Forbidden

Chapter 15

We jogged along the side paths weapons at the ready. You can do this April. Who knows, maybe when you finish this assignment they'll give you a holiday break for good effort? Yeh I bet my pretty ass that, they never give out holidays. The closest thing is going back to HQ for a night or two when waiting for another assignment.

We were one house away from the Activist's base of operation, a hundred emotions were running through me. Worry - I wouldn't make it out. Adrenaline - I'm about to enter a war zone. Guilt - I'm probably going to hurt someone. The list could go on and on. I drew in a  quick breath and shoved those thoughts to the back of my brain. I walk up to the door, and place my hand on the handle, I look back at my group and nod telling them it's go time. 

I slam my boot into the door making it fall off its hinges and slide across the floor. Hot damn. I really hope someone videoed that act of badassery. April! Get your mind back on track! I rush into the house, a dagger in each hand, theres a 4m long corridor, before a clearing appears and we're rushed head on with the Activist's. Game on. 

I felt someone ram into my side, I stumble a little but gain my footing again easily. I turn and look at my opponent. He looks just like a normal guy. Brunette hair that is scuffed up. Straight nose. Stubble on his chin, killer jaw line. He was wearing black sweat pants and a simple white v-neck shirt. 

He throws a punch to my right shoulder which I dodge and start planning how to get this guy down. He goes for a gut shot, and I dodge to the side and throw a punch of my own into his back, he stumbled forward onto one knee, I quickly grab his head and bring it down to my knee with brutal force, theres an obvious crack, and bright red blood splatters across his white shirt. Yeh cross that 'straight nose' part off the list, thats most likely wonky now...

He struggles back to his feet. Jeez? Whats gunna make him go down? Did he eat iron for breakfast?  Just before he is standing straight, I jump into the air and believer a brutal spin kick into his abdomen and he flies across the room, crashing into the wall. I knew from past experience how much that hurts. I run over to him and punch the side of his head a couple of times before he passes out. One down. I turn to face the war zone again, unfortunately(I'm not sure if thats for me or this guy) but another man is on me in seconds. So for a good 45mins thats what I did, take a guy down, another appeared. Some had landed pretty good hits on me that were going to hurt later, but the adrenaline running through my system at the moment kept me going strong.

I had just knocked out a red-headed girl and I knew I couldn't go much longer, my muscles ached, and my leg was oozing blood out from where a man got a hit with a dagger on me a while ago. I looked around and noticed there weren't more left, there was no other person alone, everyone had an opponent. Bodies littered the floor of both DAA and Activist's. I was about to go help out one of my fellow group members when I noticed a figure hiding under the stair case. It was tall and lean, with well defined muscles, their face was completely in the shadows stopping me from seeing their face. I slowly walked over to them. My heart fell. Under the stairs stood Jed, clutching his upper arm, blood running through his fingers. 

Oh god. I completely forgot about him. I walked up to him, but as soon as I took a step towards him, he took one back. Why? Why was he running from me? Wait, I'm a DAA member, he's an Activist. My head falls to my chest to cover my face. I slowly place my dagger on the floor, all of them. Even the gun in my belt. Jed had a stunned look on his face. I really hope no one sees me. I put my hands up in... surrender?... I guess. I continue my slow walk to him, this time he stays still. I kept my head down so he couldn't recognise me. Once I got to him, I prayed his fingers off his wound. It was deep, but luckily not very big, I put my hand in my pocket - he flinched at this, but when I pulled out a bandage he relaxed again. I put one in last minute this morning in case I injured myself, but Jed needed this. I couldn't leave him wounded. My heart wasn't letting me. Why? That is still unknown to me.

I carefully started wrapping up his bicep - his muscly bicep might I add. Once I finished off the bandage, I stared to turn but he grabbed my arm. I kept my head down. He couldn't know about me.

"Why?" He whispered. "Why did you help me?"

I shook my head, afraid he'd recognise my voice, and pulled his hand away from my shoulder and let it drop back to his side. I went back over to my pile of weapons on the floor and picked up my special dagger, his eyes widened at this. Jeez dude. If I wanted you gone you would've been gone already. I picked up his hand and placed the dagger in his palm. I wanted him to have it. He looked down at the dagger, and then back at me. I started to walk off.

"I know you're a girl," he said. "You sure can hold your own in a fight. But why did you help me? I'm the enemy. I know my father has done wrong, I try persuade him to stop this. I mean he stole a NUKE for crying out loud. How is that helping anything?" It was almost as if he was talking to himself. I almost cried out in relief at this, he didn't support the Activist's. Thats when an idea popped into my head. I walked a few steps away and motioned for him to follow, and surprisingly he did. He actually followed me. I got to the mouth of the corridor and did a two-finger whistle - my way of telling the rest of the DAA to get the hell out, which they did. All the remaining DAA members stopped fighting their opponents and scrambled for the nearest exits, I grabbed the hand-help grenade I had hidden in my back pocket and pulled the pin, I threw the grenade to the furthest part of the room and ran. God, I really hoped Jed got the memo and ran like hell as well. Once we got outside the house I knew we still weren't safe, we only had a matter of seconds now, I turned around relived to see Jed hot on my tail, I grabbed his hand and dragged him after me. I sprinted to the end of the street where the van was parker and jumped in pulling Jed in as well.

BOOM

And that would be the grenade. A few other men - including Agent Jordan came into the van and tried lunged at Jed before I put my hand up and shook my head. The entire drive back to the hotel was silent and tense. The testosterone level in the car was sky rocketing. 

Once we arrived back at the hotel, I took Jed with me to my room, one I got to my door, I saw Agent Jordan give me a stern look, I opened the door and pushed Jed in, closing it after him.

"Agent Martinez, what are you doing!" Agent Jordan exclaimed. I had to lie.

"I captured him, and threatened him on his life, he's going to help us get the nuke, if he doesn't, we kill him," I did my best to keep a straight face through the entire sentence. Agent Jordan digested the information, before nodding.

"Very smart," he said with a  smile. Thank god he believes me. 

"I'll be leaving for the airport now, you will leave tomorrow morning, there is a new report for your next assignment on your desk. The boy is your responsibility. If he dos anything, its under your name." Agent Jordan said before going into his room to collect his things, I nod and go into mine. Time to break the news to Jed.

I walk in, and see him stand next to the window and peering outside, I shuffle to the drawers and feel his eyes glued to my every move, I turn my back to him and take my mask off first. Because you know, I'm trying to make this as dramatic as possible. I place it on the desk. I then slowly feel off my hoodie and turn around. I hear his intake of breath.

"A-April?" He stutters.