The Academy

Part Two: Chapter Fifteen

Movement erupts from everywhere inside the warehouse as Knox's four guards hit the ground from my bullets. FBI agents and SWAT move in instantly. Knox himself is out of my sight but I'm already seeing the cartel men fire towards our people, and I know this is going to be a bloodbath.

I find Camille in the view in my scope, shocked to see that she still doesn't have a gun. She's hiding behind a large black man with a machine gun.

I shift to spot my current team, Derek, Jake, and Maggie all together taking shelter behind one of the large crates and firing periodically towards the men while my ex SWAT team is nowhere to be found, hopefully going after Knox.

I spot a man moving around the perimeter towards Lacey and adjust my aim.

"Sherman! Get down!" I command into my mic, and without hesitation I see Lacey drop to the ground, even though she has no idea why I'm telling her to do so. I pull the trigger on my sniper as soon as she's out of the way and the man behind her collapses to the ground with a thud.

"Thanks," She breathes, taking in the body behind her as she stands and continues maneuvering through the warehouse.

In my position, I keep an eye on the entire place as much as I can. I'm dying to be down there with them, but I'm needed up here. I take a couple more shots, knocking out a few more guys as I watch more of our agents go down as wll. I can't tell if we're winning or losing.

I find Camille again, and she's shouting at the man next to her. I can't tell what, but after a moment of hesitation, the man hands her what appears to be a pistol. She expertly checks the magazine and cocks the weapon, the man next to her distracted firing his own gun. Until, she presses the barrel to his back and pulls the trigger, causing the man to collapse.

Even from here, I can see she hadn't gone for a kill shot. It would have been just as easy to put a bullet through his head. But now, she has to move.

Camille is on her feet, weaving through the crates, hopefully trying to get back to our agents. I decide to help her out, deciding to aim at a man next to her and taking him down with no hesitation.

Through my scope, I can see her smile. She knows I've got her back, and I can see her demeanor change as she moves more confidently.

As I watch, I count the number of rounds I've fired and realize I have one bullet left. I brought extra magazines, of course, but even as an expert gunman it takes a few seconds to reload. I want to save this last bullet, but when I catch sight of someone moving behind Camille with a gun pointed at her, I pull the trigger and take him out without hesitation.

She's close enough to the side of the warehouse where the agents are now that I ask for the new magazine from my partner on the roof with me. I don't take my eyes off her as I start to reload with only my sense of touch.

Of course, when I'm out of commission, I spot a man taking aim from across the room. Before I can say anything or do anything, Lacey, who just so happens to be in the right place, spots him too. Camille picks the worst possible moment to cross the open space, and I watch as the man fires.

I'm done reloading and instantly take out the man, once he's neutralized I turn back to where Camille and Lacey were, my heart pounding.

Blood. There's a small puddle of blood with a smear trail leading to the cover. I follow the trail and see the opposite of what I was expecting.

Lacey is on the ground, clutching at her crimson-soaked side as Camille stands over her, obviously in a panic. How the bullet reached her through the vest, I have no idea.

"Sherman down! Sherman down!" I announce into the comms, also providing Lacey's location in the warehouse.

I wish I could unsee Lacey's hands covered in her own blood, glowing in the midnight at her side, as well as Camille on her knees, applying pressure to the bullet wound with her own two hands.