Redamancy ✷ Simon Riley

Chap 35)

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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞
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Simon and Poppy hid in the draping shadows against the painted plastered wall. They were silent, skillfully camouflaging themselves into the wall behind them. Their dark clothing helped them achieve blending into their surroundings. They watched two Shadow soldiers saunter into the cozy room, slowly advancing in to scan the area for Hassan Zyani or any members of Task Force 141.

The lieutenant unsheathed one of his honed throwing knives from his kevlar vest and tightened his grip around the handle. His gloves faintly strained as he narrowed his eyes on the two men. He craned his head to regard Poppy. She had a long length of wire between her hands. It coiled gently around her hands like a snake as she prepared to garrotte one of the soldiers with it.

When both Shadow soldiers made the mistake of turning their backs on them, the duo snuck out of the darkness that submerged the room and walked up behind the armed men.

Discomposed and uneasy thoughts troubled Dargie mentally and emotionally. The shock that had felt like a punch to her gut had disappeared and was replaced with consternation. At first, she didn't know what to think about her brief interaction with Gavin until her little girl popped into her mind.

That's when trepidation and uneasiness filled her body and ran through her bloodstream. Her hands had abruptly started shaking and the overwhelming feeling to cry crashed down on her like a stormy wave. Her vision blurred with salty tears but she kept them in as she wrapped the wire around the Shadow's neck.

He struggled against her as Poppy curled the wire around his throat and gripped both ends, tightening. The man choked out desperately as she ruthlessly strangled him. Despite his squirming to escape her, she continued to asphyxiate him until his writhing slowed and he went limp against her.

Simon had successfully stabbed the other Shadow in the throat, twisting the blade into his trachea to kill the mercenary quicker. He yanked the sharp knife from his bloody torn skin and watched his body drop to the floor with a resounding thump. Looking up from his body, his gaze landed on Poppy who released the wire from the Shadow's neck.

The now-deceased soldier fell forward on the carpeted floor as she stood over him with a heaving chest. She hadn't even realized she was crying until a choked sob left her mouth. She stepped back and turned around to face Simon who had made his way over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

She immediately tucked her face into his neck and squeezed her eyes shut. Her hands fisted the back of his vest in her grasp to stop her hands from shaking while he rubbed his gloved palm up and down her clad back.