Night Of The Hunter

One Hell To The Other - Flashback

20.

Sliding my hands through my hair, I paused and rested them at the nape of my neck. I swallowed hard, staring off at the door, just waiting for it to open so they can release me.

Twenty days in solitary.
Five days of experiments.
Five days of mission.

Being stuck in solitary for punishment of fighting against the guards wasn't the worst part. Being in this place, I was used to being alone in a cell. Only getting fed once every other day and the only communication with another person was the eyes of the guards as they peeked at you from the other side to make sure you didn't find something to kill yourself with.

No.. that wasn't the worst part.
The experiments weren't it either.
No.. it was the mission.

I was shocked when they put me in my first mission. I wasn't expecting it after all the hell I put them through. I would have thought they seen me as a liability if they put me in a field mission. But once I got that tracker in the back of my neck, I was like a dog on a leash.

"If you remove it or attempt to remove it, it will detonate and take your head clean off. So I wouldn't suggest it, knowing you.." Walsh warned as I rubbed the spot it was in.

I come from a military family. I've heard war stories and seen the effects it has on people. I've watched movies with my father. I've seen what its like to be in a war zone on television, but never in person. I've never seen a car go up in flames. I've never seen a bomb strapped to a human before. The look on their face before the last second of life they breathe before pushing the detonator. I've heard bombs explode before, but never in person. The warmth. The smell. The sound. The ringing in your ears. The screaming of people through the smoke and flames.

I never imagined myself standing in the middle of it all. But yet, this week.. I was in the center of what someone might describe a living hell. This is something a seventeen year old shouldn't witness.

The cling of the door unlocking made my head shoot up. I watched as the guard opened it slowly before waving me to come through. I jumped up so fast, my head got dizzy but I stumbled forward. I was finally leaving. 

Going from one hell to the other.

***

As they let me go inside of the outdoor training area, I sighed a breath of fresh air. I never thought I'd be happy to be back in this place, but it was like a vacation home compared to the other compound. I heard my name being called, but I couldn't lock onto who it came from. My head was still a bit foggy and I was just down right exhausted. I continued walking further in, heading for the other side of the yard to go to my cell, but I was immediately blocked from my destination by the blond curls and blue eyes that stood in front of me.

"Holy fuck.. I thought they killed you."

I blinked, swallowing hard as Skylar wrapped her arms around me tightly. It has been a month since I've seen her or any person other then doctors, terrorists, or other soldiers.

"What happened?" She asked, lifting her head away from my shoulder to cup my face in her hands. "Are you okay?"

It had been about three months since we both found out we were related. It was like out of instinct that we immediately connected with each other. Though it did take a day or two after the shock and anger passed, but right at this moment, I was glad I had someone in here with me. One that understood. One that was family.

I shook my head once. I wasn't okay. There was no hiding it right now. I could put on this facade as I usually do. But I couldn't right now. I didn't have the energy nor did I care anymore.