02nd November 2022, Gulf of Mexico
Speedboats fled hastily over the enraged waves haunting the sullen ocean surface, while the wind beat mercilessly down on its inhabitants. Standing unsteadily on one of the three vessels gliding through the ripples, I bumped with my shoulder numerous times into the Sergeant stationed beside me. Feeling pure misery filter through me, I desperately tried to cling onto the solid side of the boat, only somewhat minimising the collision between Soap and I. Wrinkling my nose I was yet again reminded of the rain pouring down on me while it caught the diminutive salt particles in the air, distributing it all over my gear, as I stared ahead of myself.
I detested the sea.
"Eyes on the rig…" The man called out, just as I spotted the haunted structure rising from the depths of the murky water.
"All right! That's our target. Shadow one and two – push to your hook points. Let's invite ourselves in." Graves ordered into the round.
With relief washing over me, I firmly held onto the certainty that we will soon reach our objective. Breathing steadily in and out, I tried not to lean over the boats side and release the contents of my stomach into the dark waters bellow… Opting to further distract myself, I looked aside, my eyes hastily following the boat that was glued to us like a second shadow. Roaming over the soldiers stationed on it, I ultimately landed on the man at the front- his white mask sticking out like a sore thumb.
I watched with interest, as his hand shot up and clasped around his neck. "All stations, ship is visual." Ghosts voice breached my inner ears. Managing to steal one last glance, I watched them pull away until the crew vanished behind the tall waves, leaving only us behind.
"Copy, prep for assault. Stay on comms!" Graves yelled into his mic. A second passed before he faced. "If Valeria told the truth, we board, clear and disarm that missile."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"And if she's lying?" Alejandro voiced with a hint of apprehension while Graves sinister chuckle reached my ears. "God help her." He said with a shake of his head.
"God help us all." Soap added with a gravely tone, his eyes locking onto mine, a quiet conversation transmitting between us. A silent promise of keeping each other safe. An agreement I would cling onto.
After all, the coordinates the sicaria had given us, pointed directly at an oil rig over seven hundred kilometres off the shore in the Gulf of Mexico. Beside the massive cargo ship anchored closely to its northwest, we were merely three smaller groups on the wide-open sea.
"Be ready for anything, this could be a trap…" Alejandro said.
Gradually approaching the massive steel construction, I stared at it in awe, as I took in the masterpiece of engineering that stood on several slim supports breaching the ocean's surface and vanishing in its depths. With the speedboats slowing down and the motors slowly turning into puttering background noise, we coasted to the beam, heaved by the power of the raging waves.
"Actual, we are set." Graves informed the General who promptly called for us to get to work.
Flexing my jaw, I observed the Commander and one of his Shadows fire a grappling hook up the side of the building. Following the grapnel, I saw it get caught in the railing shielding the sides of one of the many platforms that hung far above our heads. With a few yielding pulls, the American made sure the grapple was secure enough for its primary intention.
"Good hook." He remarked before clasping an ascender onto the cable and allowing it to effortlessly pull him into the air. The Cowboy and Sergeant didn't have to get told twice, as with a few minor blinks, I watched them copy Graves moves, lifting into the air behind him.
Stepping up to the rope Soap had used just a second ago, I fastened my own ascender onto it. Firmly gripping the handle, I allowed the sizeable device to perform its only task. As I soared steadily through the air, I spotted a group of Shadows simultaneously make their way up the rig on the opposite end. Focusing past their bodies and as far as my eye could see, I perceived only the untamed sea splitting the horizon between heaven and earth.
Pressing my eyes shut for a moment, I felt the wind breeze past me, felt the raindrops hit my skin, and the fear of the dark and gloomy ocean bellow, poke my hammering heart. We really were alone in this.
Once at the top, I grabbed onto the cold and wet railing, when Soaps hand came into view. Thankful for his attentiveness, I placed my hand in his, allowing him to pull me swiftly onto the bottom deck. Back on semi-steady feet, I unclasped my rifle, cradling it in my hands- making sure everything was in order, before I followed suit.
