The first thing Charlie Granger felt was the hug of an actual mattress. The soft, soothing embrace of a cotton blanket, her neck and head being supported by a down pillow, eradicating the kink in her neck from sleeping in positions not meant for sleeping.
Am I dead? Is this heaven?
She thought, hoping that her life of torment and suffering was finally over and she was free to be at peace. Her fairytale dream was interrupted by a very irritating sound. A beep with a rising tempo as Charlie realized she had not yet reached the soothing afterlife.
Oh fuck me. I'm still alive.
Finally opening her eyes, Charlie saw that she was indeed still alive and was attached to medical equipment she had only seen in Grey's Anatomy. The hospital bed she laid in was in the middle of an all white room with no windows except, what appeared to be, a large mirror on the wall directly in front of her next to the cold metal door. But Charlie knew better, it's one way glass.
With the understanding that she was in an unfamiliar place, being watched by unfamiliar people, for an unidentifiedamount of time, she started to vigorously panic. And as her anxiety kept increasing so did the annoying beep of her heart rate. She promptly turned her head both ways, looking for any clues she could find to help her answer the trillions of questions in her mind. But as her frantic eyes scoured every square inch of the room, she realized with dread that this room was a barren page. No windows, one door with a keypad lock, security cameras peering inside. Finally, after analyzing all the little details of her new prison, she came to a frightening conclusion.
It's happening again.
He was right. Of course he was, he knew with one hundred percent certainty that this would happen. None of the harsh, but no less deserving, words coming out of Erica Sloane's mouth made him feel any worse than his own conscience. Too busy trapped in his own head, August only heard every third or fourth word coming out of his boss's mouth.
"...idiot...casualties...loss of life...failure...indefinite suspension"
Those last couple words finally freed August from the torment of his own mind. Snapping his head up to look at her with at pure unadulterated rage, which slowly dripped off his face with a solemn understanding. The things he had done couldn't be forgiven by the agency, Sloane, or himself.
"Do you have any idea what kind of shit you are in Walker? Don't answer that, and don't even try to argue.", Ms. Sloane said, glaring at him from behind her desk. The frustration in her eyes and tone obvious. As soon as he walked into her office he knew this would not be a normal conversation between the two. Before he was sent to Venezuela on this mission, the pair had a mutually beneficial relationship. Erica Sloane wanted the job done he got it done, and if August got a little too careless, she brushed it aside. August was always efficient and if he had a little extra fun so what, Sloane didn't care. All she cared about were results, and he got them no matter what. But not even Erica could overlook August increasing lack of responsibility. It was foolish to think this wouldn't be the end result of this horrible mission. August opened his mouth to stop Sloane from wasting her breath.
"I agree.", those two words stopped Erica Sloane in her tracks. Of all the possible outcomes, this turn of events didn't even cross her mind. This was Walker. She was expecting the brick wall with a hot head and smart mouth to come out. Scream, throw things, or even give her the silent but deadly murder stare.
"You agree?", she asked hesitantly. She was afraid that by asking him to clarify he'd take it all back with sharp words and sarcasm. It was silent for a minute, both parties silently evaluating the other, attempting to read behind the eyes, to predict what would set the other off. He nodded once, slowly before speaking.
"I agree. My actions were wrong. The lives lost are on my hands. Do as you will.", short and to the point. August wanted this over as soon as possible. Admitting he was wrong was not his forte. Shocked but pleased, Sloane curtly gave him his punishment.
"You are here by suspended from all active duty until I say otherwise. You will not go on any operations. You will not leave the country, you will not leave the city. You will hand in your weapon. You will work in this building, in the office assigned to you."
Disappointed but not surprised, he lowered his head not wanting Sloane to see him as more weak than she already did. Eager to get this over with quickly he asked one last question.
"Is that it?", he asked inwardly crossing his fingers and toes that was it. But by the look in her eyes he could tell he wouldn't be getting this wish. But what else could she do? Desk duty was the worst, what ever else she had cooking he could get through.
It couldn't be that bad.
"No, one more thing. The girl, you will be in charge of her debrief, her rehabilitation, everything. Have fun.", she said with a light smirk and his heart dropped.
He was wrong. This was bad.
Hello Readers! I started this book last year and recently found passion to try and finish it so I made some changes. I based her name from two of my favourite female characters (Charlie Bradbury and Hermione Granger). Also I made her from Canada because I am from Canada and I felt like it :)
Hope you guys like it so far!