Chapter 8
"NOOOOoooo!"
John slammed into the now closed hallway entrance, pounding on the stones with his fists, until his skin started to tear and blood trickled slowly down the wall. Rodney's face was ash white. He slumped against a nearby wall, as his knees began to buckle, and he slid his body onto the floor.
John tried everything he could think of to reopen the entrance. He tried pulling it apart, kicking at it, swearing at it, all useless. He reached to his side, un-holstering his gun, and started shooting at it while futile tears filled his eyes.
Rodney yelled at him from his position on the floor. "Enough! Can't you see nothing is working!"
John's teary eyes changed to hot fury as he turned quickly, yanking Rodney's body from the ground with one hand to his neck. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! YOU HELD ME BACK!" His grip on Rodney's throat tightened as he continued, his expression desperate. "I could have saved her…I was supposed to protect her……She needed me….." His voice trailed, choking for air.
His grip suddenly lessened and Rodney exhaled deeply and immediately put his own hand to his throat, soothing the reddening area. Rodney looked at John's distraught features and sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry. There's nothing we could have done. You would have died too if I had let you go."
John knew he was right, but didn't care. He would have rather died trying to do something, than swallowing the guilt picturing her outstretched arms and small smile as she tried so hard to reach him.
He did not look at Rodney when he spoke. "Let's go. I need to get the hell out of here."
Rodney nodded and he followed the despondent Colonel to the next room, but not before one last look behind him to the dormant hallway.