The Only Honor (Based on Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare)

Chapter 20- Out

She wasn't going to move.

As much as I poked, prodded, shoved....she wasn't going to reply. Those bright blue eyes that held the wonders of the world were gone, shut beneath curtains that could signify death. But she wouldn't die. She wouldn't leave without saying goodbye.

Then again, she already had. When I had been carrying her during the escape, her words to leave her had been spoken multiple times. Had objecting been the good idea? Would it have cost her less pain than she was going through now? Were those her goodbyes?

With a tube stuck down her throat, Keona was motionless in the ICU bed. Usually talkative and fierce, she never said anything. Her eyes never opened, her muscles never twitched. She looked....dead.

"Mitchell, it's time to leave," Gideon's voice just sounded like another murmur in the background.

All my focus was on her. If she twitched or fluttered her eyes I would be the first to know.

"Hey," Gideon's hand wasn't firm as his hand clasped onto my hard shoulder. "You need food and something else to do."

"I'm not leaving," I spoke firmly, not moving my sleep deprived eyes away from Keona.

"The only thing that will happen is she will wake up," Gideon glanced to Keona, not holding his eyes on her for too long. "All I'm asking for is ten minutes."

I gazed longingly at the frozen Keona before sighing. "Alright. But no longer."

Gideon dipped his head.

As I got up to leave, I went to the side of Keona's bed. I ran my hand down her cheek before gently kissing her forehead. "Don't kill yourself while I'm gone, alright?"

Gideon was standing patiently as I brushed past him to leave the silent room. There was one sigh from his mouth before he too followed me down the hall.

~~~

Keona- FLASHBACK: 9 Years Ago

The tears that were welling inside my eyes burned more than Hell. A shadow above my head told there was going to be another slap and I cringed, preparing for the harsh sting that was going to follow after.

"If you," whack!, "ever," whack!, "interfere again," the man with terrifying brown eyes grabbed my chin roughly, "I will do more than this!"

As I was thrown back, there was a wail from my mother. I was her last child of two who had survived the years of torture. If I got hurt, I knew she would never be able to live.

"And you," the angry man pointed to where my mother was crouching in a corner. "Come here, now!"

"Get out of here, Keona," my mother cried out as she was dragged by her hair towards her bedroom. "Don't come back!"

My eyes were wide and I held my red cheek with a shaky hand. As much as I didn't want to listen to my mother, I got up and flung open the front door. Running out of the place with my cell phone in hand, I tried to get as far away from the white house.

It took me minutes of running to reach the opening of the Orchard of Secrets. Instead of taking the time to do the simple Code of Entrance, I bolted through the small opening anyways. Blonde curls bouncing and skinny sixteen-year-old body slipping through the trees, I ran across the small creek bridge in seconds.

"Please be here," I whispered, tears on the brink of falling.

"Hey Will, Keo's here!" Jack's voice was taunting, reminding me of how much he loved to make fun of our relationship.