Clearing the rig of its occupants, was straightforward- every room was breached and cleaned, every corner double checked, every stair purified of possible threats. The Shadows worked unusually efficiently as well, no container was left unturned, no door was left unopened, and no crook or cranny was left unchecked. Working with them so closely, so intimately, was a fresh breath of air.
In no time, we were pushing onto the main deck and further into the building stationed just below the helipad on which the missile was spotted. The Scotsman was first to enter, expertly living up to his well-deserved nickname. It was a feast, watching him breeze through the corridors, skilfully taking out every man that was part of Al-Qatal until there were none left.
"Actual this is Shadow-1. Rig is secure. Moving on the container now." I heard Graves communicate loudly as I followed him up the stairs, hot on his trail.
"Roger that. Confirm when the objective is neutralized." Shepherd affirmed.
Running up the last flight of stairs, I stepped onto a platform that overlooked the entirety of the rig. Focusing on the only container standing amid the podium, Soap moved swiftly past me, grasping the wet and cold handles of the heavy steel doors, forcing them open.
"Where are the controls?" He suddenly asked.
Graves instantaneously pushed through the doors. A few seconds later unanticipatedly an aggravated sigh met my ears, before the person who it belonged to, stepped back outside. "On that damn ship." He declared bitterly. "Actual-" He turned on his heels, speaking into the comms, "-we got a problem, missile is armed- controls are somewhere on the ship."
Squeezing past him, I poked my head into the yet unknown area. Spotting several different cords and wires littering the rusty walls and ground, the lengths of said cables were significantly shorter than what I was used to seeing- by the looks of their torn and mangled conductors, someone seemed to have been in a rush. Swiping further through the room, I took note of a small box located in the far right, from it hung one lonesome cable…
"Alejandro, take overwatch, Soap and Ascii-" Graves hollered over our heads, while my mind was focused solely on that box- that rectangular, metal carton barely hanging on its hinges.
"I'm staying here." I commented without taking my eyes off it.
"-you're coming with me. We're moving to that ship." He continued, ignoring my verdict.
"You don't need me there." I repeated myself, while I was already pulling my handheld tablet out of one of the many compartments on my vest.
"You're our coder-" He tried to argue, but I instantly shot him down.
"That is exactly why you don't need me- there is no coding required." I was a hairs length away from tickling more data out of the heinous projectile weapon we had unveiled through our hard work. I would be dammed if I allowed anyone to whisk me away.
"Ascii, what are you doing?" The Sergeant asked cautiously, seeing as none of us was backing down.
"What I should have done five days ago." I elaborated as I kept glancing between the irked Commander and the item of interest- my prized possession.
"All stations! Visual on the missile controls! I say again, missile controls are on the bridge." The Lieutenants voice abruptly cut through the tense air, forcing Graves to pull away recurrently.
"I'll keep you covered, hermana." Alejandro stepped up to me, signalling with his tightening grip on the handles of his weapon, that he was a man of his word. Sending him a thankful nod, my eyes jumped back onto the irritated American. Noting the strongly displeased scowl disarraying his face, he expeditiously signalled for Soap to move his ass while indicating with a long and hard look, that my refusal to comply, would bear consequences.
Staring after them a moment longer, I slowly let go of the breath I unknowingly had been holding back. Rolling my shoulders as the tension gradually left me, my whole body shook from the cold wind swiping over my frame. Sighing, I stepped back into the tight space in the back of the container, picking up the wire that would hopefully give me the answers I was so desperately looking for. Leaving my tablet momentarily on the tiny box above it, I plucked out my knife from the sheath that was fixed on my lower back. Carefully chipping away at the outer jacket of said cable, I begged the deities that the equipment I had with me, would suffice for what I had planned.
"You have big cojones (balls)." Alejandro suddenly declared, catching me off guard. Stopping in my tracks, I lifted my head to face him.
"Big… What?" I ask flabbergasted, unsure if the translation occurring in my head, was to be believed.
