Becoming the Villan

Letting go

I walked back into the dorms in a trance. The commander want's to put me in charge of the mission to take down the Archipelago Republic? My thoughts swam as I got back to my room.

I closed the door and leaned against it. My legs felt unable to support my weight any longer, I collapsed to the ground and hung my head on my hands. If I fail, it doesn't matter how good of an operative I am. I am expendable.

My thoughts attacked me and I started hyperventilating. "Get a hold of yourself," I said out loud to no one. I stood up and walked over to the wall at the end of the room. A map of the island filled most of the space, with pictures and notes filling the rest.

"Three months, three months," I muttered. "It's November Second. So, I have until February." I counted the days on my fingers. "That's about ninety-one days."

I paced the small space I had and pulled my fingers through my hair.

The Republic is mostly supported by R.I.S.E. So if I can get connections with them, I can find information on how it runs. "If I can get into R.I.S.E I can get into the Republic," I brought my hands out of my hair and my scalp stung from me pulled on it.

"I should go, scout out the laboratory again," I hurried over to the bathroom and winced at the pain in my side. I sighed.

I have ninety-one days to figure this out. I grabbed my mask, slipped it on, and walked out the door. "Blasted glass," I muttered. I turned the corner into the infirmary and one of the doctors looked up.

"Can I help you?" The man asked. "Yes, I ah-," I cleared my throat. "I believe I need a few stitches," I answered, gesturing to the blood on my tee-shirt.

The man nodded and waved my back to one of the rooms. "So, how did this happen?" He asked while grabbing a few bottles and needles from a cupboard.

"I was blasted through a window," I answered, pulling off my shirt. The doctor nodded, "This might sting," The man warned, pressing a damp cloth to the cut in my side.

I hissed and pulled away. "Sorry," He said, taking a closer look. "It looks like there's still glass stuck inside. I'm going to have to take it out," I nodded and laid down on the table. The doctor grabbed a wad of gauze.

"This is going to hurt," I nodded and took the gauze and bit down into it. I felt tweezers dig into my skin and I made my hands into fists and my fingernails pressed painfully into the palms of my hands.

Don't scream. Don't let them know you feel anything. Just be a good soldier. I felt the tweezers grab a piece of glass and pull it out.

I bit down harder on the gauze and a strained sound escaped my lips. "Almost done. Only a few more pieces," The doctor promised. I shut my eyes and felt the tweezers sink back into my skin.

I dug my fingernails harder into my skin and opened my eyes. I am a soldier, a survivor, I will not let pain hold me back anymore. Images flashed through my head. Mom, Dad on the floor of the hospital, Aysha lying dead in the alley.

I closed my eyes again and let each of them go. Forgetting my past and everyone I had ever cared about. I kept my eyes closed knowing that Oliver would be gone, just a memory when I opened them again. Someone who should have died years ago.

I opened my eyes and felt...free.