of a gunshot and snapped my head up to see Sarge take out the member of the Taliban that'd shot me. I looked back down to John, he was putting pressure on the wound even though the blood was never ending.
At the time I didn't realise how bad my condition was. My skin was almost white and my veins stuck up like speed bumps. The blood was the worst thing, it was everywhere. It stained my…her face and drenched the shirt she was wearing underneath her vest. The stomach wound looked like someone had shot me with a double barrelled shot gun at close range.
"Stay with me Valkery" John said firmly with a hint of emotion.
I knelt next to him and just observed his facial expression. He was trying so hard to keep his calm exterior but I could see he was scared to death. Once again I closed my eyes and the scenery change to a small hospital room.
I was still next to John but he was no longer in his uniform, he was wearing faded jeans and a plain black t-shirt. In the hospital bed was me…well Valkery. A breathing apparatus kept her alive and needles stuck out of her arms as the monitors beeped and told us she was still hanging on. I turned back to John who was holding a dictionary or a small book I guess he found in the confined room.
He leant back in his chair and glanced in her direction.
"Valkyrie: "Chooser of the slain." Valkyries are described as beautiful shield maidens or goddesses who bare only helmets and spears. 'If you see a Valkyrie, it means only one thing, you're going to die.' "John read and smirked at the last sentence.
"That's the truth" He added and glanced in her direction with a frown.
"Don't look at me like that, John" I said firmly and walked around the front of the hospital bed where a folder was placed.
"Valkyrie Syn, 26" I read out loud. Legally my name was Valkyrie but I changed it to Valkery when I joined the marines.
"This doesn't sound promising" I said flatly as I read over the procedures and surgeries I had done.
"Don't you die on me, Valkery" John spoke softly and place his hand in her open palm.
I could only stare in amazement as her fingers slowly curled around his hand, indicating she wasn't done fighting yet. I couldn't help but smirk at the wide smile that grew on John's face from the few seconds her hand squeezed his. He knew I wouldn't give up that easily.
"You'll fight to the death, won't you?" He added with a sad smirk and placed a kiss on her forehead before walking out of the room. I shook my head in disbelief and rubbed my eyes in frustration. If I knew how much my 'Death' would've affected John, hell even Eric I wouldn't have accepted the offer. But I did save a lot of lives by accepting it. I didn't think anyone would miss me while I was gone, but I was wrong. God...I was so wrong...
"Valkery!" I snapped my head toward the source of the noise but no one was there.
"Don't you die on me, Valkery!" John's voice echoed in my ear.