Chapter 5: Nightmare
*Warning* Triggers in this chapter include: implied PTSD, death, war, implied loss of husband, loss of friend, assassination. If these are triggers for you either don't read or read at your discretion.
Swan Residence,
There was a storm outside. The wind howled and thunder roared furiously as lightning flashed. The sky poured rain like monsoon. It was as if the heavens were unleashing their fury on the residence of Washington. The animals hid from the storms fury and anyone who was awake knew better than to be out at this time of the night regardless of the storm.
Inside a house on the edge of first beach lay two lovers in a warm naked embrace, oblivious of the storm raging outside. One lay in a peaceful slumber, content to hold her lover in her arms. The other however, tossed and turned fitfully as she had what seemed like a nightmare. Only what she saw behind her closed eyes was worse than a night mare, for in a nightmare nothing is real. This unfortunately for her was a memory and one she would rather forget.
A lone soldier was sitting on a log in the beach not far from her team's camp looking at a picture in her hand of her girl back home. Dressed in a white tank top, cameo cargo pants, boots, an army issued watch, her dog tags and her hair in a messy pony tail the soldier looked tough yet still beautiful. Looking at the picture of her girlfriend back home, the soldier sighed in longing wanting nothing more to be home in her lover's arms.
"Lieutenant Swan!" Her Second in command and best friend 40 year old Richard Adams called. Richard Adams was the kind of man any girl would be lucky to have as her best friend. Standing at 6'3 with dark skin, broad shoulders, impressive muscles and abs from hours of intense military training. His hair was shaved neared bald, he had a goatee and dark brown almost black eyes no one could deny Richard wasn't handsome. In fact if Bella wasn't taken and very much gay than she would totally fuck him. Unfortunately his wife would probably kill her so there went that fantasy.
Besides his handsome looks Richard is loyal and without a doubt one of the most honorable men Bella had ever met, maybe too honorable. Richard has his own code of honor, never harm a woman or child, innocent until proven guilty and above all loyalty comes before all. While those are good words to live by they have no place in a war. In a war women and children can be the enemy and kill you just as much as a man can. In a war there are no innocents. In a war loyalty is always in question. Your fellow soldiers can save your life one moment only shoot you in the back the next.
Other than his ridiculous code Richard is her best friend and her greatest ally out here in the desert. Being the only woman in her unit absolutely sucks and having a woman in such power leading men pisses everyone off. There have been many complaints but at the end of the day no one can deny that Bella care's for those under her command and makes sure to bring them home no matter what. Glancing up at her friend she noted the panic in his eyes and knew.
"It's time isn't it?" Bella surmised, surprisingly calm despite the fact that she may very well die tonight. Perhaps it was shock or perhaps the idea of death doesn't scare her as much as it should anymore. Seeing his Lieutenant and friend so calm calmed him. If his Lieutenant is not worried about tonight than maybe he shouldn't be either.
"It's time mam," Richard confirmed.
With a sigh Bella dismissed him to get the troops ready. Once he left Bella looked back at the worn photo of Leah with her arms wrapped around her smiling wide without a care in the world, happy. Pressing a kiss to the photo she reluctantly put the photo back in its home in the inside pocket in her army jacket where it would be close to her heart. After a glance at the horizon she prayed as she did every day that she would make it out of here alive and home to her wolf.
Leah was awoken by a loud crash as the thunder outside shook the windows as the wind howled louder. Bolting upright Leah sighed seeing it was just the storm and not an intruder. Running a hand tiredly against the side of her face Leah's sighed again, "there goes sleep," she groused. A whimper caught her attention, glancing at the source of the sound she saw it was Bella. Bella was lightly twitching and shaking her head, soft whimpers left her lips as she slept.
"Oh, Bells." Leah whispered mournfully as she took her distressed lover in her arms hoping to provide her some comfort. "It's okay baby. It's okay. It's just a dream. You're home." Leah murmured in a soothing voice in her imprints ear hoping she could hear her. "You're home baby. Come back to me."
Bella stood in front of a squad of eight men dressed in heavy tactical gear armed with military grade RPG assault rifles. Surveying her troops Bella looked her men in their eyes for any sign of fear and though she found none she gave them the pep talk anyway.
"Today there will be blood," Lieutenant Isabella Swan's strong commanding voice rang through the night. Hearing the steely command and determination in her voice caused the men to stand straight and proud as they listened to the woman who always led them to victory. Watching her soldier's reaction to her authority never ceased to make her proud as she saw the respect they had for her and she strove to keep it.
"There will be death!" Isabella roared as the soldiers cheered. Raising a closed fist in the air to silence them the men immediately quieted. After making sure she had their silence and attention she continued in a somber voice conveying the seriousness of the situation.
"I can't promise you that some of that blood will be ours," Isabella trailed off as she remembered past wounds some of them were her fellow soldiers and some hers. Bella worried how many injuries will befall them this time. "And as much as I wish everyone will go home alive, I can't promise you that either."