"You are a daring woman." He tried to describe it more clearly.
"A daring woman?" I savoured his words for a moment. "Are you sure that's what cojones means?" I teased him.
Grunting, he swiped several raindrops off his forehead. "You've got balls. Hermana." He finally uttered and my mouth widened, a hearty laugh erupting from my lips. It didn't take long for him to express his own contentment with a chuckle.
"I trust you aren't resentful." He unexpectedly articulated.
"Only partly." I joked as I kept nicking at the cable, yet as no reaction followed, I paused and glanced over at him. He was watching me, his face contorted into a deep scowl.
I breathed out heavily while I dug through my pouches, fingertips grazing across several different objects. "I was pulling your leg, hermano. While your stunt wasn't expected, it wasn't unwelcome either. Frankly, the humiliation is still deeply embedded into every cell of my freaking being- but I am thrilled to announce my plan of revenge is in full motion." I teasingly lifted one eyebrow.
"You got a bullet with my name on it?" He played along without a moment of hesitation.
"Always in my pocket." Tapping softly against an otherwise empty compartment, I noticed his frown slowly slide off his face.
"Close to your heart, eh?" He pointed out.
"That's where it's the safest." I responded light-heartedly, focusing back on the task at hand. It had been several quiet minutes, before I heard him suck in a breath and ask another question.
"Who did you call handsome?"
"Careful cowboy, or I might use that bullet sooner rather than later..." I retorted mischievously, whilst fitting a new extension onto the frayed cable. "You better fucking work-" I exclaimed as I stuck the cord expertly into my tablet.
Gradually and at a snail's pace, green coloured symbols began sliding onto the screen from the bottom to the top. First there was only one, then two, four, eight, sixteen and so on- until it stopped and retraced, emptying the once filled screen.
Straightening my back, my eyes fell upon my own reflection. Strained, I held the small device tightly in my cold, trembling fingers, when all at once, zeroes and ones began littering the display, filling the void with a code I was all too familiar with.
"I assume this is satisfactory?" Alejandro asked as he peeked over my shoulder.
"That's more than just satisfactory. That's the pot of gold at the end of the bloody rainbow." I declared. Watching in awe as the numbers raced over the monitor, I felt pride settle over me.
"All Stations- Clear the rig now, I say again- Clear the rig!" The Lieutenants voice roared without any warning into my ears.
Every. Fucking. Time.
"For fucks sake. You can't be serious- I just got it! I ain't a freaking magician, this thing doesn't just happen in a matter of seconds… I'm gonna lose it-" I began to speak incoherently, aware no one could hear me, beside the Cowboy beside me. Heaving in irritation, Alejandro's hand found my shoulder, squeezing softly and pulling me back down to earth.
"Roger- what's the count?" The Vaquero took the initiative after he had been a witness to my little outburst.
"One minute." I heard Graves answer in my rapidly flushing ears.
"That could be enough- I could squeeze some seconds in-" I mumbled as I slid with my fingers over the cool screen.
"Copy, on the move-!" Alejandro shouted into the communication device, his hand still firmly on my persona. "Ascii, we need to move. This thing will be blown into pieces in less than a minute!"
"Give me seventeen seconds." I stated firmly even though I anticipated he'd straight up refuse my directive. An assumption which was proven wrong without further delay, rendering me speechless.
"Bien (fine). I will get us a vessel- you got fifteen seconds, then I will make use of those straps-" He pointed at the belts littering my bulletproof vest.
Dumbfounded I listened to his departing footsteps, until only the rain splattering against the metallic shell surrounding me could be heard.
Twelve.
I began counting down, keeping a strict tab on the limited time I was granted with.
Eleven.
Ten.
Nine.
With each passing second, my anxiety increased.
Eight.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
"Four, three, two, one-" The Cowboys voice got louder with each number he yelled into the untamed storm. At the very last second, I ripped my gadget off the cable. Hauling myself out of the exit, I rushed towards Alejandro's open arms. Grasping what his plan was in an instant, I slammed into his chest, burying my fingers in the dense material of his sweater. With the kinetic energy transferring from my moving body onto his still figure, he efficiently shifted our combined weight from his legs onto his sole arm that grasped the ascender with an iron grip.
