Redamancy ✷ Simon Riley

Chap 21)

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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐎𝐧𝐞 
╰──────────╯

Brushing her palm against a log that had fallen over the river, Poppy pushed herself under the surface and swam underneath the thick wood. Breathes left her mouth in the form of bubbles rising to the surface. Reaching the other side, she expired a breath and inhaled fresh air as the stream continued forcing her body downriver towards the bridge.

The army had pursued them along the river bank with heavy armour covering their entire bodies. Some drove alongside them before coming to an abrupt stop. They would exit their vehicles and aim pistols and assault rifles at them before firing bullets at the trio.

Bodies had fallen into the river and had sunken below the surface of the water. Because of the army's heavy-plated armour, it took them longer to rise back to the surface where they would float face down. Blood flowed from their deadly wounds and stained the transparent water red.

Sergeant Dargie had pierced through helmets and eliminated multiple enemies before they were clear. They had swam down the river where they all presently plunged under the moss-covered log and successfully reached the other side.

A gloved hand was suddenly placed on her shoulder blade from behind and she was hurriedly turned around to face them. Her back was slammed into a boulder just as gunfire went off where she had just been floating in the water a few seconds ago.

Simon kept his skeleton-gloved hand on her shoulder as he unholstered his pistol and aimed it at the soldier who had fired at Poppy. Pressing down on the trigger, he fired three times before the enemy finally fell into the river motionless.

He turned his head and locked eyes with the woman who made his heart pound faster within his chest. He traced her face and outlined her green eyes, her eyebrows, nose and lips. The lips that always curled upwards when he was in her presence.

She gave him an appreciative nod before she averted her gaze from his and raised her weapon to take out another soldier who had sprinted around the river bank to shoot at them from a better angle.

He fell forward towards the water, resulting in a splash resonating around them when his body submerged under the gelid surface. Blood rose to the top of the water, flowing outward like a puddle before blending with and turning the clear liquid pink.

The lieutenant retracted his hand from her shoulder blade and began guiding Dargie with him down the river, moving them sluggishly down the stream to the bridge.

"The rivers slowing us down, mate!" Ghost exclaimed, firing his pistol at more foes.

It was true, the river was deep in the part they were currently occupying. Their feet weren't touching the pulverised floor under their boots, so they couldn't move quickly as they had to use their arms and legs to swim.