Flame, The Emblems Series (Book One)

Chapter Three

I sighed as I pulled on my combat boots and slipped on a black tight fitting T-shirt before walking back out of the dorm meeting Zack's eyes signalling to him that we have to leave as he sat with his arm around Bella as she read from a book. He nodded before placing a kiss in the middle of his sister's head and standing up.

I nodded once at Every silently telling her that she's in charge before Zack and I began walking down the hallways lined with soldiers who stood at attention at either sides of the hallways. As usual Zack and I ignored them as we walked silently at each other's side.

I knocked on the Hank's office door waiting for the muffled answer before pushing it open and standing with my arms at my side facing Hank who looked at me and licked his bottom lip causing me to flashback at the nights before the arrival of the team, but I kept my eyes on him vowing to myself that one day I would have my revenge.

"At ease soldiers," He said nodding once at us before he opened a drawer at the side of his desk. I could feel Zack's gaze on me, on my tense body, probably wondering what was going on with me. I've never told anyone, no one cared enough. Now, Hank wouldn't even try to do what he used to do to me, I could easily snap his neck, I just wished that the younger me could have done so as well. 

I watched as he slid two credit cards towards us, "The General insists," He stated as Zack reached forward and took the cards handing one to me and keeping one for himself. "I don't know why he trusts you Mutts," He spat out as he rounded the desk and walked towards Zack and I, "I think that you all are an abomination, I wouldn't trust you if the world was ending."

"That's good to know Hank," Zack snapped at him, "Now are you done bitching about your receding hairline to us, or is there something else you would like us to accomplish whilst all your other soldiers sit on their dumb asses afraid to do what we do on a daily basis?" I looked over at Zack knowing that I was the reason for his short temper tonight. Usually I would have to be the one being held down, but tonight Zack is that person.

"Watch who you are talking to!" Hank yelled as he raised his hand to slap Zack but I stopped him and gripped his wrist. His eyes met mine and for a second I could see the fear in his eyes which flashed quickly to anger as I continued to hold onto his hand.

"He is a member of my squad," I stated as I looked over to Zack, "I would ensure that his punishment is done and looked after, if you even raise your hand one more time I would snap it off. Understand?"

A loud clapping was heard echoing throughout the room. I immediately dropped Hank's hand and stood at attention following Zack who stood upright as we both looked at General Spi whose half human face can be seen projected on the plain wall behind Hank's desk. I remembered the first time I saw him when I was twelve, after they injected me. He came in person to see me, I remembered shaking in my boots as I looked up at him as he towered over me at six four. His muscular figure was covered in the green camouflage suits adorned with medals, but even that didn't distract me from his half human, half robot face which sent chills up my spine. The robot side consisted of all metal details and one plastic eye which continued to look forward as the human side consisted of a hard jaw and a green eye. I also couldn't help but notice the robot hand which replaced his right hand.

"Very well done Captain Flame," His human face smiled causing me to flinch as he praised me, "I see the soldiers have trained you well," he stated before looking over to Zack, "And you boy, learn to control that tongue of yours because I wouldn't hesitate to have it removed." I flinched at his words, I would rather die than to have him do such a thing to Zack.

"Thank you General," I stated as I looked at him allowing his gaze to be reverted back to me, "But may I ask what is being asked of us?"

He nodded, "The National security have something we want, we do not expect all of your team members to survive this," I shifted as I looked at him, yes, this is the time, "We want the file marked the name ROD," I nodded, "Return to us when the file is recovered immediately understand?" 

"Yes sir!" Zack and saluted.

"You are dismissed," He stated. Zack and I nodded in unison as we spun on our heels and exited the office. We walked down the hallway which was now cleared due to the changing shifts. Without thinking twice I slipped my shaking hand in Zack's hand loving the way he looked over to me and entangled our fingers with each other's knowing that this might be the last night with each other.

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"Five hundred," I hissed out as I sat us from my last sit up and leaned forward on my knees huffing out a breath as I sat on the floor of our gym room only to meet Zack's eyes who sat with his back against the steel gray wall looking at me as he placed his left hand on his knees. I could see that he was stressed, after all I was too.

"Are you okay?" He asked me. I nodded and crawled over to him moving between his legs and curling myself up as I placed my left shoulder against his hard stomach feeling safe as he wrapped himself around me. His hand smoothed out my hair as I clung onto his shirt our unspoken words being revealed through our actions. I clung onto his grey t-shirt as if it was the last time we would be together.

"I'm sorry for earlier," he stated as he  placed an index finger underneath my chin and forced me to look up at him, I never saw so much raw emotion in someone's eyes before, closing my eyes I reached up and kissed his top lip before touching his cheek and snuggled closer to him placing my head on his chest.