Army Strong

40)You always think it can't be worse until it actually is

-Here's the plan... -Taylor said. We were kneeling about a block away from the house where the people we were supposed to save were at.-We're gonna wait for night time and then we go in with everything we have!-He looked at me. I was shocked.

-Hell yeah!-The boys said and got up. I looked Taylor dead in the eyes. He returned the look for a few seconds but then looked down and got up as well.

Taylor was now the team leader. He had kicked the living shit out of me just like we agreed about a week ago. The deal was simple. I was still the leader but he was the one giving the orders. I only needed the boys to believe they were following Taylor, not to really follow him! I told him we should wait for the night and try to get inside unnoticed and he agreed! Then all of a sudden he changes his mind and goes his way?! Man, I was pissed! He didn't even talk to me about it. He just decided all by himself, as if he was actually in charge! I thought I could trust them but oh well... You know how it works. You can't trust nobody but yourself. I walked on that battlefield 100% sure I could trust my boys with my life, but to be honest, in that moment, I felt the complete opposite.

A part of me wanted to call Taylor apart and tell him how surreal his plan was but I was pissed... And I just... I wasn't myself anymore. I turned into something I'm not proud of... So I decided to let him find out the flaws of his plan the hard way. I knew people were gonna die but I was so pissed and so thirsty for revenge, I didn't really care. I didn't realize what I was doing. I was blind with rage...

Night time came and we executed Taylor's plan. Clark kicked down the door and was shot in the chest almost immediately. I vanished. No way I was gonna stand there and watch them die one by one. I had my own plan and I didn't need anyone. At least that's what I thought. I walked inside the house right besides theirs and made my way to the roof. The guards were too busy trying to fight the newbies down there so the coast was clear for me. I jumped from the roof to the other and found the room where they were at. Unfortunately, my plan had flaws as well.

-Guys!-I whispered and started untying them.-I'm here to take you...-When I took a real look at them, I realized they would never be able to jump the roof to safety. There was only one way out of that house and it was through the front door. Whatever was in the way had to move.-Just...-I gave one of them my small gun.-Stay here. I'll be back.-I got out of the room and sneaked my way to the battlefield my buddies had created.

I couldn't just start shooting. It wasn't smart. I had to use the fact that they couldn't see me as an advance. No matter how strong you are, if your opponent has something you don't, then you're in trouble. You don't win a confrontation like that with muscles. You win it with brains! And maybe a little luck...

When I looked around, trying to find something that would put me one step ahead of them, I noticed the sniper gun... Oh boy! I was no expert... Actually, my expert was lying in a corner bleeding to death. I took a deep breath. I knew the moment I started thinking too much about it, I'd second guess myself and fuck it all up. So I grabbed the gun, placed myself in a sweet position and just did it. I took a deep breath, slowly as I focused my sights on the target... Then I held my breath and pulled the trigger. Sadly, I had to hide even before I saw him drop dead. I couldn't let them see me. I wanted to keep that advantage for a little longer... And everything you can see, can see you as well.

I kept doing the same, over and over again, taking them out, one by one. There were only 2 of them left. I had this guy's head in my sight and I was so excited, so anxious to finally end that shit down there and give us all some safety that I forgot to hold my breath. I missed the shot... But the guy didn't. My bullet pierced the wall right besides his head and his bullet pierced Taylor's forehead, right between his eyes. I was shocked. I let the gun slide out of my hands as Taylor dropped  dead. I couldn't believe it...

I don't know, my head was empty. I couldn't think. I stood up, looking at his body. A part of me still believed he'd get up and say something like "Gotcha!"... Taylor was a pain in the ass and I was truly disappointed but I still loved him! He was never just a friend, just a buddie, just a work colleague... No. Taylor and I had our own thing going on. I was in love. I thought all those feelings were gone but when you see shit every single fucking day, the good part of your heart numbs out. It's kind of a safety measure... It's the only way your whole heart won't go black. In that moment, however, the numbness turned into pain and it hurt so much in my heart I didn't even feel the bullet in my stomach. I felt a force pushing my back and then like glass shattering inside of me.

The boys killed the rest of them. I was still shocked, sitting against the wall. I didn't know if  I was gonna get out of that house alive... I wasn't sure if I wanted to.

-Jones!-Parker came to me. All his hate seemed to be gone the moment his eyes fell upon my stomach.-Oh fuck my life... HUNTER!

-They're over there...-I pointed to the room the guys we were rescuing were. Hunter ran up the stairs and looked shocked as he saw me.-Stats, H. Please... -He sighted.

-Taylor is dead, Clark is probably not gonna make it, somebody's gonna have to carry your ass and our ammo is basically zero.-He said, coldly, almost in a robotic tone.

-Those guys inside can't walk either... What's the matter with Clark?

-He was shot near the femoral artery... I'm afraid if we remove the bullet he'll bled to death.

-Don't! Leave it there! Ain't nobody touching nobody's bullet. Let them be. We do need to find doctors fast... Because if we start developing infections, we're fucked... I mean, me and Clark! And I'm no doctor but I'm pretty sure we have at least one of the guys inside in a septic shock. Help me up...-They did and then we walked inside the room.-It's all good guys. We're leaving. -I made my boys a signal to the boy still sitting. They walked up to him. I took the chance and sat besides him.

-Thank you!-One of them said.- That's James... We think he's dehydrated... He was shot like 3 days ago...-I smiled and passed my hand in his face. He was burning in fever. His skin looked weird... Like a weird kind of pale. He was shaking as if he was cold but sweating like he was in hell. His breathing was all fucked up.

-Hey, James...-I touched his hand. It was ice cold!-How are you? Do you know where you are or what happened to you?

-I don't, doctor...-He answered. In that moment I was pretty sure I was right. I put 2 fingers in his neck and felt his heart for a while. It was beating like crazy.

-We're gonna help you, James... Relax now. You're safe.-I patted him in the back and got up, pulling all of them aside.- Boys, this is Hunter and Parker. I'm Jones. We were sent to get your arses back home. I've got 2 dead men and an injured one down there. I'm gonna be as honest as I can. I do not give a fuck about your names, who you are, what you know, big sharks, little fishes, I do not give a fuck. We are heading for at least 2 weeks in the desert on our way back to the base and I'm telling you right now, James over there won't even make the first day. We were sent without any support so no fancy cars, no special treatment. We walk, starve and almost die out of dehydration. That over there is not fixable with a glass of water. That's septic shock and it's really bad... He needs medical attention ASAP! Because his body is destroying itself.-They were pretty much terrified by now.

-You gotta be the worst rescue team ever...-One of them whispered.

-I'd love to listen to you all day but honestly, not really. You can complain once I got what's left of my  men back home with their arses safe! I will gladly stand up and clap for whatever you say! But right now unless you're gonna tell me you have the keys to a fucking car, I don't really give  fuck about what you have to say. Are we clear?-He was pissed but he didn't say anything else.- Anyway, to be honest, I don't think any of us is gonna make it back. Most of us can't even walk... Unless we find a vehicle, we're fucked. That's the cold truth. But right now, we need to get moving! In no time, more of them will be back and then we're dead for sure! So let's fucking go!