Page 40 of Sink With Me

I gnaw at the inside of my cheek as I flip through the cabinets, holding a fluffy towel tight around my body, looking for anything remotely easy and edible, but all I can find is actual ingredients. Who the hell doesn’t keep snacks? Even on a military diet, he should have granola bars. Like most people my age, I hate cooking. It’s not that I don’t know how my mom... well, I know how and I’m half decent at it so that’s not the problem either. It’s just that I don’t want to.

I walk around the room to my bag. A small duffle with a note perched in a lounging chair catches my attention. It has my birth name on it in surprisingly neat writing. Unzipping it, I find an array of new clothing with tags still attached. Each piece of fabric smells fresh from the store, carrying a clean factory scent. It’s similar to the first assortment I received with olive green shirts, now included with a few sweaters, tank tops, and black shorts, along with athletic leggings and even some tan cargo pants. I continue to rummage around, finding the socks and undergarments.

I’m going to fucking kill him. My blood pressure rises with my finger that holds a skimpy, blue-laced set. He’s lost his fucking mind if he thinks I’ll ever wear that for him. Throwing it back into the bag, I decide on some shorts and a sweater.

It’s odd leaving the room on my own accord, I don’t know where I’m at, but nothing is going to stop me from finding a vending machine or at least the mess hall where I can have something remotely digestible that I don’t have to put effort into.

This side of the base feels calmer and a lot quieter. Granted, it is night and I’m sure most of the soldiers are on a schedule, but it’s still serine-like. It’s not like Bay, where you get an eerie feeling around every corner. I’m starting to recognize a lot more differences in our task forces than I originally thought.

I wonder where Tide is lurking. It doesn’t matter, last night was just a tactic he used to get information. We don’t care. Great, now I’m arguing with myself. Can you die from a mental breakdown?

Here lies Cordelia, taken so early from us due to insanity.

“What do you mean, it was planted?” My head turns towards the deep voice rolling down the hall. My stomach rumbles, but just like a fish to the bait, he draws me in without even knowing it.

Rounding the corner, I find a cracked door casting a blue light onto the concrete floors at my feet. Lo and behold, Tide is on the other side with what sounds like Sam mumbling under his breath–

“We found the pieces from the explosive. They match the ones from last time.” A feminine voice hesitates as she speaks. I step closer, hovering my ear over the crack, the position gives me a small view of numerous monitors lining the walls and desk. Showing surveillance of multiple cells and all aspects of the base ranging from the tops of guard towers to a parking lot and even the training grounds.

“They have Bay numbers on it.” She continues and I’m about two-point five seconds busting in.

“So that means–” Sam’s words cut off and I hold my breath, I don’t even know why I do. It’s not like I’m doing anything wrong. They’re lying. Tide read my mind and knew I would be here at this exact moment to overhear the conversation. It’s a plan to trick me, that’s all.

Just as I’m about to turn away because the anxiety in my chest is too much, the door rips the rest of the way open and I’m face to face with Tide himself.

Date: 5-14-2024

Time: 1520

“Are you stalking me?” I mutter through a cocky grin just loud enough for my little siren to hear me, but instead of recanting like usual, she just stares at me. The fuck did I do? I mean, I know what I was planning, but it was just that… a plan.

You’d think if she eavesdropped, she would’ve heard how it wasn’t my fault on either ship, her parents or hers. You’d think she might soften towards me. I mean bloody hell; I’ve spent all day trying to find a way to get her to trust me a little. The fact she showed up now was a lucky coincidence. Even with the information I've spent hours searching for she looks at me like she’s going to throw a punch. Honestly, when it’s all said and done she might have a reason to but right now that doesn’t matter. Her gaze subtly darts to Jasmine who's digging the tip of her boot into the floor, then back at me. I can’t fight back the way my lips turn up at the sight.

So, my little siren is jealous?

I bend at the waist, so I’m face to face with her, not letting my focus budge from her face. I’m a little disappointed that her scent isn’t tainted by me but by her new clothes. She glares back, squaring her shoulders and placing her hands behind her back.

“Just passing by.” She chirps, keeping her tone calm and collected. There’s a quiet growl that forces my head back to my colleagues, but Sam looks just as confused and Jasmine is busy looking anywhere but at Cordelia. It finally registers that the mess hall is on the way to the meeting room, but why would she go to the mess hall? My room is filled with everything she should need. I turn my head, but her back is already to me as she waltzes down the hall.

“Since we know who and what caused the explosions, look for why they’re planted. I’ll handle the rest.” I already have a good feeling why, but I won’t say anything until I have the hard facts in front of me. They don’t even have a chance to reply before I rush down the hall, trailing hard on Sharkie’s heels.

“I have food in the room, you know?”

“I want a snack, not food.”

I scoff at the statement. I knew it’d throw her through a loop having her stay with me now but I’m selfish and I want her nearby.

“You’re not going to find snacks in the mess hall.”

“Your room is boring.”

Now I know she’s just saying anything to try to get me to back off, but that’s not going to work. My room isn’t boring, well at least it wouldn’t be if I was in there with her.

If she’s even the slightest bit relieved or perturbed by the new information, she doesn’t show it. She’s back to being the same void of emotion I usually see. I want her to loosen up. If she needs fucking ‘snacks’ to do that then so be it.

“Come on.” I say as I take her hand. She tries to jerk away but I intertwine my fingers with hers, squeezing into her knuckles. I promised more freedom, and I meant it but I'm still going to monitor her.

Date: 5-14-2024

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