My Classmate is a Killer (Unfinished)

Chapter 9: Safe Landings

I wonder how much longer I'll be able to keep this up. I fiddle around with my rifle, bored out of my mind but still very much alert. I lean back in my uncomfortable, plastic seat of the A400M Atlas-C Mk1 that is transporting us to Lyon, France, sweat already coating my skin underneath my SAS gear and uniform. In front of me is Maxwell and Jarrod, both fast asleep, Maxwell resting his head on his rifle stock, Jarrod on Maxwell's shoulder. On my left, Sakura is catching up on some reading on her tablet, the white gleam of the screen illuminating the soft features of her face. To my right, Ashleigh is fast asleep. I think. It's unclear, given that she's wearing shades all the time. I let out a controlled sigh, extending my legs out slightly in a single stretch. I crack my knuckles, observing the other two SAS teams further down the plane. Some are chatting between themselves, others are getting some shut-eye. A few are playing cards and one is even smoking. I smile, remembering a time I was like them; a group of guys that had nowhere to call home, and found a new purpose in the killing of others. It's poetic in a way. I retrieve my phone from my breast pocket, which has been noticeably buzzing a few times throughout the journey. I rub my eyes, trying to clearly see the small lines of text on the screen. It's from Mark. I swipe open my phone. Mark seemed to have messaged me, to which I had not replied. Usually, Mark would send either memes or short lines of text regarding schoolwork or invitations to hangouts, but this time, it was just a single question.

Mark: Where are you, man? We're supposed to be working on planning for the school carnival next month.

I let out another controlled groan, attempting to not draw any attention to myself as I stare at the ceiling of this metal bird I have been confined to. "I completely forgot about that," I mutter to myself, inadvertently loud enough to gain Sakura's attention, as she glances over to me with curious eyes. "Something up?" She asks, setting away her tablet. I nod, setting my phone onto my thigh with my right hand. "It's really difficult maintaining two lives at once, you know?" I can see Sakura's eyes pointing diagonally as she thinks of something to say. "As if saving the world wasn't enough, I have to also make people believe I'm an normal, average, mundane high school student," I fold my arms and sigh as Sakura speaks. "While I don't fully understand your life situation specifically, I can say that I do empathise with the part about feeling alone in society," Sakura points at the SAS teams sitting further away from us in the plane.  "I bet they struggle with living normal lives too, as do I. Sometimes, this life chooses us when we least expect it. Or want it." she crosses her leg as she sits herself upright. "Did I ever tell you how each of us became who we are?" I shake my head, suddenly realising that besides names

"What I'm saying is that everyone can find balance in life, it's just up to you on how you do that." I nod as she pats me on the back lightly. "Either way, we're all here for you. Remember that, yeah?" I look at Sakura, her eyes full of empathy and hope. A small smile creeps over both of our faces.

"Yeah, thanks."

Suddenly, the dark interior of the aircraft reddens as the pilot's voice booms within the aircraft. "Attention all personnel, T-minus 3 minutes until deployment." Everyone, including me, jolt out of our seats instantaneously. Even the SAS operators that were napping immediately snap awake and alert, already doing final checks of their gear and weapons by the time the backdoor of the aircraft opens up, revealing the luscious night scenery of South Lyon, the urban fields empty as the dark silhouettes of trees surround them, nearby houses emitting small amounts of light from their windows. The rivers here and turn as if they were string laid across a table, their streams branching off to feed the nearby crops from nearby farms. The sky is clear, for not a single thing is in sight save for the thousands of stars that fill the empty space, as the bright entities dot across the navy gradient that is the night of France. As me and Sakura stand in-front of this inviting scenery, our harnesses already linked and secured to a metal wire suspended over our heads, I hear Jarrod and Maxwell bickering. I turn back to investigate as Sakura takes in the fresh air graciously. I bump in between Jarrod and Maxwell's little scuffle, setting them apart from each other with one hand on each of their chests. "What's the problem?" Maxwell folds his arms as his head swivels to meet my questioning gaze. "Jarrod here doesn't want to jump off," he sighs, causing Jarrod to bite back instantly. "Hey! That's not true! I've just never done this before..." the young operator states as he stares out into the inky, gaping abyss behind me.  I sigh and pinch my nose, trying to think of a solution to this "minor" issue. Just as I am about to speak, SAS operators behind us, seemingly annoyed with the holdup, usher us forward, their complaints drowned out by the sounds of wind rushing against our aircraft as we move towards the opened door of the aircraft, causing Jarrod to dig his heels into the smooth metal floor of this manufactured bird. I sigh and return to the front of the queue with Sakura, seemingly as eager to get this over with as I am, while Maxwell and Jarrod continue to argue. I sigh and press a button on my headset, opening the comms between me and the other operators. "All teams, prepare for jump." Everyone gives their words of approval over the comms as my feet etch closer to the edge of the door, any further and I am essentially out of the aircraft. I clench my rope that is attached to the metal wire above me, my hands sweaty within my gloves as I wait for the signal. Finally, on the comms, the pilot gives us the order to jump as the lights within the aircraft go green.

