A Soldier's Journey

Part 26: A Wake Up Call

I walk down the strange hall, the whole building so silent that you could hear an ant yawn. Glacing around the corner, I see nothing, not a human in sight. Where the hell am I? The last thing I remember was being on that ship. I slightly open a random door, still not hearing anything except the creaking. As I peak my head through, I see a man sitting in a chair, his shoulder's slumped and his head hanging. His arms appear to be tied behind his back and his feet tied to the legs of the metal chair. I move into the room, closing the door behind me.

Something's familiar about the man, the dirty blonde hair that's messed up like bed head, the strong biceps. Shit! Steve! I rush to his side, putting my hand on his arm. "Steve?" I ask. I get no response so my hands go to his neck, checking for a pulse. I relax when I feel the slight pumping. My hands go to his cheek. I see his eyes slowly start to open, revealing his blue eyes behind them. "Lauren?" He asks. "Yes honey. It's okay. I'm gonna get us out of here." I say, starting to undo his restraints. "Lauren you have to go, they'll find you and kill you. Please baby just go. Don't risk it. Get out of here." He says, his voice as quiet as a mouse. "I'm not going to leave you here." I say, undoing the arm ropes. "You have to, please. I'm too weak. Please leave. I can't protect you here." He begs. I shake my head and start undoing the leg restraints. "Lauren listen. They'll find you and kill you, just leave." He says. "No, I won't." I say without hesitation. I finish the final leg restraint and help him to his feet.

His legs are incredibly weak, dirt and dust covering his sharp features. We slowly make our way down the hall when Steve's body suddenly falls. He falls to his knees, scratching at his throat. I look up and see Wanda slowly walking towards us, using her powers. "What are you doing?" I ask. I get no response, so I turn back to Steve. "Stop it! Stop it please!" I yell, crying as his body starts to weaken. "Please, please. I'll do anything. Take me, please just stop. You're killing him!" I say, watching his face turn pink. His body collapses and I cry against him. Wanda flips him over with her powers so that I see his body. "He's not dead yet. He's just unconscious." She says, making my sobbing dial down a little. I note the darkness and chill in her tone.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" I ask, my tears flowing uncontrollably. "Because I want you to feel the pain that I have felt since the night that my parents died." She says. I hear a gunshot and look around in confusion. Wanda suddenly disappears, so I focus on Steve again. I look down at him and see the giant bullet hole in the center of his forehead, his face already losing it's color. I gasp and cover my mouth with my shaking hands. "Steve? Steve? Please, please wake up. Please." I sob again, falling down on my knees. "Please, please I need you. Honey wake up please!" I cry. His dull and lifeless eyes just stare at the ceiling. I cry onto his chest. "You have to wake up please! I'll do anything, just wake up! Open your eyes love please!" My throat burns as the tears flow out like a waterfall. "Baby we're not done yet. We still need to have kids and grow old together. Please, please open your eyes." I sob, knowing that my requests won't be granted. I grip his cold and lifeless hand with my shaky ones.

I wait, hoping and crying that he'll wake up, but nothing happens. I lean over and kiss him one last time. "I want you to know that I love you. I always have and I always will. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me and I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you like you protected me. You were the best husband anyone could ever have. You deserved so much more and I'm so, so sorry that I couldn't give that to you. Please don't ever underestimate how much you mean to me. I wish more than anything that we could have had more time. More time for us to complete our lives in the way that we always dreamed. Have kids and watch them grow up, watch each other grow up. And grow old together and eventually be buried next to each other. I could never forget you, no matter what. I will avenge you and hopefully see you soon." I say, crying into his chest.

I wish I could feel his heartwarming touch just one more time. The way that he held me before we went to bed and after we made love. Kiss me, sending sparks flying and tell me that he loved me just one more time. I would do anything to reset our lives and relive our love for each other.