Sliding down the rope, our feet came rather speedily in contact with the speedboat that had been waiting for us. Ineffectively trying to balance my unsteady legs, as Alejandros hands left my frame, I landed on all fours, slamming with the palms of my hands against the soaked synthetic ground. Failing to grab onto anything solid as the boat picked up on speed, my body toppled backwards.
Eyes widening in a panic, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my shoulders, holding me in place. Speeding over the ferocious waves, the wind picked up on intensity whisking the cowl off my head. In a fraction of a second I felt the raindrops pour down on me like a dozen needles pricking my skin. Whirling around to protect my face from the harsh elements, my eyes fell upon the rig steadily decreasing in size the further we sped away.
Suddenly the red flashing lights illuminating the sky were obscured by a massive cloud wrapping around the missile that shot into the sky. Blinking once, I was met with a massive explosion that lit up the pitch-black night. Blinking twice and I discerned an imposing shockwave make their way towards us. Barely managing to curl in on myself, shielding my ears and face, I felt the man that had been holding onto me, drape his body over my smaller frame.
Bracing for impact, the pressure sent us both flying towards the boats bow. Opening my eyes from the collision, I could only watch in veneration as all around us debris fell from the sky.
"Shit biscuits- that was too fucking close." I mumbled, keeping my eyes on the remains falling into the ocean.
"Alejandro, Ascii, you okay?" Graves called out through our comms.
"Holy mother of God- that was fucking crazy, man!" The cowboy expressed in bewilderment, simultaneously pulling me back on my feet and checking for any injuries.
Thanking him, the Sergeants voice came through. "You safe?"
"Yeah- you?" I asked, making sure everything in my pouches was in order.
"We're good here." He answered, causing an imaginary weight to lift off my shoulders. I was glad they were alright.
"Gold Eagle Actual, Shadow-1. Good hit. Good hit. Missile and rig destroyed." Graves reported.
"Copy that, Shadow-1. Good work. Get off that X and go home. Soap, Ghost, Ascii- Thanks for a job well done." Shepherd's words came through.
Wiping my hands against my pants, I watched the hungry flames engulfing what was left of the once imposing rig.
The night was dead silent as several vehicles breezed through the chilly air, leaving nothing but the sound of low rumbling fading softly into the background. Sitting snuggly amidst my teammates, the light of the screen held leisurely between my fingers, bled onto my visage, casting spectral shadows onto the cars roof.
With a click of my tongue, I swiped indolently over the display. Up until now, nothing had caught my eyes, provoking frustration and disappointment to taint my otherwise content demeanour. Swiping for the hundredth time, my fingers twitched uneasily as I stared at the unknown numbers.
Catching the string of numbers by its tail, I followed it like a dog smelling an alluring scent. Gradually straightening my back, I continued chasing behind the sliver of data. Tripping over a virtual obstruction, I fell into an endless rabbit hole of information.
I dug my fingers into what was left of the data that flowed in an eternal loop through the machinery. Residue, if you will, of past commands and instructions, dating back to August of this year. August.
Cold sweat began trickling down my back as I stared at the screen in a daze. Nervously, I dug deeper- breaching into numerous archives, until I found what I was looking for.
The truth. The truth that took my breath away.
Ripping my eyes off it, I involuntarily looked at the rear-view mirror and directly into the eyes of the driver. He was already watching me, seemingly taking note of my facial expressions. Immediately I felt the mood shift- tipping over the edge and falling into dangerous territory. Uneasiness clung to my legs, anchoring me firmly to the ground.
The warmth that had been settling within me, was sniffled out by chilliness, compelling my body to emit the tiniest of tremors. Shudders the man to my right took note of.
"Awright there, lass? Did ye find anythin' useful?" The Scotsman asked me, drawing attention to the both of us.
