Page 78 of Darling Wildfire
I watched the opposition reach her and grab her as she screamed and struggled. I was already on the move, Atlas cleared two men out of my way and then I was on the soldier. I ripped the woman away from him and shoved her towards Preacher. My fist connected with his jaw and then my gun was at his head and I pulled the trigger.
I watched Nyx slit a man’s throat and shove him to the side at thesame time Preacher dragged the woman into our zone ending the game. The buzzer sounded immediately and the sound of drones filled the air. In seconds, military grade drones were hovering above us, replaying the same message over and over on a loop.
“Game over. Return to your bases.”
“Fuck that!” A man on the other team said angrily.
He made to step over the boundary line and a drone immediately shot him in the head.
Silence descended on the group and I watched the other men make the smart decision and run off back towards their own safe zone. Ignoring the drones, I stalked over to Vyper who was clutching his thigh, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
“What the fuck, Vyper?” I demanded.
“What’s wrong, Kraven?” He sneered. “Not happy you weren’t the one to win it for us?”
“No, I’m pissed because that was a fucking disaster out there,” I yelled. “We’re lucky we only lost Colt and Dutch!”
“Oh, we didn’t lose Colt,” Preacher said. “Vyper left him behind.”
Vyper glared at Preacher then looked back at me and shrugged.
“He was a liability,” he said casually.
“You’rethe liability, Vyper,” I said. “I don’t trust you.”
“Too bad—this isn’t the real world, Kraven,” Vyper said. “This is a fucking game. I’m not losing because some pretentious fuck is used to giving orders—”
“You’re right,” I nodded. I pulled my gun and pointed it at him. “This isn’t the real world.”
“Whoa—Kraven,” Preacher protested and took a step towards me but I watched Nyx casually step in his path.
“Do you want this man at your back, Preach?” Nyx asked.
Preacher’s lips pulled tight, realizing he was outnumbered.
“Come on, Kraven,” Vyper said. “It’s just a game—”
“I’m not dying here because you can’t execute,” I hissed. “You left a man behind. You hesitated at the cage. You left your fucking team—we won’t get through this if we don’t work together.”
Vyper rushed me and knocked the gun away. He hit my injured calf and I went down with him on top of me. I struck the side of his face with my gun, the force knocked him sideways and I got to my feet. I kicked him in the chest, sending him backwards in the dust.
“Fuck you, Kraven!” He spat at me.
I stepped towards him, raised the gun, and pulled the trigger.
No one spoke as his body went slack, and I heard the drones fly away. I can only imagine the show we’d just put on for whoever was on the other end of that feed. I tossed the gun away and stripped my vest off, a wave of claustrophobia rushing over me. When the double doors opened, I walked through them without looking back.
The drive back to Vetticus’ estate was quiet. The woman wasn’t with us when we loaded into the van, so it was just Preacher, Nyx and Atlas with me. My entire body hurt and my leg was throbbing. The others weren’t in much better shape, we’d definitely be feeling it in the morning. Once we arrived back at the estate, we stepped out of the van into a familiar forest scene, the estate ever watchful on its perch among the mist shrouded trees.
The guards directed us inside where our first stop was a large infirmary with a full hospital set up. There were several operating tables, hospital beds and all manner of instruments needed to triage and treat most injuries. Three stone faced nurses stood ready to receive us with the guards watching our every move, ARs ready as they stood watch over the exit.
The all male staff tended to every cut and bruise on my body, dosed me with painkillers and gave me an IV of fluids all while handcuffed. It was efficient and thorough. I was less injured than the others so I was first to return to our quarters down the hall. Once the guard removed the cuffs and left me alone, I immediately went and turned on the shower.
I stayed under the spray, letting the scalding water wash away my sins. I expected to feel something…remorse maybe, regret, especially for having to kill Vyper…but all I felt was empty as my mind replayed the entire game.
Nyx and Atlas had impressed me.
Nyx was ruthless and aggressive. He was always thinking ahead, and he anticipated his teammates moves, and acted accordingly. I felt like I’d been working jobs with him for years. He never hesitated, never questioned and didn't fall apart under pressure, instead he seemed to expand into it. He took risks but only if he knew he could do it without endangering his teammates.