There was a moment of silence for their fallen soldiers in the past and those yet to come. After a moment of silence Isabella finished her declaration in a voice full of promise and determination. "But I promise you three things," Isabella paced before her troops looking each man in the eye as she gave her vow. "We will have our victory. The people will have their freedom. THE ENEMY SHALL FALL!"
The men cheered at their leaders promise, all doubts were gone as they roared their approval. "FOR VICTORY!" Isabella screamed as her men took up the chant.
"FOR VICTORY!"
"FOR VICTORY!"
"FOR VICTORY!"
The men continued to chant as Isabella looked on proudly with a wide smile on her face.
As Leah watched over her lover it was quiet for a while besides Bella's whimpers. The storm had stopped for now and only the rain remained. Leah glanced at the alarm clock beside their bed and nearly groaned as she saw the time, three-thirty in the morning. Wearily rubbing her tired eyes Leah yawned, exhausted and wishing she could go back to sleep. Unfortunately she couldn't not only in case Bella needed her, but she also has work in three hours.
Leah works in LaPush Auto's, a business she and Jacob co-own. Normally being her own boss would allow her to work on her own hours. Unfortunately, Jacob has patrols all day, so Leah has to work today from seven-thirty in the morning until eleven-thirty at night. Glancing at Bella who had been quiet for some time now, she smiled as she saw the smile on Bella's face. Letting out a sigh of relief that Bella was free of nightmares she kissed Bella's forehead and closed her eyes for some much needed rest before she had to go to work, unaware how wrong she was as Bella's nightmare had just begun.
Bella and her squad were in an army van headed towards their checkpoint two hundred yards before enemy lines. Sitting next to Richard she noticed the picture in his hands that he was staring at. There was a Hispanic woman with long curled black hair cascading down her shoulders, she had deep blue eyes and was smiling wide. She wore a black cocktail dress, a ruby pendant on a gold thin roped chain, gold hoop earrings and from what Bella's trained eye can see a wedding band on her finger.
"That your wife?" Bella asked curiously as the van continued its course and the rest of the guy's chatted or prayed. Glancing at his friend's curious brown orbs Richard smiled a soft smile.
"Yes, my wife Cindy." Richard said proudly, love shining in his eyes as he spoke of her. "We've been married for fifteen years," Richard proudly proclaimed as he stared at the photo of his wife. "She's pregnant with our first child," he admitted softly still in awe that a woman like her is his and now he will be a father."
Shocked but happy for her friend she smiled at him and clapped him on the shoulder. "Congratulations! Boy or a girl?"
Smiling as he recalled the news and his reaction when he found out the baby's gender.
"It's a girl," he replied
Letting out a laugh at her friend she chuckled "good luck." Seeing her friend's inquisitive stare she elaborated in a voice thick with amusement. "Two words my friend," she patted him on the shoulder in sympathy.
"Periods and Boys."
Hearing those dreaded words he blanched, "oh dear," he practically whimpered much to Bella's amusement. Cackling at her friend's misfortune she was about to comment on the possibility that his daughter might like girls or both just to see his face when all of a sudden the van was knocked over as something, a missile most likely shot at the armored van.
As the van rolled she tried to hold on to her friend and the handle bar. Watching the panic and chaos as everyone screamed in freight she shouted "hold on!" Before she could say any more however her head whacked against the window hard knocking her out.
When she came to Bella noticed the stench of burning hair and smoke. Her ears were ringing and explosions lit the air. Groggily pulling herself up from the ground she looked around at the wreckage hoping to see if anyone survived. Much to her dismay, her entire team was killed. Staring in shock at the dead bodies of her fellow soldiers she had seen alive and talked to not thirty minutes ago shook her to the core.
Pushing herself to her feet Bella winced in pain as some glass got stuck in her hands. Staggering to her feet Bella took a step forward only to scream in pain as her leg gave out causing her to fall. Catching herself on a nearby boulder she looked down to access the damage and nearly threw up at the sight.
Her right leg had a machete sticking straight through her thigh and her right ankle was most definitely sprained as well. Confused about where the hell the machete came from she suddenly remembered Richard packing it just in case. There was no more room though so as unsafe as it was Richard had it on his lap in a scabbard, where the scabbard went is beyond her.
With a groan she realized she needed to pull the damn thing out and wrap it quickly before she lost too much blood, she was already feeling light-headed but she didn't know if that was from her injury or the smoke in the air. Deftly ripping two pieces of her shirt as a makeshift bandage and the other as a gag to prevent her screams from alerting any enemies nearby.
Stuffing the gag in her mouth she grasped the handle of the machete and took a deep breath through her nose to prepare herself before she pulled. With a squelch the blade slide out of her to her relief as she screamed herself hoarse which was thankfully muffled by the gag. Once it was out she blindly tossed the blade away from her and quickly secured the temporary bandage on her bleeding leg. Once securely tied she saw much to her dismay that it had already bled through. With a grimace she took off her tank-top heaving her in her bra and her Kevlar vest, she wrapped the shirt against her thigh tying it securely which seemed to work.
