Hey guys, ain't much to say so I'll just be going on into it, God bless, pleas read and review. ATTENTION ALL READERS! APRIL 15, 2016 I WILL BE CHANGING MY PEN NAME TO JUST SOMEDUDE!

Chapter 4: Pursuit of memories

Pvt. Dane Mathews

They were on the helicopter back to the Grimm's house. Charming called in and pulled their squad from the warzone, said he had a mission for them, and that Puck had recovered, and that the Lieutenant's replacement was ready. Mathrews didn't know who this new recruit was, but he could already tell they weren't going to ever replace O'Riley

"Alright boys," Conners said "We're coming up on the Grimm house, I don't know what this mission is, but I can guarantee you it won't be able to handle us."

Conners tried keeping their morale up after the LT's death, but it had settled in hard. First Jeffreys, now O'Riley. Mathews had fought alongside them for years, it was like having your brother literally ripped from your side while you stood by, powerless to stop it. His knuckled were turning white as he gripped his sniper rifle, vowing silent vengeance on the people who had killed brothers.

"Come on now," Miller said "I know O'Riley's death has us a little down, but we can't spend our time thinking about him. It ain't what he would've wanted, and it'll get us killed."

"Miller's right," Rogue said, nudging him "We're gonna be okay, the old guy may be gone, but we'll all see him again one day."

"Like I said," Liam laughed "I hope they got good bear in Heaven."

"I'll bet ya they do," Conners said "And I bet the old man's having a cold one right now, watching over us."

"Yes sir," Jax laughed "Probably wishin' Liam would've given a better speach."

This made them all laugh, which felt good on Mathews's face. He hadn't smiled in what seemed like so long, he hardly ever had a reason to these days. He hadn't gotten a letter from Gretchen in weeks, he was wondering if maybe she had moved on and met another man. Mathews hoped she didn't, he'd hate to come home to that. Although, he was gone for so long he wouldn't have blamed her. The smile suddenly faded from his face as he thought about it, and he forced himself to push it away.

"Coming in for a landing," The pilot said "Go on ahead and get out, we'll head back to help out the boys on the front."

"Copy that." Conners said, motioning for us to follow him

The chopper was less than five feet off the ground, not a big jump. Conners jumped, and was quickly followed by the rest of the squad. Conners gave a quick salute to the pilot as the chopper took off, leaving them alone in the Grimm's yard.

"Ah, you're here," An old woman's voice came from behind them "Good, Charming will be glad to see you. But not until you get showered up and have some decent food in your bellies."

"That won't be necessary, Mrs. Grimm," Conners said "We'll have to report directly-"

"Oh nonsense," Relda laughed "It's no trouble at all, come along now."

Turning down a decent meal and a shower wasn't seeming like a smart thing for Mathews to do, so he shrugged and followed the old lady inside. Conners rolled his eyes and motioned the rest of the men to follow him, knowing that their appetites would eventually get the better of them.

"I assume you've at least heard a bit about why Charming has called you here?" Relda said, pushing the front door open

"Yes ma'am," Conners said "Pulled us straight off the line in the middle of battle, this had better be good."

"Oh I promise you," She said "It is."

They filed into the kitchen where Puck was seated at the dinner table, in his uniform. He smiled as his brothers entered the room, and Mathews laughed, clapping him on the back. He grimaced, as though it pained him, but he looked much better than he had the last time they'd seen him.

"Well if it isn't our old friend," Jax laughed "I'm getting really tired of dragging your sorry ass away from explosions, Private."

"I'm tired of getting caught in them." Puck laughed

As the Guardians sat down, the other Grimms filed inside. Red, Basil, Veronica, Sabrina, Daphne, Jake, Henry, and Elvis the dog. Mathews liked dogs, and Elvis loved Mathews. He called Elvis to him, and he came without hesitation, sitting down eagerly awaiting a bite of whatever food Mathews had on him. He broke off a small chunk of his rations and fed it to the dog, who threw it down like it was the best thing he'd ever tasted. Mathews began to notice how quiet Basil was, very unusual for a kid his age, but he supposed that this type of environment would kill anybody's need for conversation. Charming and Snow White followed in behind them, looking as if they'd just argued. Charming was dressed in his uniform, with four medals hanging from it. He took a seat and gave a small smile to the men seated before him, while Relda began dealing out the food.

