Love Struck

Chapter 8 - Changes

Dark's POV

My mind was twisting as I laid on the floor against my broken wall. I felt my body shake and my brain was pulsing extremely fast. I was always a good hog when I was younger, but I think now that has to change. People want me to be something I'm not. They think I'm worthless now, I will prove them wrong. I will no longer see the world in black and white. I will see it in gray. I will prove to them they should have never fucked with me. I'm Dark and this is who I am.

I quickly stood up and approached the door leading out of my room. I don't care if the military police locked it, I will break free.

I immediately kicked open the door breaking the lock into pieces. As soon as I was free I made my way to the mess hall.

I rushed in and found sergeant Raze eating his lunch with his squad. Raze was the bases interrogator, but I hear he has a problem.

"Get up!" I ordered.

Raze and his squad looked at each other in confusion. They were confused why I was ordering a sergeant.

Raze refused and looked at me.

"What's wrong corporal?" Asked Raze.

"I guess you didn't hear me." I stopped while taking his shoulder.

I then forced Raze on his feet and into my face.

"I said get up!" I shouted.

Raze looked me in the eye as his squad all sat up ready for a fight.

Blood began to drip out of my lip again and onto the floor.

Raze looked at me in fear.

"What's going on Dark?" Asked Raze.

"You're going to get me access to that hog." I ordered.

"You know I can't do that." Replied Raze.

"Yeah, I know you can't crack him. You're too scared." I stated.

"Scared! Scared of what!?" Shouted Raze.

"To do what is absolutely necessary. You let me in for thirty seconds and I will have him talking." I replied.

Raze looked at his men and they wouldn't make a move.

Raze then looked back at me.

"Alright Dark, I'll let you give it a try." Said Raze.

I let go of Raze and he and his men made there way to the interrogation room with me behind them.

When we got there, Raze unlocked the room leading into the prisoner. I approached the door as Raze stopped me.

"Don't do anything crazy." Ordered Raze.

"Only what's necessary." I replied while entering the room.

Raze locked the door behind me and watched me from the one way window.

My prey in front of me was a brown hedgehog wearing a golden necklace around his neck. He was expecting a calm conversation but he was wrong.

I immediately approached him and punched him in the mouth.

His head went to the side and blood began to drip out of his mouth.

"You're no longer dealing with the good cop! I'm going to get my answers from you even if I have to hurt you! That punch was only a taste! You better talk or I will not hold back! Do you understand me!?" I asked in anger.

The hog then spit in my face splashing his blood across my skin.

I grew angry and brought my boot back to swing it at his knee cap.

When my steel tip boot connected to the cap, it exploded inside his leg.

"AGHHHHHH!" Screamed the hog.

I immediately punched him again in the face to shut him up.

The hog was about to cry from the pain.

"Tell me what I want to know or this will get worse!" I ordered.

The hedgehog didn't respond.

"Have it your way." I said as I grabbed his necklace.

"What are you…?!" I punched him again in the mouth and one of his teeth came flying out.

I looked at the necklace and not to my surprise it was a locket.

Inside was a picture of this hog's family. I took out the photo and flipped it over.

"Give that back!" Shouted the hog.

I looked up at him and kicked his other kneecap. The bone was destroyed as he screamed in agonizing pain.

On the back of the photo was a date. Each one was a past family member who died. His sister died two years ago and his brother died one year ago. His mother and father both died a week ago about the time we caught him. I looked up at him and held the photo in front of his face.

The hog was crying in pain as he bared witness to his demise.

"Last fucking chance you stubborn piece of shit. Tell me what I want to know!" I ordered.

The hog was trying to say something and I didn't care. I went into my back pocket and pulled out my lighter. I pulled back causing the flame to expose itself. Once it did I didn't hesitate. I lit his photo on fire and let it burn before his eyes.

"NOOOOOOO!" Screamed the hog through his tears.

I smiled at him as the photo turned into ash.

Once it was done burning the hog was crying into a river. He was broken and that's what I wanted.

"Tell me!" I ordered.

The hog was too busy crying.

I punched him another time in his mouth causing him to cry in hopelessness. He lost all faith.

The hog looked up at me in anger and tears.

"The stash is a few miles outside the city. No one's there now. It all for the taking." Cried the hog.