Hastily turning towards him, I donned the softest smile I could muster, forgetting my face was partly hidden. "No… I thought I had, but it was just another dead end…" Trailing off, I had to use every ounce of my conviction to keep my eyes planted on the man that had turned towards me instead of the driver whose eyes I could still feel glued to me.
"Dinnae be too hard on yersel. We've done plenty today." He offered me, as he gently tapped me on my knee.
Nodding along, I slumped lower into my seat, severing the direct line of sight the driver had on me. Inconspicuously I crossed one hand over my chest, grabbing the special little gadget that always clung to my vest. Clutching it in my trembling hand, my fingers hovered over the buttons while I looked detached at the facts flickering over the screen. The details I tried to blink away, the reports that didn't seem to lie, while I really wished they did.
Averting my gaze, I stared devoid of any emotion at the flickering dashboard ahead.
Does Kate know? Would she willingly lead us on a false path, deceive us- deceive me? No. What about Price? Never. Gaz? Not a chance. Then who is the wolf in sheep's clothing? A false snake…
These questions rendered me incapable of any mental or bodily functions. I sat frozen between the people I held in high regards, friends I would undoubtedly take a bullet for at any given moment.
While I was racking my brain, the jeep slid smoothly over the wet road, taking turns after turns effortlessly. Beside the low purring of the engine, there were no other sounds present in this lonesome moment, only the rushing of hot and bubbly blood in my ears and the beating of my terrified heart in my chest.
But then, somewhere in the endless void of my head, another voice seemed to call out to me. Another desire rushing to overthrow every other emotion disabling the proper functionality of my limbs and mind. With each passing second, the voice grew louder and louder, yelling out its longing, its craving-
Reach out. Reach out. Reach. Out.
Snapping back into my body, my fingers danced over the buttons, pressing them rhythmically until the intended warning had been sent out. Reaching for my tablet, I struggled to keep my hands steady. Fumbling clumsily, I managed to clear the display to allow myself to finally type out a warning when Ghosts hand shot fourth, stopping mine from continuing.
Sucking in a breath, I couldn't stop the intrusive thoughts from crashing into me. For a split second I believed I had been caught. I foresaw my own ruination by the hands of-
Whipping my head around, I looked him in the eyes. They were calm and collected with a hint of comprehension. Opening my mouth to question his intentions, I was cut short when he shook his head in denial.
Instantaneously shutting down, I subtly nodded in understanding when the vehicle came to a stillstand. Eyes going wide, I threw a glance through the aperture. Colour drained from my face as I gazed at the well-known walls soaring into the sky behind the foggy and streaky windows.
We had reached Alejandro's base quicker than I had anticipated.
Cursing loudly inside my own head, I missed Soaps arm by a hair's length. I watched him open the door and slide out, as I shivered from the cold air licking at my exposed skin. Shuddering, I hastily put the tablet away and followed suit. Carefully stepping up beside the Sergeant, I observed my surroundings.
Graves Shadows had surrounded us, successfully severing us from any escape routes.
"What's this?" Alejandro asked as he walked closer to said Commander, his initial hospitality replaced by early stages of suspicion.
"This is the immediate future. Step away from the gate." Graves declared loudly, scrutinizing each of us.
"Whot?!" Soap expressed in bewilderment.
"You heard me." Graves shot back stubbornly.
"You're crazy, this is my base." Alejandro called out, widening his arms as he motioned at the structures around us.
"It's not a base." Graves uttered. "This-" He pointed around himself. "-is a sizeable covert facility, and I admire it- so I am taking it. You boys and gals have been relieved. Thank you for your service." Graves explained matter-of-factly.
"No, no, no, I don't take orders from you." The Vaquero angrily pushed back, forcing several Shadows to raise their weapons at him.
"Didn't Valeria say that?" Graves continued while signalling for his soldiers to stand down. "Now that makes me wonder what else I don't know about your affiliation with the drug-lord?"
The audacity blew me away.
