The Pleasures of an Eternal Nightmare

Chapter 14

"9-1-1 what is your emergency?"

Julie moaned. Another 9-1-1 call. There had been four that led to dead ends of the investigation and she was starting to get sick and tired of hitting them. Nothing was more stressful than having hope giving to you before it is ripped away and torn before you.

"We'll send a team immediately! Stay calm!" The woman ripped off her headphones and stood up. "Julie! There's a shootout going on at Hawes and McDowell!"

"Anyone identified!?"

"No! But civilians are getting caught in the crossfire!"

Julie ran out to her car and sped away, once she got to the intersection, she drew her Desert Eagle and hurried to the nearest tree to take cover. Gunfire erupted from the East and a spray of bullets started hitting the corner store across the street from Julie. Julie looked to the source and saw broken glass on the 4th floor of the business building next to her. She ran up the stairs and started searching every room.

On the last door, she heard gunshots erupt from behind the door and four bullets flew through the door, one of them hitting her in the leg. She bit her lip and put a breach charge on the door. Right after detonating it, she ran in and fired five shots into the silhouette laying on the floor. The gunfire stopped and Julie dropped to her knees as the pain in her legs increased. She crawled over to the corpse and flipped it over. Shock filled her face when the face was revealed.

Frustration filled Julie and she let out a scream at the top of her lungs. She threw her favorite pistol aside and slammed her fists into the ground, starting another series of screams as anger took over her.

Before she could go any further, more gunshots erupted down at the streets. A voice over the radio on the body started coming in. "M-8! Target V is now taking fort at position M. I don't have a clear shot and he's pinning me down! Help me out!"

Julie picked up the radio and held down the button. "He's fucking down! What the hell are you shooting at!?"

"He's responsible for all this shit!" the radio voice shouted. "I don't know who you are but if you don't support me, he's gonna get away!"

"Who is getting away!?"

An explosion erupted at the streets and Julie looked down. A fiery explosion had erupted by the corner store and the building was lit aflame. A small figure was running away on fire while another figure started charging it with a knife. Julie grabbed the sniper rifle lying next to the corpse and took aim at the man with the knife. The scope's magnifier was low and so she couldn't identify the target. She led her shot and squeezed the trigger.

A bullet trail dropped down and hit the man with the knife. The body spun around before falling to the ground. The man on fire disappeared out of her view and Julie sighed. She picked up the radio. "Did I get him!?"

When there was no response, Julie asked, "Who did I shoot!?"

"M... me..." the voice responded.

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Kaleb took a bite of the bitter soup and his face puckered up. There was a lot of salt in the soup served to him but he had nothing to complain about. His actions brought him here and it was his fault that Marker got twisted into this mess.

Julie stormed into the room with a look of hate on her face. When she stopped just beside his bed, Kaleb looked out the window. "Didn't think I'd see you so soon."

"What the Hell were you doing shooting up the place?" Julie asked. "I thought you were going to stay in your house."

"Who told you I would?"