Red eyes gleamed in the dark but Becker didn't hesitate to shoot.
One. Two.
He hit it dead centre and it fell lifelessly to the ground.
He looked at Matt. Was this all?
"Jessica?"
She heard her name, this time she was sure about it!
Her sobs echoed of the walls and it sounded ridiculously loud to her.
"Becker!"
The soldier's heart sped up as he heard his name. There was another sob. He jumped recklessly over the creature. A shiver went down his spine.
The sobs grew louder and as he rounded a corner he saw a small figure slumped against a wall in the small radius of his torch.
"Becker!" Jess' voice was thick of tears. She stretched out her arms and Becker hurried to her side.
"Sh, Jess, it's okay now. Sh." He pulled her into his chest. Relief washed over him but he remained tensed.
"Matt I got her! Okay, Jess, we need to get you out of here! Can you move? Is it only your leg?"
The field coordinator tried to swallow her tears: "Yes, I think so. Be…Becker it…it hurts so much."
"I know. Come on put your arm over my shoulder. I'll get you out of here."
He tried to keep calm but her frightened voice and trembling body alarmed him more than he thought it ever could.
Effortlessly Becker scooped her up and carried her to the exit where Matt met them, watching the creature.
Jessica held on tight to Becker and listened to his heartbeat.
Oh dear, how much blood did she lose?
The bright light blinded them.
"We need a medic!" Becker yelled immediately and the answer was quick:
"Right here!" It was a young man who instructed Becker to put Jess down onto the stretcher they brought.
New tears sprang to Jessica's eyes as she saw her leg.
There was a huge bite mark on her right calf. Everything was covered in blood and bruises.
The colours were hideous.
She gasped and Becker grabbed her pale hand, holding her close. He rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand while his other arm was around her shoulders.
From time to time he would eye her leg, but it pained him to see her like this.
Her face was covered in dirt and tears.
Jess' eyes were squeezed tight. Her voice was only a faint hoarse whisper:
"Is my leg…can it…will I still be able to…" she couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.
She buried her face in Becker's chest while he pulled her closer.
"I know it looks bad but you have been very lucky! It's only a flesh wound. I have to sew it but that's all. You can feel this, right?"
He slowly led his fingers trail down from her ankle, along the side of her foot, up to her toes.
Becker watched and waited anxiously for her answer.
Jess nodded and Becker let out a breath.
"Perfect!"
The medics sew the wound immediately.
Becker rode with them in the ambulance back to the ARC.
He watched the blood transfusion that was linked to Jess' hand. She had lost so much blood.
Her face was still as white as a sheet. The medics had given her lots of painkillers and tranquilisers.
"What the hell were you thinking Jess?"
"I…"Right now she was ashamed of her reasons and glanced at the floor. But Becker patiently waited for her answer. He nudged her to encourage her to open up to him.
"Well, I…for once I…I wanted to do a hero thing as well."
The young man rolled his eyes, pulling her close.
"You are so foolish! Don't you know that you safe all our lives every day?" She had to be aware of that, so what exactly was this all about?
"But…I…"
He sighed: "I know Jess." He locked eyes with her. "But if you ever do such a stupid hero thing again I'll kill you myself!" Jess actually smiled a little though Becker seemed to be serious.
He hugged her again: "Oh girl."