"First, it's good to see you all in one piece," Charming began "Secondly, you'll be happy to know that Puck has been medically cleared to return to duty."

"Yes sir," Conners said, taking the plate of food Relda offered him "If I may ask, sir, why were we taken off the front line in the middle of a battle for this? What's that important."

"I'm glad you asked, Sergeant," Charming said "I have a special assignment for you, and several other units. We received word from the Editor a few hours ago, and it appears that the Scarlet Hand has found a way into the book of Everafter."

"They what?" Puck asked "How?"

"Forget how," Miller said "Why is that our problem? We need to control the town, not some stupid book."

"Because the memories have escaped from the book, all the unpublished stories and characters pushed away from it have begun escaping and attacking troops, Scarlet Hand and Guardian alike," Charming said "And so, the Scarlet Hand has gone inside, thinking that if they destroy the book, it might stop it."

"And it won't?" Sabrina asked

"No, it won't," Charming said "As a matter of fact, it will destroy Everafters. Since those memories aren't part of the story, they will continue to run rampant, with nobody to stop them."

"But the one leading the Scarlet Hand is an Everafter," Black spoke up "Wouldn't that benefit us?"

"You forget, the one leading the Guardians is also an Everafter," Snow said "As well as countless others fighting for our same cause, the Editor has agreed to help us with these memories if we agree to go into the book and stop the Scarlet Hand."

"I'm sending in handpicked units," Charming said "Tanks and infantry, Baba Yaga can't move the aircraft inside. The Editor has the book, so we have to use magic, and he has also promised not to send his Erasers out to clean up the mess and fix the stories until the Scarlet Hand is gone, so you won't have to worry about them."

"So we're going into a book," Mathews said "And we're taking the war with us. God help us all, we're fighting in our favorite fairy tales."

"You'll get showered, fed, cleaned up, and stock your weapons and ammunition," Charming said "After that, we'll send you in. There will be other men with you, and do try not to get any of the people in the stories killed."

"Will do, sir." Jax said sarcastically

"And one more thing," Charming said "Lieutenant O'Riley's replacement has arrived. She's finished her training, and thanks to Snow's constant nagging about it, she'll be joining your unit."

"Nagging?" Snow demanded

"She?" Conners asked "Where is she, sir?"

"She's right there," Charming said, nodding to Sabrina "Gentlemen, meet Private Sabrina Grimm, the newest member of your squad."

Jake

16:00 hours

Book of Everafter

Story: Cinderella

"Alright boys," Cole said "Eyes open for any Scarlet Hand, try not to hit anything else."

"No promises," Nico laughed "I've got an itchy trigger finger, where's those sons of bitches gotten off to?"

"Jake?" Bible asked

"Not a fuckin' thing," Jake said, looking around "I think we're clear."

"Alright, pull the tank over," Elias said "I gotta stretch my legs."

"Me too." Cole said

The tank stopped rolling and Elias pushed the top of the tank open, pulling himself out of it. Cole followed him, then Bible, then Nico, and Jake went out last. When Jake pulled himself out, Cole was already passing around a pack of cigarettes and pacing the perimeter of the tank. Jake took one when it came to him, lighting it up almost instantly. He didn't smoke when he'd first arrived, most of them didn't, but combat did strange things to a man.

"I say just nuke this stupid book," Nico said "Fuck this pushing them back bullshit, blow this fucker up."

"Amen to that," Bible said "Pull our boys out of the town, lure the Scarlet Hand in, level the town."

"Then start carpet bombing the shit out of the mountains until we're sure that we got them all," Cole said "Send some guys in on foot just to be sure."

"If we were running this war it would've been over years ago." Bible laughed

"If we were running this war this entire world would be a nuclear wasteland," Jake said "Everywhere I've been, all I've heard is blow it up."

They all broke out in laughing fits, and the sounds echoed throughout the night. They were a few miles outside a small village on some farmland, patrolling for Scarlet Hand. The Guardians had immediately set up a base in the king's palace, who offered his soldiers, which were declined. Nobody knew where the Scarlet Hand might be waiting, so all troops were on alert, and Jake's sensed were worn.