Spitting out her gag she closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath, trying to ride out the pain that wracked her body. Once the pain was manageable she opened her eyes and took in the devastation around her. Every last man was dead. Their vehicle was blown to pieces and there was fire everywhere. "Oh my god!" Bella breathed, tears streaming down her face as she mourned for her comrades. Bella struggled to her feet once more and this time she managed to stay on her feet.
Limping amongst the wreckage she checked for survivors knowing there wouldn't be any but hoping against hope that there was. Bella limped to the body of the truck hoping to find a med kit and Richard as she didn't see his body among the fallen. Bella was almost to the tuck when she heard a sound that caught her attention. Glancing to her right where she thought the sound came from she froze as she saw a body she missed leaning against one of the stray tires of the van. Limping closer she realized upon closer inspection that it was Richard and he was alive
"Oh, thank God!" Bella cried as she hurried as fast as her crippled leg could to her friend's prone form. Once she reached him she heard the sound more clearly, a wet cough. Richard was coughing up blood and most likely choking on his own blood! Looking helplessly at her dying friend she noticed for the first time the big shard of glass protruding from his stomach. Shaking her head in shock and denial she almost didn't hear him.
"B-Bell-Bella?" Richard coughed weakly as he saw his friend through hazy vision. Richard was shocked he wasn't killed on impact, as he was shot by a stray bullet from one of the guns in the van as well as the glass piercing his stomach. Richard knew he wouldn't make it, he could feel himself slipping away. But he was glad his friend-no his sister was here with him until the end. Glancing sharply at her friend's face at the sound of his voice she tried to smile reassuringly at him but it came out as a grimace.
"I'm here Richie, you're not alone." Bella blinked back tears as she realized both that her friend is going to die and she will be the one who is alone after this. Almost like he could read her mind he mustered up a weak grin and rasped "y- you- n- neither." Feeling himself fading faster than he anticipated he weakly grabbed Bella's hand and held it. Looking earnestly into her eyes he implored her "tell them," knowing what he meant Bella nodded tears falling without restraint now.
"I will, I'll tell them," Bella sniffled. With a weak nod he leaned back as his strength left him, the hand Bella held began slipping as he struggled to tell her more. "Take care…" but he never finished his last request as he died. The hand she held slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground with a thump. Understanding her friend's wish anyway she gently closed his eyes and promised him, "I will watch over them I promise."
Pressing a sisterly kiss upon his rapidly cooling forehead she sent a prayer for him, hoping wherever he is he has found peace. Bella's eyes darkened with rage as she vowed upon her fallen friend's corps that those responsible will pay.
Meanwhile, four-hundred yards away a lone figure dressed in black heavy tactical gear, a helmet with a visor, heavy gloves and boots stood on a ridge staring at the destruction he wrought. By the stranger's side lay a RPG missile launcher. Watching the surviving soldier below him the figure absently pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and dialed a familiar number. After a couple of rings a cultured female voice answered.
"Is it done?"
Watching the woman below who had caught the stranger's interest the figure smirked.
"It is done." The figure spoke using a voice modulator disguising the person's voice and preventing anyone from distinguishing if the assassin is male or female.
"Excellent," the woman one the phone answered sounding pleased, "the money has been wired to your account." With that the woman hung up.
After putting the phone away the assassin turned to leave before looking back at the lone survivor of the assassin's work one last time. Pushing the visor up to get a better look revealed unnatural burgundy red eyes.
"Soon," the figure whispered ominously into the air before the stranger disappeared as if they were never there.
AN;)
…Wow!
I seriously surprise myself with writing about shit I have no idea or experience about…just wow.
So anyways, I warned you guys before this chapter about any triggers, if you read it anyway and are… well traumatized I apologize.
So I had this chapter in my head for a while now and I had no idea how to put it down on paper, then I was watching the Pilot of Arrow again. (Spoiler Alert! Sorry!) I saw how Oliver dreamt of his time on the island in his sleep and attacked his mother in a fit of PTSD when he woke up after she touched him. This was something I had in my head for a bit but didn't know how to incorporate it in the story, her time in war and how it affected her.
Make no mistake, this story is not all about Bella's time in war. I know I am focusing on that and the mystery of what happened with Rosalie and Jasper, but the story will progress beyond that.
Edward will still be a colossal dick and poison Bella like I promised in the summary but come on! Is Bella who is this awesome, paranoid soldier chick who carries around a lighter with her really going to be that easy to poison? Hell No! That is where these PTSD flashbacks and dreams come in. How that will tie in with that element of the story you will have to see.
There is a method to my madness (and my possessed pen's too!)
One more thing real quick, the scene at the end is not part of the dream but what actually happened. I wanted to include that without having to add this in another flashback just to add this and I didn't know where to put it. So just to clarify Bella does not know about the assassin and it was NOT part of her dream.
Who do you think the mystery assassin is?
Review and let me know what you think