I bolt out of the aircraft as my cable automatically disconnects from me, enabling me to free fall. I hear my fellow members jumping off the plane one by one, especially Jarrod who seemed to have been unwillingly "attached" to Maxwell during the jump. I spread my arms and legs out, attempting to gain some control over my flight path as I accelerate towards the urban scenery of Lyon, the wind rushing past me like waves of a waterless ocean. Suddenly, Sakura's slender figure appears to my side, as she waves over to me, her eyes full of excitement and life. I chuckle and shake my head. Kids will be kids. I look to my left, only to see the conglomeration that is Jarrod basically strapped to the chest of Maxwell, like a baby to his mother during the early stages of its infancy. While Jarrod flails and screams out of pure shock and adrenaline, Maxwell is unfazed, saluting me as he levels with me and Sakura in the air. As this happens, Ashleigh levels with us on Sakura's right side, her shades replaced with a visor ripped from a motorbike helmet. I raise an eyebrow as her head tilts towards me, seemingly questioning my curiosity. I glance back towards the world beneath me, as it has gotten a lot closer than I remember. I instinctively pull the handle on my chest as a parachute flies out of my backpack, instantly catching me in the air as it hoists me backwards with a single jolt. As I am ripped backwards, I latch onto the handles that appear beside me, allowing me to control the direction I am travelling. I look below me, watching Sakura, Maxwell and Ashleigh do the same thing, their tan coloured parachutes imitating mine's actions moments ago. I laugh as Jarrod's groans are audible over comms, as he is tugged upwards in his harness.

I land on the ground first, my leather boots trampling on some tall grass in the fields. I take out my binoculars to get a better look at our objective as Sakura, Ashleigh and SAS team Alpha formed up on my position. If there was any way of describing the factory, it would be eerie; the building itself reeked of neglect and misfortune, its walls pale with paint peeling off like dry skin, revealing the rough, grey concrete layer. The windows of the factory were lifeless, like gaping eyes, as they appeared pitch black from the outside. The pillars of which the factory was supported by were entangled in all manner of shrubbery, vines and root bark wrapped around the concrete beams, seeming like nature's attempt at dragging the establishment underground. Behind me, I can hear SAS team Alpha's members muttering in disgust and even a hint of fear at the ungodly sight of this building. Despite being at least sixty yards away from the building, the smell of the building seemingly transcended far beyond its walls, as the essence of spoilt food, mud and shit attacked our nostrils. Shaking off the aura of the building, I focus my attention to SAS team Beta, who, still airborne, are gliding their way towards the roof the compound, their dark silhouettes visible against even darker skies. As each member of the team begins to land onto the roof safely, I spot Jarrod and Maxwell out the corner of my eye, nearly laughing out loud at the sight of the conglomeration of a shadow they formed in contrast to the sky. The snickering of everyone is audible on comms as Maxwell and Jarrod finally land on the roof, prompting Jarrod to immediately remove himself from the unorthodox position he was forced into. His accent becomes even more clear when he starts yelling at people. "The next time we go on a mission, I will ensure that you will be the one looking like a dumhuvud!" The Swede's yelling as well as the operator's laughing is quickly silenced as I clear my throat.

"SAS team Beta, operators Pence and Shadow, are you all in position?" I ask after clicking a button on my radio set on my chest. "Confirmed," I hear the SAS team Beta captain confirm. "We have view of the skylight. No clear sight of any enemies through it though." I nod, directing my zoomed view towards a forest clearing nearby the factory, around a hundred and eighty yards from where we are. "SAS team Alpha, there is your objective. Secure the site and wait for my orders for extraction." I hear the less enthusiastic confirmation of SAS team Alpha's members, as the grumble and sprint towards the zone in winged formation. I then look behind me, to which Sakura and Ashleigh await my orders. I smile and nod, prompting them to nod back.

"Let's do this."