Friendly Fire

(43) - A Betrayal

I woke in the middle of the night to the sound of screams. Multiple screams. I was quick to reach for the pistol I had stored under my pillow just in case I needed to defend myself. My instincts were right.

I rushed through the tent flap only to see Colonel Hitchen with Lily held in a headlock, the civilian tents burning to ashes behind them. I didn't get a chance to yell out instructions or orders before Colonel Hitchen spoke.

"Hello Bane."

I raised my pistol straight for him. "How the fuck did you know we were here?!"

The feeling of cold metal hit the back of my head. "Put. Your. Weapon. Down."

Lieutenant Davis...

Slowly I lowered my arm and watched Lily continue to squirm in Colonel Hitchen's hold. "Release her and answer my question."

They didn't need to speak as Dawn stepped out from behind Colonel Hitchen.

"Traitor!" I seethed.

"Now, now, I am no traitor. I'm simply getting fucking payback. I will get revenge for Nami's death."

I heard the gun Lieutenant Davis had prodded against my head click. He's ready to shoot at any moment if I make one wrong move.

"Nami's death was an accident! Don't blame her death on me! Blame her death on them! They're the enemy Dawn, don't let them fool you too!"

She chuckled. "Fooled? Oh honey, you were the one who shot my dear darling sister to begin with. And Leonard let you get away with it. They all did. Except me." She glared at Lieutenant Davis and nodded. "Do it."

I was quick enough to point my pistol backwards and fire a bullet into Lieutenant Davis' foot making him yelp in pain and recoil away from me, dropping the gun that was once held at my head. "I don't think so."

Colonel Hitchen only tightened his hold around Lily's throat, restraining her and depriving her of oxygen.

"R...rinna." She squeaked out as tears began rolling down her eyes as her efforts to escape were unsuccessful.

Again I raised my arm at Colonel Hitchen. "I'm gonna ask one last fucking time. Let. Her. Go."

He gave me a cold hard stare and didn't answer me but rather continued to watch Lieutenant Davis suffer in agonizing pain.

"Do you want me to shoot you?!"

Private Riley came out from behind the trees and tackled me to the ground. On impact I accidentally pulled the trigger, shooting Lily through her lungs.

"Lily!" I called out. But, I knew it was hopeless. If she couldn't breathe before, she would never release another breath now as blood began to spew from her mouth, rolling down her chin and neck before staining the ground below her in red. She's drowning in her own blood. Colonel Hitchen only released her when he felt her clothes drenched in her blood and her body fall limp.

Private Riley released me to join at Lily's side to try and apply a tourniquet to keep pressure on her chest, sure that will clot the surface wound, but internally, she will continue to bleed and die.

"Lily!" I cried out once more after realizing what I've done. "I'm sorry! I'm so fucking sorry! For everything!" I couldn't pick myself up from the ground. I've killed before. Lost people before. Saw the life drain from others. So why does the shock suddenly hit me hard?

Get up.

Come on Rinna, pick yourself up.

Get the fuck up.