Virus

Twenty Six

I'm not even sure why we came.

The missiles and bombs fell.

Mick Hollers stronghold was an entire city. Everything in the city is made of concrete and blasted apart easily as the bombs fell and the missiles launched. Hopefully Travis and Dharma were okay down there. Hopefully Amberley was okay back in D.C.

Once the bombing stopped, the helicopter veered around and heading back toward Washington Fortress for another long, uncomfortable ride.
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The entire garage was packed full with soldiers just in case any of Hollers Butterflies tried to come to his rescue.

Dharma and I searched all the faces, looking for Amberley but had no luck. Finally we went into the hotel.

The second I opened the dining room door, I regretted it.

The table had been moved to one side of the room and Mick Holler had been shackled to the wall on the opposite side.

Girida and General Andersen stood above Hollers wrecked body. A few U.S soldiers stood guard around the room.

"Soldiers, please return to the barracks immediately. The front gate has been sealed," said the monotonous voice of the intercom. The message was repeated another four times.

Andersen saw us come in and didn't seem to care. "Ladies, please lock the door behind you."

Dharma closed the door and turned the brass deadbolt.

"How can I help you?" Girida asked.

"We are looking for Amberley Grey," I replied as Andersen ripped out one of Holler's nails. I cringed.

The president's face fell. He gestured for us to follow him.

We went into the balcony, putting on doctor masks as we went in.

He closed the door behind him. "Amberley Grey was at the airport when the D.C rebels bombed the site. I'm sorry Kelly, Amberley is dead."

My vision blurred and my ears closed off. The only sound I heard was the pumping of my own blood. Girida's mouth was moving, but the deafening sound of my blood was too much.

Amberley was dead...

I'd lost Jasmine, and Hal, and Gary and Michael. I'd lost everything I once had. And now Amberley.

I refocused. I swallowed down my grief and confusion and came back to the world.

Outside I heard the snap of whiplash and a halfhearted groan.

All the memories of Amberley flashed before my eyes. Her saving me from that creep in the Butterfly camp near Topeka. Her fighting at my side in both battles at Topeka. And now she was gone.

I stormed into the dining room, tearing off my mask. Andersen has a spread of knives splayed on the table. I grabbed on and stomped towards Holler.

"You cost this country, millions of lives," I snarled. I thrust the knife through his cheek. Then I slashed it all the way to his lip. The lower part of the gash hung down. Holler gave a mighty scream this time.

Then I looked at Andersen. "I want to be the one who kills this asshole."