"Ironic- shouldn't you be cleaning up your own backyard?" I stepped forward, pushing past an angered Alejandro and directly into Graves personal space. We stood now, face to face, only the weapon in his hands keeping us apart.
"Kryo-" ("Cryo-")
The name knocked the wind out of my lungs.
Taking a healthy step back, my eyes shot towards the person who had uttered it. The man that came to stand beside Graves. The young man whose face was hidden by the shadows falling onto him. The boy who I recognised in the blink of an eye.
It couldn't be-
"It's Corporal Morrison to you, soldier. Best remember that." I declared firmly, concealing the anguish that spread like a disease over the entirety of my being.
"Nach all dieser Zeit fällt dir nichts anderes ein? Ich hatte mehr von dir erwartet, Kryo." ("After all this time, you can't think of anything else? I expected more from you, Cryo.") He muttered with a shake of his head.
My initial shock evaporated within seconds. Surprisingly. I had pondered over the possibility of us meeting before several times. I anxiously pictured what I would feel if our paths ever crossed again. Envisioned what emotions would run through me. I had always guessed it would be fear that engulfed me. That I'd be scared out of my mind, afraid he'd hurt me the way he once did. Frightened and diminished to nothing more than a small, frail little girl.
Yet after catching sight of his face, all I felt was rage.
"Ah, the two lovebirds, united at last." Graves eyes danced between us, a wide smile splitting his face in half.
The anger that exploded in the deepest pit of my stomach had engulfed me in flames that put the blazing inferno of hell to shame.
Instinctively I moved my arm, steadily and delicately. Sliding over the rough texture of my belt and onto my lower back, I tried reaching for my trusty knife. Yet before I could do anything irrational, Soap had stepped forward, firmly pulling me back by my shoulder.
"Yer out of line, Graves." He declared loudly, pushing with one step past me and closing in on Graves who had taken a precautious step back.
"Don't do that. Don't… do that." Graves preached, holding up his hand and pointing at the Sergeant. "No one needs to get hurt here."
Yet I thirsted to lodge my knife between their shoulder blades, for reasons which couldn't be more diverse yet similar at the same time. A man who dared to re-open old wounds, who brought forth all the trauma, desperation and suffering and a man who used human lives, as mere puppets, even walking over corpses to gain the power he desires.
Both mistreated in their own way. Both were power hungry. Both were abusers. Both deserved whatever came their way, may it be karma or my knife.
"Are you threatening us?" Ghost called from the backline, easily looming over the Shadows that were tasked to keep him in check.
"Soldier-" The Commander turned his head towards him. "-I don't make threats. I make guarantees. So, let's not do this." His eyes mustered us individually.
A moment passed, before Soap broke free and turned on his heels. "I'm calling Shepherd." He announced as he walked unhesitatingly towards the closest vehicle.
"General Shepherd sends his regards." Graves commented. "He told me y'all wouldn't take this well."
Son of a bitch.
I didn't want to believe General Shepherd to be a snake in the grass, but deep down I felt the doubts trickling slowly yet steadily into my mind, poisoning my conviction.
"He knows about this?" Ghost shouted in disbelief.
"He's put me in command of this operation from here on out. So y'all need to stand down. It's time to let the pros finish this-" A half-assed snort left my lips, causing irritation to flicker over the Commanders face. "And why the hell are we talking like this is some kind of negotiation? It's not. I've got my orders and now you have yours." He declared, determination colouring his voice.
"And who the fuck do you think you are, cabrón? My men are inside!" Alejandro shouted angrily, staring the American down with such hatred it reflected my own to a tee.
"I'm afraid not. Your men have been…" He smacked his lips as he feverishly tried to come up with an appropriate term. "-detained."
I sucked in a breath, eyes jumping wildly between the men as the air between us all became unbearably thick- dense enough for a knife to cut effortlessly through it...
The Vaquero was first to pounce, determined to punch some sense into the noisy American who easily deflected his assault, sending the Cowboy flying head-first into the car, where my former partner quickly zip tied his hands, hindering his mobility.
