Thank you to everyone who is continuing to read the story, especially to those of you who leave feedback! I'll tone it down with the flashbacks soon. I hope you all enjoy!

The grip on the Para .45 felt like ice instead of cold steel against my palm. I glazed my finger over the trigger anxiously as the four of us were hunched over in the tall grass, watching the Shoreline soldiers trample around the ruins. My eyes were pinned on the sniper, high up on the tower stoop. The red beam from the Mazur LDR shown down angrily on the plains, practically begging for a threat to come along in its field of view.

Sam tapped me on the shoulder, "you okay?" He asked in a low whisper.

I nodded, wiping the sweat building up on my upper lip, damn was it hot out. I wasn't really sure if I was okay, so I didn't want to say it out loud. Killing wasn't something I think I could ever grow accustomed to (not that I've ever done it before), and I never wanted to get used to it. I know this was technically a self-defense situation, but the thought still weighed heavily on my soul.

"Follow me," Nate murmured, moving up swiftly, still shielded by the grass.

An unlucky Shoreline soldier with a red bandana happened to be wandering close toward our direction. He held his AK relaxed in his hands, letting the barrel dip limply as he carelessly strode around. Nate waited for the right opportunity, then stood up and snagged him from around the neck. The soldier barely had a moment to struggle before Nate twisted his neck effortlessly until a loud, audible SNAP sounded, and his head went limp. Nate let the body drop quietly, moving up to sneak attack another soldier.

Staring at the soldier any longer would've made me physically ill, so I moved on behind Nate, feeling increasingly uneasy about the entire situation. I was so lost in my own thoughts I almost walked right into one of the soldiers.

Shit!

I swiped by leg all the way around to kick out his legs from under him (while still remaining crouch), he fell backward, landing roughly on his back. Before he could scream or use his weapon I curled my hands into a fist and punched him directly in the temple. I didn't kill him, but his lights were definitely knocked out. I glanced backward to find Sam gazing at me with his mouth hung open; his eyes were about the size of dinner plates. It would've been comical if we weren't in the middle of a (somewhat) warzone. I was so distracted by Sam I didn't notice Nate had been spotted by one of the soldiers right away.

Shouting from a foreign voice shook me from my girlish thoughts, followed by the startling sound of gunfire. Like the domino effect, all the other soldiers started blindly shooting at Nate. Sullivan and Sam sprung up to cover him. I peaked up over the grass; trying to count how many soldiers Nadine had prowling around this area. I could spot over ten easily, and more were most likely to start pouring in now that the alarm had been sounded. Once again, my one-track mind got a hold of me as a soldier came up behind me and swung the barrel of rifle at my head. The blow knocked my head forward, causing me to slump over in a daze while I struggled to get my bearings. I managed to move out of the way while the soldier went for a sloppy kick. I guess I was lucky that he wasn't using his gun.

The soldier lunged at me again, cocking back his gun for a physical blow. A wave of anger and adrenaline coursed through my veins. I caught the gun with the palms of both of my hands, my fingers wrapping around the barrel tightly. Using my hips and my body's momentum, I twisted the gun out of his hands. I gave the stunned soldier little time to react; I struck him with a sidekick right in his solar plexus, sending him falling backward. He gasped for breath in useless desperation, fighting to roll up to a sitting position. I dashed over to him, kneeing him right in the temple. I rushed away from him, keeping an eye out for more soldiers. Bullets shot at my feet, kicking up dirt and dust in my face. I ran toward cover of the ruins, sliding to a stop behind the decaying walls. Sam was nearby, I could hear him shouting above the gunfire. I glanced over my shoulder to find where he was, only to see a soldier had got him wrapped up from behind.

As if it were instinct I leapt up and sprinted toward Sam (who was currently having the oxygen snuffed out of his windpipe). I rammed into the soldier with my shoulder and forearm, making him release Sam.

"You piece of shit!" I screamed, punching the soldier in the gut. I keeled over, coughing spittle into the dirt. I took my chance and nailed him with a spinning hook kick on his cheek. There was no way he'd be waking up anytime soon.

Soo bahk do is a kicking art, and that's one thing I knew I was good that.

"Thanks for that," Sam croaked rubbing his neck, his voice hoarse from being strangled.

I smiled, panting slightly from the exertion of taking out two guys in a row. "I guess we're even now, huh?"

"Hey! Will you two quit flirting and get over here?" Sullivan called clearly agitated, taking cover behind one of the walls of the tower. Bullets pierced the debris by his head; he winced away from the close impact.

There was too much chaos to be mad at Sully at this moment. There were still enough soldiers to pin us down (and that annoying sniper and RPG). We were four people going against an army. I hoped one of the soldiers didn't recognize me, I didn't want one of them telling Rafe I was here.

Rafe… that was another issue I had to face, one that tore me up as much as Simmons…

11 years ago

"We'll be dining with a lot of old friends tonight, so try your best to look presentable, and don't embarrass my son," Mrs. Adler lectured as she fussed over pinning my hair back into an elegant reverse tuck. She patted my swollen belly, softening her usual rigid appearance. Even in my condition she still was crass toward me, but at least her excitement for her unborn grandchild helped a bit.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Regina," I replied, biting back my sarcasm the best I could.