"Keep your eyes open," Cole warned them as they laid back on the outside of the tank "Scarlet Hand could be anywhere, and possibly more of those memory things running around in here."

"How did they even get out?" Bible wondered "Isn't there supposed to be some sort of barrier keeping them out of the stories?"

"Somebody must've knocked it down for them," Elias spoke up "The question is who."

They all fell silent, listening to the crickets chirp in the night sky. The Editor had said he wouldn't send in Erasers until the Guardians had pushed back the Scarlet Hand, which meant the people in the town were free to do whatever they wanted without being reprimanded, and Jake was willing to bet the people were willing to live in a war zone for that type of freedom.

"Lucy to Drill," A voice spoke from inside the tank "Lucy to Drill, Sergeant Cole, do you read me?"

Cole pulled himself up next to the tank hatch and reached inside, coming out with the radio. Jake knew that this probably wasn't good, and somebody was probably in trouble if they were being contacted in the middle of the night like this, even despite the fact they were already out on a patrol.

"Copy that, Graham Cracker," Cole said "What do you need?"

"We've got a convoy of Scarlet Hand vehicles heading your way, just trucks and troops, no tanks." Graham said

"And you want us to hold our position until reinforcements get here?" Cole asked

"Yeah, that's the plan," Graham laughed "Scouts didn't report seeing any rocket launchers, so you should be fine."

"Heard that before," Cole muttered "Alright boys, let's move out."

"Ugh," Elias groaned, climbing back onto the tank "Had to be on our patrol."

"We'll only have to hold for a minute or two," Jake laughed "It'll be fun."

"I been itching to blow down some more Scarlet Hand." Cole grunted, dropping into the tank

They gathered back into the tank and Jake heard it start up, it's familiar hum beneath his feet. He looked down the sight of his gun and watched out for any Scarlet Hand in the fields, popping out to take shots. They moved up the road slowly, but Jake still couldn't see anything.

"I see something," Bible said, looking down the sights of the cannon "Looks like a Scarlet Hand convoy alright."

"Open fire?" Jake asked, looking at Cole

"Yeah," Cole nodded "But let Bible fire first, but we're gonna have to move up."

Cole steered the tank forward, and the convoy began to come into view. Jake was amazed they hadn't been spotted yet, as they were wide out in the open, but nothing seemed to indicate that the Scarlet Hand had seen them yet.

"Alright Bible," Cole said "Smack the shit out of em."

"On the way!" Bible called

A massive boom sounded and a cloud of dirt flew up around the Scarlet Hand convoy, which scattered. Gunfire blazed to life in front of them and Jake heard bullets bouncing off the tank, and took it as his cue to open fire. He let a burst go into a small group of them hiding in the bushes, watching them fall.

"On the way!" Bible yelled again

One of the trucks exploded in a massive ball of fire, blowing away several Scarlet Hand units. Jake opened fire into the line again, ripping apart even more of them. Cole was seated on the gun outside, letting every round they had go into them.

"Come here you sons of bitches," Bible muttered "Come on, that's it...On the way!"

Another massive explosion rocked the country side and knocked a crater in the road, throwing Scarlet Hand units everywhere. As Jake was letting rounds pour into the convoy, something caught his eye. A pack of wolf looking creatures was running towards them at a high speed, looking extremely vicious. Another thing he noticed, they were made of a clear, gelatin-like substance.

"Oh shit!" He yelled "Guys! It's those memory things again!"

They turned away from the Scarlet Hand and broke for the tank, moving several feet with each step. Jake let a burst go but they absorbed the bullets, and still kept moving. Jake began to panic, he had no clue what to do.

Is this the end? He thought to himself

Bangarang! Not a Skrilex reference, fuck that bitch, it's a Hook reference, because I'm a boss. Anyways, I'd like to give a quick shoutout to everybody who has reviewed so far, I love you guys, makes my day so much better. Head over to Booksie (Stick the ole dot and then a com in there too) and check out my new book, Earned in blood. You can find me under the name Just Somedude, anyways, God bless, and I love you guys.