Extraction

3 - First Encounter

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LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Tyler

2010

"Copy. Chopper's coming your way.", Nik said on the satellite phone.

"Copy.", I carefully moved behind a tree, branches snapping after my steps.

"Gaspar here.", the phone vibrated with his voice. "Mission complete, Rake. Found the bastard fifteen hundred meters from your position. Copy."

"Comin' your way. Copy.", I clicked on the device, shutting it off.

I furrowed my eyebrows as my eyes caught sight of someone hiding behind a tree in front of me.

I shook my head and grasped my gun, wanting to move towards them. The figure was taller than the person I had been looking for, but maybe this was a spy of some sort. The person suddenly crouched and grasped their thigh in pain. My eyes quickly moving for any sight of weapons in the area.

I moved to the person who seemed not to see or hear me. My sweaty hand grasping the gun again, afraid it might be a trap. The person's head leaned against the tree bark and sighed in pain.

I moved around the tree and finally stood in front of them.

"You alright?", I asked and cringed at my choice of words. I cleared my throat and looked at the person. Delicate eyes - delicate features, despite the busted lip and cuts all over her face. She looked like an angel.

She shook her head and nodded at her leg. I looked at the spot and noticed the material was soaked in her blood. Her eyes shut forcefully at the pain, making me put the gun away. I crouched down in front of her and fetched bandages from my vest.

"May I?", I asked, unrolling the bandage. She nodded, making me gently take her knee. I wrapped my arm there and started rolling the bandage around her thigh.

"Man, aren't you the fella working for the Khans? What's her name? Nik?", she wheezed out and coughed. She looked at me and then moved her gaze on my hands, which were now stained in blood.

"That I am.", I said. "Who do you work for?"

"No need to get defensive, man. We're on the same side.", she laughed shortly, exhaling deeply. "I do private shit. People pay me individually and I do the dirty work for them. Essentially I work for no one and for everyone at the same time.", she explained, making me nod.

I sighed and secured the bandage to her thigh once more before looking at her again, just to notice her eyes already on me. I cleared my throat and swallowed thickly.

"I don't have to split my money with anyone.", she said, her eyes barely open.

"I got insurance.", I decided to say, her lips twitched a little.

"Back in Oz?", I nodded again, my own lips twitching at her prominent American accent.

"I'm Rake.", I said, until I realised how professional I sounded. "Tyler Rake."

"Like the gardening tool?"

I smiled and laughed a little. "Just like that."