A War Love Story

Chapter 8

Jason's pov

"She did what she had to do to survive. Anybody in her place would've done the same thing." I can hear people talking. Then Mike takes the floor. "Your honor, he was captured by enemy soldiers and most likely brainwashed. We can't trust a word he says." My eyes blazen with anger. "Why I oughta! I ain't brainwashed, ya fool!!" I shout enraged. They call Miranda to the witness stand. "You have to swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." The baliff says. She puts a hand on the bible and swears under oath. "At the prison the boys were locked up in, it says here you were a prisoner too. Is that correct?" "Yes. The Chinese embassy took me against my will and burned my family's home to the ground, killing my parents, my younger brother, and my baby sister." She says, her voice trembling. "And what are the ways of getting information out of prisoners?" "Yelling and torture. I was actually the one in charge of Brantley and Jason so I used it to my advantage to help me escape." "No further questions."

*later*

"We the jury find Miranda Brown not guilty!" I jump up, thankfully and wrap her in a hug. "I told you I'd fight." After we leave there she gets tested to become a legal U.S. citizen which she passed with flying colors. We get back home. "I can't believe you asked me to marry you. I mean we only just met." I hold her hands. "I don't care. I know how I feel. Whenever we touch, it feels like I'm in a whole other world. I know we were meant to be." "Jason, I can't thank you enough for saving me." I smile and kiss her softly on the forehead. "And you'll never have to."

*3 weeks later*

We got married and I bought a two bedroom house instead of that apartment. She turns over, facing me. "You never did tell me where that secret tunnel led." I smile and pull her close to me, kissing her softly. "Baby that's a secret. I can't tell you that." She laughs. "Tell me or I'll... I'll..." "You'll what? Kill me?" She gets that flirty smile. "Yes. I'll kill you." I laugh and hold her tight. "Nah. You don't have the guts."

*the next day*

I get home from work and Miranda was doing dishes. I smile and walk over to her, slipping my arms around her waist. She seemed tense. "Babe, what's wrong?" She points a shaking hand into the dining room. I look over that way and what I see makes my blood run cold. "L-Luitenant Harrelson..... W-What brings you here?" He stands up and salutes. I do the same with shaking hands. "Private Aldean reporting for duty sir." "We need your special mission attack force to move in to the darkest parts of the Chinese military and shut it down from the inside. You see someone you shoot. No mercy this time, Private." "Y-Yes sir." I shakily say. "At ease soldier. I expect to see you on a chopper first thing Monday morning." "I-I'll be there." He leaves. "Con found it! I just got home!!" She's crying quietly at the sink. I hug her tight. "I'll make it home baby I promise." "I can go with you! I can help!" She cries. I shake my head. "It's too risky! If something happened to-" "If something happened to you, I could not live with myself Jason!!" "You're not going!" I say. She raises her hand as if she was gonna smack me then she kissed me which shocked me. "W-What was that for?" "Just in case I never got to do it again." She whispers, her lips still lingering against mine. I grab her arms and pick her up. "I don't have to leave for three days." I whisper kissing her again.

*3 days later*

My special mission attack force consists of Mike, Brantley, My brother Carl, and two other comrades named Peter and Roger. "Boys I have to be truthful. Most likely not all of us are making it home alive. But if I had my way, those damn Chinese would be on their knees begging for mercy and we'd be on the next flight home but life doesn't work that way. War doesn't work that way. I've got my best guys with me today so let's go kick some Chinese ass!" I peptalk my team. They scream in reply. "Carl be careful out there buddy." I shakily say hugging my little brother. "Dad would be proud." He whispers back. I force back the tears and salute him. We get on a chopper, the wind making it hard to hear. "We're gonna drop over this mountain range." I tell them pointing to a map on the wall. "As soon as your feet hit the ground, you run for cover! You got that boys? This is enemy territory. You cannot be seen or they will shoot you dead! Understand?!" "Sir yes sir!" They all shout. The pilot says we're nearing dock point. "Ok boys get ready." Brantley holds onto the bar above our heads. "Jason, I just want to say if one of us doesn't make it home, I'm proud to have fought alongside you. You're not only my leader, you're my friend." He says shocking me. "Wow Brantley that means a lot. You are too buddy. And we will make it home. Tanner will have his daddy and uncle Jay." I say, smiling and shaking his hand. "I'm one lucky-" He starts to say but then the chopper rocks. I look out the window confused. There's something firing at us from the ground. It hits us again, causing the chopper to tilt. I hear a scream. I spin around in time to see Carl lose his balance. "Carl!" I cry, running over just as he topples over the edge. I hit my knees and grab his hand. He doesn't have a parachute. "Don't let go!" He cries as I strain to pull him up. His hand is too sweaty and slips from my grasp!! I hook a nylon clip and rope to me and hand it to Brantley. "I'm comin' for ya kiddo!" I shout jumping out. Tears instantly coming to my eyes from the wind. "Carl!" I scream. I reach a hand to the free falling 24 year old, my fingertips barely brushing the front of his camo jacket. "Jason!!" I fight against the wind and am about to wrap my fist around the jacket when a bullet pierces his chest. "No!" He stares at me shocked. "No! Not you Carl! Not you!" I shakily gasp, the wind tearing into us both. Brantley tugs the rope, stopping me from going any further. I watch my brother fall to his death. I just hang there for a solid three seconds before Brantley pulls me back in the chopper. "I had him!! I fucking had him!!" I scream. We finally land and I find his body. I hit my knees beside him. I rip the jacket open, the wound still leaking blood. "God Carl why did it have to be you?!" Sobs fill me as I hold my dead baby brother to my chest. I shakily carry him to the chopper. The pilot takes off and I light a cigarette. "Well boys we don't have the element of surprise anymore but Carl will not have died in vain. Let's go kick some ass." Then I hear a gun click behind me, making my eyes go wide as the barrel is placed on my neck. Brantley stares at whoever it is in shock. "J-Jason, i-it's your dad!"