-Mom, listen.-I told her, still smiling.-Don't look back now...-She was going to but I grabbed her wrist, hard. She looked at me, eyes wide open.-I said don't...-I let go of her. She massaged her wrist.-Don't panic. Do everything he says.
-Who?!-She was really confused but before I could explain, a man with sunglasses, a rag covering his mouth, in a black sweater and sweatpants shot his gun to the ceiling. Everyone screamed. I stood motionless.
-HANDS UP NOW! EVERYBODY! NOW!-He screamed. He was really tall and slim. We all did. My mom was terrified.
-It's all good...-I whispered.-I got this. Play along...-I pushed her hands down and got up.-I CAN'T FUCKING BELIEVE THIS! YOU LIED TO ME!-I screamed to her and slapped the glass off of the table.
-HEY, YOU!-He pointed his gun at me. I ignored him.
-I CAN'T BELIEVE I TRUSTED YOU! YOU FUCKING BITCH!-I kept screaming at her. She was really confused. The man walked up to me and shoved his gun in my face.
-Sit the fuck down now.-He told me.
-Woah... Easy there, brother...-I put my hands up.-I wasn't gonna hurt her...
-I'm not here for her. I want your money. ALL OF YOU! MONEY ON THE TABLE AND HANDS UP!-I just looked at him.
-Hands up or the money? Can't do both, man...-He pushed the gun, making it touch my skin, right between my eyes. My mom screamed.
-Don't play smart with me, lady! I swear I'll blow your brains off!
-Easy, easy! Back down a bit...-I asked
-THE MONEY, BITCH!-He screamed, losing his patience.
-Alright, alright...-I slowly reached for my pockets and looked over his shoulder.-Oh man...-I then looked at him.-Don't look back now but over your right shoulder... The man in the suit with the pretty blond lady. He's a cop, man... And he has got a gun...-He looked fast at him and then back at me. I handed him my money.
-Sit down and be quiet!-He ordered me. I did. He then walked up to the man.
-Ellie! Why did you do that?!-My mom whispered.
I put my finger in front of her mouth and got up, silently. I moved to the kitchen as the man screamed at the "cop". He wasn't a cop and he didn't have a gun. I just needed a distraction to go get a knife.
-Chef, call the cops...-I told the cooker and threw him my phone.-Tell them to send an ambulance too.-I put the knife in my pants and then came outside.-Excuse me!-He looked at me.-Hi! I really need to use the bathroom...-Everyone was staring at me as if I was crazy. My mom was crying. He started walking towards me.-All this is making me nervous and when I'm nervous I pee and when I pee and don't have a bathroom...
-Shut up!-He interrupted me, putting his gun against my head again.-Who the fuck do you think you are?! WHO THE FUCK YOU THINK YOU'RE FUCKING WITH?!-I looked over my shoulder. I was exactly where I wanted to be. Nobody behind me. Just the wall. It was time to put my training in action.
-My name's Jones. Ellie Jones.-I pushed the gun off of my head with my left arm, grabbed the knife with my right hand cut his throat. He shot. Everyone screamed but the bullet ended up in the wall. I then twisted his arm and hit it with my elbow, breaking it and grabbing the gun. The man fell on his knees, holding his neck.-Fuck...-I put the gun over some table and put my hands over his hands. He was bleeding like crazy! I wasn't counting on slitting his throat like that. There was blood everywhere!-Somebody get me a rag!-Nobody moved one finger!-MOM!
-He was gonna kill us!-Someone said.
-MOM! A RAG! NOW!-I screamed. Eventually she got me one. I tried my best to control the bleeding until the ambulance and the cops arrived. They took him and he was still alive.
After everything, the cops started asking around. I went to wash my hands, to get the blood off of me. When I came back outside, the cops walked up to me.
-You're gonna have to come with us...-One of them told me.
-Excuse me?-I asked, confused.-I don't think so...-They didn't even let me say anything else. Next thing I know, they're holding my hands behind my back.
-You have the right to remain silent, everything you say can and will be used against you in court.-They told me.
-LEAVE MY DAUGHTER! NOW!-My mom screamed. They pushed her, making her lose balance and fall.
-HEY!-I screamed, pissed. The cop looked me in the eyes.-You're fucked.
-Are you threatening me?!
-Yes. Now, I'm in the army, officer.-I asked him, trying to remain calm. He punched me right in the nose.
-I don't give a fuck! Let's go!-He pushed me and shoved me in the police car. I didn't say anything else.
They shoved in a cell along with drunk guys. Man, I was pissed! I was so fucking pissed! They couldn't do that! But I didn't say anything. I was arrested for saving everyone in that restaurant!
Not long after the same officer came to us and called me out.
-You're free to go. It was a misunderstanding.-He told me as he put his hand out for me to shake. I looked him in the eyes pissed. My will was to punch him until I was tired!
-And the punch was a misunderstanding too?
-That was the heat of the moment, I'm sorry. We are partners and all...I didn't know.-He smiled
-No! We're not partners.-I told him as I clenched my fists.-You're a cop and I'm a soldier. It's different. That's the first one. Second, I told you I was in the army. You arresting me is illegal!
-I didn't arrest you... I apprehended you.-His smile faded.
-Excuse me, but you arrested me. You brought me here and shoved me in a cell. That's an arrest. I know my rights. You should've kept me in my location and called the military police. That would be an apprehension. Only them can arrest me. What you did was illegal!
-You cut a man's throat!
-In self defense!
-Excessive use of force! You knew exactly what you were doing! You've got training!
-He had a fucking gun! I had a knife!-I was starting to lose it with him.-Besides arresting and assaulting a soldier, you still wanna play judge with me?! I'm outta here before I get you arrested!-I turned my back on him and went to get my stuff.
-They didn't know...-The man said as he was looking for my belongings.-They didn't know you were a soldier.
-That's fine... What really fucks me up is that I told them who I was and they still pushed my mom for no reason! I don't even care about the punch. Just don't touch my fucking family...
-He has a family too... Don't fuck him up...-He looked me in the eyes and handed me my belongings.
-I ain't fucking nobody, man. I don't want trouble. It's all good. It's over. Tell him not to worry because I won't either.-I shook his hand and left.
I ended up walking home. It was 1am in the morning but my house wasn't far anyway. When I got there, mom was crying in the couch. The moment she saw me, she jumped on me.
-Ellie! Are you okay?-She asked, looking at me. My eyes were starting to go black.
-I'm good, mom. It was a misunderstanding. Don't worry about it... I'm sorry about the shitty dinner. McDonald's?-I grabbed the car keys. She laughed.
-Sure!
YOU ARE READING
Army Strong
Teen FictionI was never meant to be a stay at home kind of wife. I was never meant to simply get a job, pay bills and die. I was 19, looking for a purpose. I was just another kid who had finished school but soon found out the whole sea of opportunities they tel...
