Anastasia

9 Gray

Sorry in advance, this is just another filler chapter and is short. I'm still editing. Yikes.

River Deep Mountain High : Tina Turner
"No, I'll never let you down"

May 22 2024
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I reach up and take the key from the top of the door frame. It is 8:30 in the morning and I have gathered the team for a very important emergency team meeting. Surrounding me are 5 tired men and 1 cheerful childish man.

Whom you may guess is Theodore. Shocker! He is always happy and joyful. Always ready for an adventure but can be mean and dangerous when needed.

We have come to Anastasia's apartment because she is not answering her phone and we need to have - like I previously mentioned- an important emergency meeting.

We rang the door bell and knocked on the door at least 4 times each now, but she didn't answer. Her cars are still in the parking garage so she has to be here.

We have now resorted to using the spare key that is horribly hidden above her door. I'm mean, has she never watched any movie or Tv show where someone puts it above their door frame or under the mat then get robbed? I guess clearly not. I unlock the door and step inside.

I'm shocked to see that this place is an absolute mess. There are clothes all over the floor, what looks like stale food on the counter tops and the sink is filled with dishes. I try my hardest not to puke.

And I don't want to be mean, but when I say this place is dirty, I mean dirty.

There are also many take out boxes all over the coffee table. From here I can see an open door to what looks like a bathroom.

And right across from it is spiral stairs that must be a burden to walk up and down everyday and just down the "hallway"— if you can even call it that, it looks like the flooring of a fire escape, same with the stairs— through a small arched wall way is what looks like a sleeping figure in a queen bed in what seems like the only bedroom here.

Yikes.

There are sheets all over the place. Half on the floor, half on her. The rest of the team makes themselves comfortable on her couch. Which can't actually fit everyone.

Since she only has a small couch, only 3 people fit on it and even those 3 people practically have to sit on top of each other. The others sit on the floor while I go to look around. I see pictures hanging up on the wall I guess she tried to make it look a little homey. I walk over to them to take a look. They all have black frames and little photos in them.

It seems like they are pictures from when she was in the army. There she is, among many other men and women. Mostly men but still. They are in uniform like they are ready to go into battle. To fight like they have nothing to lose.

Then there is a picture of Anastasia. She is lying on the ground, using her backpack as a pillow. She is sticking her tongue out and giving a peace sign. She actually looks, happy? Or at peace? In this? But how can someone be happy when you could lose your life at any moment. And how can you be peaceful when you could get blown up any second?

Her brown hair is flowing around her and onto the dirt yet it still looks perfect. I look to the next picture. It is Anastasia and another girl. The other girl has blonde hair, she looks way shorter than Anastasia.

The photo is dated 10/03/2023. Last year march. Just about a few months before she got discharged. And I only know that from reading her file many times to make sure I didn't miss anything.