I smiled and made my way to the exit.

I was about to open the door when the hog shouted.

"Burn in hell you monster!"

I turned back and approached the hog who was scared for his life.

I grabbed his hand and held his fingers tightly while I moved in slowly to his face.

"You know what?" I started.

I wanted this to be something he would always remember. Something he always is afraid of.

I broke his thumb first.

"AGGHHH!" Screamed the hog.

"The thing about monsters is…" I stopped as I broke his index finger.

"AGHHHH!"

"There always the closest to you…" I stopped as I broke his middle finger.

"AGHHHH!"

"But sometimes they are someone you never expect…" I stopped again as I broke his ring finger.

The hog closed his mouth in pain as he tried not to scream.

"And that's when it hurts the most." I finished as I broke his pinky.

The hog began to cry as I walked away.

Raze let me out and I stopped at the exit to the interrogation room.

I took a deep breath to look back at raze and his entire squad who were scared of me. I smiled and walked out towards my quarters. I stopped at the door to hear someone inside.

"What the fuck happened here Cole?" Asked James.

"I don't know." Replied Cole.

"Where's Dark did you see him at all?" Asked James.

"No, I heard the commander had him in his office." Replied Cole.

I walked in and both James and Cole turned to look at me with shock.

"Dark." Said James while approaching me.

I pushed him away with my bloody hand and looked at Cole.

"You have a new mission." I stated.

James and Cole looked at each other then back at me.

"What?" Asked Cole.

"There's a shipment of weapons a few miles from the main city. I need you to go there and take control." I replied.

"But…!" I cut him off.

"No buts! You will leave in the next few hours! You are to go and seize the weapons. There is said to be no one there yet, so be prepared."

"What about help? Do I get any?" Asked Cole.

"You're going with Raze and his squad. You are to go there and get those weapons, and by all means destroy them. Do you understand?" I asked.

"Yes…sir." Replied Cole while leaving the room.

I looked at James and he was scared.

"What happened Dark?" Asked James.

"I'm your new squad leader, weather you like it or not! Do you understand me?!" I asked while getting in his face.

"But…!" I immediately punched James in the cheek.

James took the blow and looked at me with a black sore on his face.

"Yes…sir." Replied James.

"Good. Now get out." I ordered.

James nodded his head and walked out of my quarters.

The next thing I did after that was flip back up my cot. Once it was up I took my leave to get some rest.

"I hope I made my point." I said to myself before I passed out.

Ghost's Mind

"Hey Paul!" I shouted as I ran to my best friends' side.

Paul and I were sixteen years old and we've been friends since we were born. Everywhere Paul went I went, anything Paul did I did. We were like brothers. My parents loved Paul because he always helped me through my childhood. Paul always protected me from bullies and gangs. He never let anyone hurt me.

"Hey Ghost. How are you doing?" Asked Paul.

Even though Paul's a human we get along so well.

"I'm doing great Paul; do you want to do something?" I asked.

"Like what?" Asked Paul.

"I don't know, just something fun you know?" I replied.

Paul took a minute to respond.

"Are you ok?" I asked.

Paul broke from thought and stared at me.

"Yeah, I was just thinking of something we can do." Stated Paul.

"You want to catch a movie?" I asked.

"No, I have something I want to show you." Replied Paul while taking my hand.

"Ok." I replied while getting dragged into the desert away from my house.

"Where are we going?" I asked in confusion.

"Trust me Ghost it will be fun." Replied Paul.

Paul dragged me into an abandoned house that was outside the city. Once we were inside Paul let me go and got on his knees.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he ripped off a floor board.

Paul looked up at me and then back at the floor. Slowly Paul took out a G17 handgun and handed it to me.

I was shocked to see a gun. I never held one in my life.

"Where did you get this!?" I shouted.

"I found it a few days ago. Cool isn't it?" Asked Paul.

I held the gun in my hand and aimed it at the wall.

I quickly felt a knot in my stomach and handed it back to Paul.

"I don't think we should have it." I stated.

"Oh come on Ghost, trust me I wouldn't make you do something you didn't want to do." Stated Paul as he took the gun.

"I think I should go." I replied.

"Oh come on. Try it first before you leave." Begged Paul as he handed me the gun.

I hesitated then took the gun slowly in my hand.

