Page 3 of Monsters within Men
Savannah materialised to Noah’s left. “Stay still!”
Sam did not stay still.
Noah raised his rifle, attempted to aim. “Sam, we can’t shoot unless you stop moving!”
Finding the hard, black shell of Sam’s combat suit a difficult material to penetrate, the type began to grope wildly at his helmet.
Sam screamed.
The scars on Noah’s fragile heart burst at the seam.
He dropped his rifle and lunged towards Sam. If he couldn’t get a clear shot, he’d pry the type off him if it was the last thing he did.
He knew he was too late the moment Sam’s helmet fell to the floor with a sickeningthud. The type had its sharp fangs embedded in Sam’s neck before Noah could do more than watch, mere centimetres away. Behind him, his squad cried out as some of them unloaded several rounds into the type in last-minute desperation. The type slumped to the floor, taking Sam with it. Pushing the creature off Sam, Noah collapsed, cradling the boy in his arms.
“Forrest,” Habib said, his voice etched with a warning. But Habib needn’t have worried. Sam would bleed out before any chance of him turning—the type had taken a sizeable chunk out of his jugular. Thick, bright-red blood oozed out of Sam’s neck, drenching Noah’s thighs.
“LT,” croaked Sam in a whisper, his eyes already glazing over. “I’m… sorry.”
Noah stroked his hair. It was all he could do now. “Shh. You did well, Sam. We’re all so proud of you. Your dad is proud of you, too. Close your eyes. Rest.”
Sam, the loyal soldier he’d been since he’d joined them a handful of months ago, followed Noah’s orders. The squad formed a protective circle around them as they silently watched Sam’s breathing become more and more shallow. And then, with one final shudder, Sam breathed his last.
Habib and Vitt stepped towards Noah in unison, dragging him to his feet.
“Time to pop smoke,” Habib said. “Splat and Shun will bag the body.”
Noah shook them off and took three steps away from his group of soldiers, each of them likely eyeing him, watching him for any signs of impending breakdown. He forcefully closed his eyes and widened his jaw to its utmost extent, silently screaming.
The mission ended how it was always going to end.
Another body bag.
Another failure to keep his flock safe.
Another tally mark seared into his heart.
two
Noah
“Captainwantstoseeyou at Command, Noah.”
Noah, slumped against a tree stump, looked up in alarm to see Vitt peering down at him. He’d dozed off and now the dying embers of the fire in the middle of the clearing hinted at a late hour.
“What? Now?” he said, his voice gravelly from disuse. He shook his head and rose to his feet, checking his wristband to find it was almost eleven p.m.
Vitt only shrugged in response as she threw herself to the ground nearby. Noah was in his usual spot near the bonfire—the furthest stump from the path back to the compound. Ithadbeen a long day, but he chided himself for falling asleep outside so easily.
“I better go quickly then,” he said, brushing himself down. Thin cedar shavings covered his clothes—from his latest whittling project, a small crow, wings slightly unfurled, as if it was about to take flight.
“Good luck,” Vitt called after him as he made his way to the path. “I hope the bitch is in a good mood.” Noah turned back to glare at her, raising his finger to his lips. He glanced around, praying nobody else was lurking nearby, ready to report her for insubordination. Luckily, it was a cold autumnal evening, so they were alone at the meeting space. If they weren’t asleep, the rest of the regiment would be showering, eating a late dinner, or enjoying their free time relaxing in one of the communal spaces.
Noah and Vitt were the only members of their squad who enjoyed the peace and quiet the garden offered at this time of night. However, until an hour ago, all eight remaining members of Squad E gathered together for Sam’s ceremony, once again toasting to a life cut far too short.Don’t think about that now,Noah urged himself, as the wave of guilt and despair that had plagued him since Sam’s death washed over him once again.
A nest of serpents writhed within his stomach at the thought of meeting the captain at such an odd hour. What was wrong? Were they finally demoting him? Was he about to be bundled into the back of a van, thrown out into the streets of London? Who would he be, if not the CO of Squad E?
Noah sprinted down the forest path to enter the main compound—Command Headquarters was on the other side of the barracks, and the captain did not enjoy being kept waiting.
