Page 29 of Taking Me

My body is fighting with my mind. One is demanding that I sit my ass down, and the other is telling me to get the fuck out of here. The struggle is real, and it feels like I’m being torn in two different directions. As soon as I stand up, my legs buckle beneath me, causing me to hit the ground with full force. The impact sends shockwaves through my entire body, and I can’t even pinpoint where the pain is radiating from. It hurts all over, from my head to my toes, like every nerve ending is on fire. My arms feel like lead weights, and my vision blurs as I try to makesense of the chaos within. The room spins around me, and I can barely catch my breath.

The gunfire begins to be accompanied by explosions, creating a cacophony of chaos that reverberates through the air. The ground trembles beneath me with each blast, adding another layer of intensity to the already overwhelming situation. My heart races, trying to keep up with the rapid sounds and sensations trapping me. My mind trails back to Iraq making me concerned for my being.

It’s like being caught in the middle of a storm with no clear path to safety.

A part of me just wants to accept defeat and surrender. But I’ll kill that shit real fuckin’ quick. I’m not one to ever fuckin’ back down, and I won’t start now. I’m a badass, and giving up isn’t in my vocabulary. When things get tough, I dig in deeper and fight harder. Every challenge I’ve faced has only made me stronger, and this is no different. I’ll rise, push through the pain, and come out on the other side even more resilient. Surrender isn’t an option—I’m built to survive and thrive, no matter what gets thrown my way.

The gunfire begins to amplify, and the walls start shaking as explosions go off around the house. The loud noises are causing my tinnitus to act up in my one good ear. It is almost unbearable, each blast sending shock waves through the air and rattling my bones.

Dust and debris fall from the ceiling, and the room fills with a haze of smoke and chaos. The floor beneath me trembles violently, making it nearly impossible to stay steady.

I can feel the fire in my chest rising and constricting airflow to my lungs, but I know I can’t afford to lose any more focus now.

Every instinct screams at me to move, to get up off of this blood-soaked floor.

I place one hand in front of the other, pulling myself towards the door. The guard had left it cracked just enough so the latch didn’t click into place, locking me in.

My body protests with every inch I gain, pain radiating from head to toe, but I can’t afford to stop now. I feel as if I am pulling a ton of bricks through the war zone. The air becomes thick with smoke, now seeping through the door’s crack with the rising scent of gunpowder, making it harder for me to breathe.

I can hear the chaos upstairs, the shouts, and the relentless gunfire, but I focus on the door. It’s my only chance. I grit my teeth, ignoring the searing pain, and push myself harder. The door is so close, just a few more pulls, and I will be there. My heart races, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Freedom starts just beyond that door, and I won’t let anything or anyone keep me from it.

My blurred vision begins to tunnel. It feels like a painful and agonizing eternity before I make my way to the door, hoisting myself through and out into the smoke-filled hallway. My body is giving out on me. It has completely slowed down, my arms won’t move, and my legs feel paralyzed. The amount of blood that I have lost is critical. I don’t even know how I am still alive and breathing.

Gazing down the hallway, my head begins to spin. Before I can react, I see a shadowed figure running into every room that aligns the walls. They are empty, and I assume I am the only one being held down here against my will.

“G, slow down, man!” a man’s voice shouts over all the chaos surrounding us. The figure begins to close in on me as I lay here, losing more blood.

“She has got to be here somewhere, man. I know she fucking needs me!” A man’s panicked voice, laced with anger, yells out.

That voice, I am all too familiar with it. It is the voice that replayed itself over time and time,, keeping me sane. My mindis in disbelief. It can’t be…Could it really be him? Did he come for me after all? I try calling out to whoever it is hoping they can hear me. And I am not hallucinating.

“Ghost”

My voice is too hoarse for anyone to hear other than myself. My eyes started to fall heavy, and my body shut down after all it had endured. I fight to stay conscious, hoping the figure is not just my imagination.

“G, she’s over here!” The man calls out in a panicked voice. The man looks down at me and assesses my condition. He quickly stood up before the other man approaches us.

“I don’t think you want to see her G. She’s fucked up…like bad brother. She needs a doctor.” He let out.

The man shoves him out of his way, “I didn’t ask for your God damn input, now help me out or go help the guys!” He commanded.

He brings himself down to one knee, carefully grabbing my head and placing it in his hand. I can’t stay awake much longer. “G..Ghost?” I let out in a hushed tone. “Don’t worry, Little Killer,” he says softly. “I am here, you’re safe now.”

Darkness consumes me, pulling me into an abyss where time and space dissolve—the roar of the chaos that surrounds me echoes through the void. I feel a surge of coldness, like icy tendrils wrapping around my body, dragging me further into the unknown. My mind races between the urge to rest and the desperate need to push forward.

Suddenly, a blinding light pierces the darkness, cutting through the shadows and smoke clouding my vision. The faint light at the end of the corridor grows stronger, illuminating a familiar and foreign path.

I feel a sense of peace wash over me as I reach the light. The chaos fades, replaced by a serene calmness. Am I dead? I am no longer in pain.

Whatever lies beyond this light, I know I am ready for it. With that final thought, I surrender to the darkness, embracing the unknown with hope that this madness is over.

I am finally free from it all. No more pain, no more suffering.

Twenty One

Finally..

The End…

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