Page 73 of See You Soon
I plunge the knife towards his neck, slicing the blade across his throat. Blood sprays across my face and chest and I throw his body off of me, he's scratching at my arms desperately, my uniform protects me from the impending cuts.
Life is slowly fading from his grasp and I'm having too much fun like a kid in a candy store. I don't waste any more time before I'm stabbing him in his chest, eliminating the threat, giving Death another soul. My blade is so sharp, it pierces straight to his heart without a problem. The man's eyes widen with pain.
I stand up breathing hard watching the man on his back, choking, blood squirting out onto his long beard. I'm searching for my rifle while Kane and the rest follow, searching the halls for more threats.
We're all breathing hard due to the lack of oxygen. Sweating and eager to find Damon. He's no longer screaming. And that's never a good sign.
Kane towers over the man I just killed making sure he’s really dead. He checks his pulse, clenching his jaw, sweat dripping from his brow. He looks at me and nods. The entire time Lopez and Zeke are working on getting the door open.
I re-adjust my rifle.
“That was fun." I cough.
Aitu breaches the door and he's engulfed in black smoke.
"Fuck, I can't see shit!" He rasps.
We wait until the smoke subsides a bit to see the source of the fire. I'm squinting and I already know what awaits. Finally, it's clear and I assess the situation. The anger I'm feeling enrages me until I'm shaking, dropping my rifle to the ground, disappointed.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that Damon has been burnt alive. Once the building and area get secured, a team would pull out a DNA kit to confirm.
The smell of burnt flesh is so potent it wreaks, making us all sick. I had one straw of hope that we would be bringing him home alive. That was long gone now. My heart drops. I didn't want to fail another family.Another mother, another sister.We were too late. Damon's dead. Another son, another brother to be buried. A soul I couldn't save. The flames have completely consumed him and we had to get out of the building so we could let in another team to extract Damon’s body and prevent the building from completely burning down. There's nothing my team or Zeke's could do at this point.
Something breaks inside of me and I'm unsure what it was. All I feel is straight disappointment in myself. My sanity chipped once again, shaking my head in distress. I let my head fall down as I rub my beard. I walk out of the building, to get a break from the suffocation. The cool night air hits me and it's relieving. My thoughts scramble for the taste of whiskey. I’ve felt like I've been spiraling out of control ever since I met Ari. I had fully grieved Paul and was just about healed. But… she reopened the trauma when I met her. The shadows of demons in my head now clouding over me like a meal to devour, my soul for theirs to take.
A mission failed.Fuck.
My blood is boiling. My teeth are grinding so hard. My temper rises to unnatural limits replaying the burnt body of Damon in my head. Bright red, orange, and yellow shades blinded me. And now I'm replaying Paul dying in my arms. At this moment, I’m no longer Grim Reaper. I’m weak. I do something I’ve never done before and I walk away from my team, aggressive with each step, tearing off my skull mask. My boots are heavy on the ground as I head for the chinook. I pull out my cigarettes, and smack the box, packing them against my thighs as I walk.
“Grim! What the fuck man? Where are you going?” Lopez calls after me, confused but I ignore him. My monstrous height passing by Lopez. Military operators of all kinds surround the building, finishing the investigation. We had expected more terrorists but knowing that tonight was the execution of Damon, it made sense there were hardly any of them to fight.
“Let him go, man.” Kane grabs Lopez by the shoulder, pulling him back. “Let him be. I’ve never seen him like this before.”
Chapter32
ari
Before I left Iraq, my application got approved to work in a military hospital at the same post, Danny is stationed on. I started in a week and I was so excited. I feel more confident than when I first started. I wanted to keep working and keep my mind busy.
Meredith and Emilia left early in the morning but they were meeting me at Target later today, I needed to buy clothes and new hygiene products for myself now that I was back home. It still feels so unnatural to be back. And of course, my homecoming had to involve police showing up at my house.
This morning I woke up and had breakfast with my mother. I managed to keep the details of the note away from her. I brought up the idea of getting an apartment on my own now that I was making enough money to support myself. She was of course against it. She didn't want to be alone in the house. Paul never moved out of the house since he was always gone. So instead he saved money by staying home. I felt bad leaving her alone in the house but I also wanted my independence.
I spent most of the day in bed nauseous, constantly snacking, and watching comedy shows. This nausea is coming out of nowhere and I'm starting to think I've picked up a stomach virus from the airplane.
I kept looking at my phone hoping Danny would send me a text, telling me he was back. Every time my phone lit up I rushed for it but only to be disappointed. My sex injuries were long gone by now and I was craving Danny's touch every single day and night. I've fallen so hard for this man. He intimidates me in a way that keeps me hungry for more. He has tested every single boundary and moral of mine with no remorse and I don't hate him for it.
Sitting in my room alone, I want to binge watch horror movies all day but now I feel like my real life was turning into one because of Shane.
The thought of being alone in the house was unsettling. I'm laying down in my bed, under the covers and I keep looking out my window to see if he's watching me. But, nothing. The thoughts were running rampant. Shane's threatening note had me scared in my own home. I kept looking over my shoulder, jumping at any little sound my mom or house would make.
I refused to stay in any longer. I've rested enough. It was time to get out. It was almost time to meet up with Meredith and Emilia anyways followed by a night at El Devine. So I decided to head for the bookstore first then Target. I grab my leggings and running shoes and head out the door.
I get inside my brothers' car, Paul's scent still occupying it. Paul had an old green and brown Bronco. He was so in love with his car. He fixed it up the best he could and was so proud of it. I didn't want anyone else to have it when he passed. I refused to sell it, so I kept it.
As I pulled over my seat belt, securing myself in, I look at my rearview mirror. My thoughts go the worst and I'm scared that Shane's already in here…waiting for me.It's quiet. My eyes search around violently through the mirror but the back seat is empty. My heart continues to pound hard in my chest.God, I'm losing it.I continue to look around my surroundings inside of my car looking for any sign of intrusion but nothing.
I drive out of the parking lot and head toward the bookstore.