Mrs. Adler furrowed her brows at me, her lips stretched into slits. I studied myself looking into her vanity, frowning at my own reflection. She caked on the foundation (try as she might, my freckles would always show), and the smoky eye look was a little much.

There were a few hurried knocks on the door. "Hurry up, mother, we're going to be late," Rafe said through the door. He was already growing impatient and we weren't even at the gala yet.

The gala was going to be the usual type, same as all the other ones I've been dragged to since I've been married to Rafe. Rockefeller types bragging about their philanthropy work, or how they couldn't associate with so and so because they were "new money." The pettiness both bored and disgusted me. I spent most of my time clinging to Rafe, plastering smiles on my face to appear like I was the proud and happy wife to Rafe. I wasn't the most impressive girl he could have on his arms looks-wise, and I think he knew that.

I stood up slowly from the vanity chair, clutching my pregnant belly as my center of gravity changed from standing. Mrs. Adler assisted me to the door, noticing my conflict with doing simple things like standing. I couldn't wait for this baby to come out, only a few more weeks to go. I just prayed I would love the child. I promised myself I would be the most devoted mother I could be, even if this poor baby was conceived from an unfeeling marriage. I couldn't tell if Rafe was excited to be a dad or not, perhaps if neither of us were forced into this we'd feel differently.

I opened the door to find Rafe fixing the cuffs on his suit. I had to admit he did look sharp and handsome. I felt bloated in this maternity dress (which still clung too tightly around my abdomen) and unsteady in these heels that Mrs. Adler insisted that I wear.

"You sure Dani should come along, mom? In her condition I think she should stay home and rest." Rafe wrapped his arm around mine to keep me from falling over. I agreed with him, but I said nothing.

"Nonsense, spouses are required to attend!" Mrs. Adler barked in that cross tone of hers. Whenever she spoke we knew that it was final, no arguing against it.

The actual gala when we arrived was just as dull as I originally imagined. The mansion was decorated in a Athenian theme, which I found overly flashy. The only thing to drink seemed to be wine and champagne, which I couldn't drink obviously, so I went along most of the night feeling terribly parched. Rafe walked me around, introducing me to members of the upper-class society that I would soon forget. We tried our best to act like a happily married couple, camouflaging our misery with talk of soon to be parental excitement. I felt dizzy from the whole experience; the onslaught of questions I was receiving was enough to make my heart start to palpitate.

What were we going to name the child?

Do you have a midwife?

Will it be a natural birth?

How long have you been taking prenatals?

Is Rafe excited to be a father?

I just grinned emotionlessly, nodding my head like a drone. Rafe appeared flustered by the questions as well. The truth was the two of us had no idea what we were going to do. We felt so unprepared. I mean, we had a nursery set up, but mentally we didn't feel ready at all. I was turning nineteen and Rafe was twenty-four and we were already readying ourselves for parenthood.

I felt the baby kick, as if in protest to these stupid questions. I clutched my stomach. "I'm feeling a little ill, I need a bathroom," I whispered to Rafe.

"Okay, I'll get one of the waitresses to escort you," he muttered back.

"Okay, I think that's the last of them," Sullivan commented, noting the silence in the air.

I took a few deep breaths, trying my best to calm my nerves. It wasn't the soldiers or getting shot at that had me so upset, it was those damn memories. The memories always found a way to creep back at times when it was most inconvenient.

Not that day, please anything but that day. You promised yourself you would never think about it again and let it go. Get ahold of yourself, Dani!

"There's a sigil inside the tower," Nate said as he left the area.

"All that for a sigil? Goddamn, when are we going to start seeing some actual progress?" Sullivan grumbled.

I thought the same thing. I aired out my vest, growing sweaty from both the heat and the unpleasant flashbacks. I took out my phone, knowing what had to be done next. I went inside and snapped a picture of the sigil and sent it to my father (knowing that Simmons would see it anyway). I waited for the picture to send, growing irritated by how slow the service was out here.

I felt a hand enclose around my shoulder, making me jump and nearly drop my phone.

"Whoa, I didn't mean to startle you," Sam interjected apologetically.

"That's okay, I'm just a little shaken up from the gunfire. I'm not exactly used to this sort of thing," I said while stretching out my arms in a sweep of the area.

"Sure, that's understandable."

The two of us waited in awkward silence, both rubbing the back of our necks as we hastily thought of something to say.

"I just… wanted to thank you again for helping me back there. I know I've told you before but you're a good fighter."

I grinned genuinely, "You're welcome, Sam."

"Hey! Head to the jeep, we need to keep moving!" Nate called from outside.

"Yeah we should get a move on so we can beat Rafe and Shoreline there," Sam added, already heading toward the exit.

Rafe… don't remind me… that's another mess I will eventually have to stop running from and deal with. But seeing his face reminds me of such a depressing time in my life, and of that dreadful day that has left such emptiness in me that I can't seem to fill.