Visited

Part 4

The knock on my door happened exactly at eight. I called that it was open, and Ansel, the medic, walked in. I was lying on my bed going over the report for what had happened in the field earlier today.

Ansel sat at my desk. "What's up?" He asked.

"I just wanted to warn you." I said. "A little girl was killed outside. She was a Visitor. Her body will arrive for testing at dawn."

Ansel was quiet a moment. "Did you kill her?"

I put the report down. "Yea," I said simply.

It was quiet for a while before he spoke again. "Raph's jaw will never heal correctly. We don't have a oral surgeon to fix it."

I felt a smile tug at the corner of my mouth. Raph really was a prick.

"Tell Ren to be careful."

I nodded. "I will."

Ansel sighed and stood up. He went to the window and looked up at the stars. I knew what he was looking at. I joined him.

The Aperture. The hole in the stars. That's where the Visitors were coming from.

I clenched my fists. If it wasn't for them, I'd still be enjoying my retirement. I had already spent too many years at war, and now I was back at it.

I broke away from the mesmerizing sight.

Ansel's gaze followed me. "It's been hard on you, hasn't it?" He asked quietly.

I closed my eyes as the memories started to surface. "I can't do war much longer, Ansel. It's gonna drive me crazy."

I felt his hand on my back. "It'll be over soon, Val. I know you can do it."