Paul smiled and moved me towards the wall.

"Shoot that target Ghost." Ordered Paul.

"I don't know how." I replied.

Paul smiled and went behind me.

"I'll help you." Assured Paul while taking my arm.

Paul gently lifted my arm up and helped me aim at the target. My heart raced faster and faster as Paul used my finger to grip the trigger.

"Three…two…one…BANG!"

Ghost's POV

"AHHHHHH!" I screamed as I woke up in bed.

I jumped up and quickly looked around the room to find my partner in the shower.

I sat up on the bed and wiped the sweat off my forehead. I was breathing heavily and my heart was racing. It must have been a nightmare. I said to myself while barely remembering my dream.

The water stopped and my partner got out of the shower. He quickly wrapped himself in a towel and looked at me.

"You ok?" He asked while approaching me.

I stood up and walked by him towards the bathroom.

I quickly turned and shut the door locking it behind me.

I looked at my watch and it was 7:00pm.

I took off my watch and put it on the toilet seat. Once I had it off I took off my tank top. I slowly looked at my side and began to cry slightly. After I calmed myself down I took off my BDU and my boots and set them beside the toilet with my watch. I was now naked and I felt like shit. I quickly turned on the water to the shower and waited for it to get hot. After a few seconds I stepped in head first letting the water soak my quills. My quills fell down to my back as the water applied force. I slowly wiped my face with my hands and took a deep breath. My eyes looked down at my side again and again I began to cry. I gently fell down and took a seat in the water. The second I sat down I heard my partner at the door.

"You ok Ghost?"

Through my tears I replied.

"I'm fine, I'll be out soon."

"Ok, well I got to go and get our gear checked out with the arms master for tomorrows mission ok?" He stated.

"Fine, just go!" I shouted.

I heard him turn away from the door and exit our room.

I stood up and slowly turned off the water. I then got out of the shower and looked in the mirror. My quills were heavy and my soul was as well. I quickly tossed on my uniform and fixed my hair. Once I was done I opened the bathroom door and began to make my way to the armory.

Shadow's POV

"I wonder what was wrong with Ghost back there. He's been acting strange today." I thought to myself as I reached the armory.

"Hello Shadow." Greeted the arms dealer.

"Hey I'm here to check my equipment for tomorrow." I stated.

"That's perfectly fine just give me a minute to get them." Replied the dealer as he went in the back.

I stood and waited for the man to get my weapons. I have no clue what I'm even getting anyway. As I waited I saw Ghost walking towards me.

"Hey Ghost, you feeling better?" I asked.

"Sure." Replied Ghost in sarcasm.

"You've been acting all weird today Ghost what's wrong?" I asked.

"I told you nothing was wrong can you just leave it at that!" Shouted Ghost.

Ghost stared into my eyes with anger and I turn around to find the dealer in my face.

"Here you go Shadow, oh! Would you like your gear too Ghost?" Asked the dealer while looking at Ghost who was staring at the floor.

Ghost nodded and the dealer walked back to get his.

I held up my guns. I was given a M9 and that I know how to use. Lastly was my new primary. I was given a MP9. I looked it over and I never used one before but it's nothing different from a MP7. I quickly checked the systems to make sure it was working and the dealer came back with Ghost's gear.

Ghost took his M9 and checked the receiver. After he knew it was good he handed it back to the dealer. Then he picked up his primary. Ghost was using a UMP.45. It was a nice gun to say the least. He checked it as well and then looked at me.

"Is your gear ok?" He asked.

I looked back at my MP9 and the receiver was stuck.

I quickly offered it to Ghost who looked at me in confusion.

"Can you get that cleared?" I asked.

"Why?" Asked Ghost nervous of my answer.

"Come on Ghost, I wouldn't make you do something you didn't want to do." I replied.

Ghost looked at me with rage and smacked the gun out of my hand. He quickly grabbed me by the neck and threw me into the wall.

"Don't ever say that again!" He screamed at me while choking me tightly.

I couldn't breath. He was going to kill me.

Immediately when people realized I couldn't breath they came to my aid.

It took a squad to get Ghost off of me. Once I was free Ghost handed back his gear and ran off. I caught my breath and a few soldiers helped me up off the ground. I slowly handed back my gear and ran off towards Ghost.