Chapter Text
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“Come on, we gotta go!”
“No! I’m not going to leave her behind!”
“She’s probably already dead. The last thing we need is for another life to be lost.” Maria stated firmly, latching her hand onto Priya’s wrist; dragging her away from the burning building.
A voice could be heard in the distance, yelling for the two girls. “Common you guys! Hurry up!”
“We have to go.” Maria said now moving her hand to hold Priya’s.
Tears streamed down Priya’s face as her grip on Maria’s hand tightened, Maria noticed and flashed her a sympathetic smile; before tugging on her hand. Priya took one last look at the roaring fire that had started to spread to the terrain around it; her eyes full of sorrow.
Maria looked back as well, she took a small sigh before she spoke, “common,let’s go.” All Priya could do was nod.
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A tree stood hunched, viewing its massacred land.
“What took you guys so long!?” James exclaimed “what if something happened to you both?!”
Maria took a step forward from where she was resting, “We tried to save our best friend! While you fucks sat on you lazy ass-“
“Enough Maria! You as well, James,” Priya exclaimed stepping towards the both of them. A dangerous step. One that sent both of them staggering back.“She’s dead. There’s nothing we can do. Now we have to get out of here before anyone else losses their life.”
Her eyes said every word that remained unspoken. All they could do was nod, fire now coating most of what used to be untouched land.
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“Alright, Eithne. It’s time for your first solo mission.”
Ticking could be heard somewhere in the dim room, echoing through the connecting corridor, mixing with the graveling voice. God how she hated the ticking. She rolled her eyes, ripping her dagger from her uniform, slamming it into the desk.
“You expect me to do this? To snoop so low? I have morals. Unlike you.” Her eyes pierced the large figure sitting across from her, a wooden table being the only thing that separated the two opposing forces.
“Look, these people hurt you. They were the ones that caused all of this. I have morals, and my morals are to protect the people I care for. You are one of these people.” How she hated his games. “Listen to me, Ei, it’s time you stood up for yourself.” The figure slowly rose, towering Eithne.
“I am. In my own way, ” She paused, should she have to justify herself? “None of them even recognize me. Once I reveal my identity they will regret everything they ever did to me. They'll have to think. All of them will have to-"
A loud ringing appeared in her ears as the bulb hanging in the middle of the room exploded, drenching them both in darkness.
The scent of gunpowder invaded Eithne’s nostrils.
"I don't want to hear another word.” He growled as the light spasmed above them. “Do not defy me. You will do as I say."
Eithne ignored his gaze, rolling her eyes as she watched glass fall from the ceiling, the light still flickering above her. But she did not argue. She snatched her knife and shoved it back into her uniform.
Crunching could be heard from under her boots as she bashed her fist into the side of the wall next to him. “Don’t ever tell me you’re doing this because you actually care about me. I know what you want.” The figure moved back behind his desk, re-cocking his gun and placing it in his top drawer; now smirking as he grabs a cigarette.
“Be a dear and hand me my lighter.” His smile sent a chill down her spine. She scoffed.
“You’re so lucky I have no where else to go.” She spat, grabbing the lighter and walking back over to him, the light still swinging above them.
“Mhm,” All he did was smile as he caressed her arm. “Light it for me.”
She thought she was going to be sick, but she lit it for him anyway. Watching as his chapped lips formed into a morbid smile.
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James yawned as he leaned on the wall, sighing.
“This is boring.”
Maria didn’t pay him any mind as she knelt down, placing a dandelion near a newer tomb stone.
Priya was quiet too, placing a yellow rose on top of the dandelion.
“It’s been 3 years.” James groaned, not even trying to mask his annoyance as he stretched his words.
“Can you shut up for just one second?” Priya, who had been standing next to Maria, whipped her body around to face him as she grasped his collar and chucked him to the ground.
James grunted, not given much time to react, as his body smacked on the dry grass with an audible thud. “The Hell, Priya? What is your problem?”
Maria was about to get up and intervened but went stiff when their newest member of their unit appeared, shock writing all over her poor, innocent face. “Uhm—I’m sorry to interrupt whatever is going on here, but Chief needs y’all for training.” She spoke meekly, playing with the hem of her gear while she glanced to the ground, avoiding eye contact.
Maria sighed as Priya and James were still frozen, bewildered and embarrassed. “It’s alright Dianne, thank you for telling us. We’ll be there soon,” Maria shot the skittish girl a smile. Dianne glanced at the tombstone before nodding in understanding. “Tell Chief we were just—uh-“
“Talking. We were just talking.” Priya’s voice huffed out, still towering above James’ body.
James rolled his eyes before glancing at Dianne. “Our bad Dianne, you can leave now.”
Dianne mumbled an ‘okay’ before scurrying out of the garden. Leaving the three flushed and ashamed.
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“What in—ugh—what do you mean they’re going to be late, Dianne? I told them earlier this morning that this was an important matter that needed immediate attention.” The man cursed under his breath as he pinched the rim of his nose, his forehead crinkling.
“I’m sorry, Chief I—“
“No hun, I’m not blaming you. Definitely not you. You have been nothing but helpful,” Chief patted her shoulder before fixing his bandage on his bicep. “Ya’know you remind me of one of the old Unit 12 member, her name was Eithne, she had blue eyes just like you and the same build. I think the only real differences that I am able to find is y’all’s personality and y’all’s hair color. She had brown hair while you have—uh—light blue? Was there a reason— because I know my daughters would cut and dye their hair on a whim sometimes, too. Usually some shade of blonde or red or—”
Dianne giggled, cracking her first smile as she self-consciously tugged on her uniform.
“Well ain’t that a first, sugar. Glad I could make ya’ smile,” Chief chuckled softly, grabbing a cigar out of his back pocket, and putting it to his lips.”You alright with me smoking one, Miss Dianne?”
Dianne simply nodded, her smile dropping in embarrassment as she noticed the other unit members walking over.
“Let go of me, Maria! Seriously.” James groaned, while Priya glared at him. And if looks could kill? James would be dead right where he stood.
Maria rolled her eyes and pulled them hard, tugging them both by their ears as they made their way towards Dianne and Chief. Priya tripping over pebbles while James whined and complained while trying to fix his messy blonde hair.
“Sorry about that, Chief. We had a little disagreement.” Maria glanced back at the both of them as James kept fixing his hair and Priya rubbed her ear.
“I don’t want to hear excuses. You know what happens when y’all are late. Five laps around the base—you too, Dianne. If I’m disciplining one of y’all, then I’m going to discipline all y’all. You’re a team. If one of the unit member goes down, they’re taking the rest of the unit down with’em.” He blew out the cigar smoke before taking a deep breath in, sighing. “We’ll talk about the mission later, for now, get moving and stop moseying around.”
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“Hey. You’re finally awake.” A woman, looking to be around 45 years old, moved her hand to hold another, younger girl’s hand. “It’s been around five days.”
“June?” The younger girls voice cracked, eyes half lidded and still delirious, as she broke out into a coughing fit.
“Oh—here’s some water Alana.“
Alana took large gulps of the water as it dripped down the sides of her mouth before she quickly pulled the empty cup away from her lips a couple seconds later and wiped her lower face with the back of her hand. She took a couple deep breaths, observing the unfamiliar room. “This isn’t the hospital. June, where are we.”
June stayed silent, her eyes now full of grief and regret. “I’m sorry.”
Before Alana had a chance to respond, still slightly delirious, an unknown figure came out from the shadows, pointing a gun to the older woman’s temple.
“I didn’t realize they would come for you-I’m sorry—I’m so sorry I—“
*BANG*