"Graves, what the fuck?!" Soap yelled from behind me, distracting the soldiers for a split second, a second I didn't waste. Jumping forward, I furiously punched my ex-partner square in the jaw, sending him tumbling to the ground where he belonged. Flexing my own jaw, I absentmindedly shook my hand, willing the pain that spread through my tingly fingers to fade away, as I moved to an agitated Alejandro. Dipping my head forward, I scarcely managed to get a hold of the zip tides around his wrists, when I was violently pulled away by two solid hands twisting around my upper arms. I yelped, while Alejandro followed suit, curses leaving his dried lips as he threatened the man holding me back. "Sinj- ¡Hijo de puta, déjala ir o te mostraré lo que un hombre de verdad puede hacer!" ("Motherfucker- let her go or I'll show you what a real man can do!")
Suddenly shots rang through the air, causing me to falter momentarily. Eyes wide with fear, I glanced over to my companions in a state of mild delirium, deathly afraid to see what my mind had conjured in a matter of mere seconds and tortured my already highly strung brain with a possible reality. Perceiving heavy weight falling off my chest, I was relieved to see them both well, at least as much as it was possible in this utter chaos.
While I witnessed the Sergeant skilfully step behind a Shadow and use him as a shield for any incoming bullets, I struggled to free myself of the soldiers' steely grip on my frame. Cursing, I caught sight of another Shadow smashing the butt of a gun against Alejandro's temple, sending the man to the ground. Devastated, I managed to free one arm, successfully sending my elbow into my assailants' face, a satisfying crack and muffled pain induced yelling reached my ears. Rushing to Alejandro's side, I fell to my knees, hands rushing to check on him- he was out cold. Frustrated and frankly slightly hazy, I flinched when another shot rang through the air.
In the corner of my eye, I saw the Sergeant hit the ground.
Time slowed down, as I glanced in his direction, eyes landing on the lifeless body lying on the drenched ground. The high-pitched sound that left my throat, surprised me. The name falling from my lips send me into a frenzy, while my hand reached out towards him, longing to scoop him up and cradle in my arms. Instead, I felt the raindrops hit my cold skin, felt my heart drop, colliding with all the other organs and shattering into a million pieces. I felt the wind blow past my rigid body that trembled like a lonely leaf in the cold breeze. Agony burned my insides, as I pulled myself off the ground, yet before I could even take a step, a sharp pain exploded from the back of my head. Incapable of controlling my own body anymore, I slumped to the ground, head cracking against the cold, wet concrete.
The pulsating pain rendered me uncapable of doing anything. Every bodily function was gone, replaced by nothingness. As my vision began to slowly dwindle, the hood over my head was carefully pushed to the side, a warm breath fanning over my ringing ears, causing goose bumps to explode over my body.
"Du hättest auf ihn hören sollen. Das alles hätte vermieden werden können, aber du musstet mal wieder stur sein. Schau wohin es dich geführt hat– du hast mehr verloren als gewonnen. Tsk- tsk- tsk, Kryo, was mache ich nun nur mit dir?" ("You should have listened to him. All this could have been avoided, but you had to be stubborn again. Look where it got you- you lost more than you gained. Tsk- tsk- tsk, Cryo, what am I going to do with you now?") His voice invaded my consciousness. My ex's venomous voice slipped past my barriers, slamming into my apprehension.
I should have been quicker- should have been better- should have seen it coming. All the signs were there, right under my nose, instead, I couldn't even see the fingers that swiped over my frigid skin. The world was blurry, as my salty tears blended with the raindrops slipping down my temple and onto my nasal bone. The last thing I made out as the realm around me ploddingly faded to black, was Ghosts raspy voice yelling Johnnies and my name fleetingly cutting the deafening shrill engulfing me whole…
I shall be direct with you guys. I had this Chapter practically done a while back, I am just really insecure about this story as a whole. :)
Merry belated Christmas and a wonderful n' happy New Year to all of you lovely readers 3