X-periment 5

The Plan**

       I was once told by one of my instructors at the Institute,that certain words or phrases that are told to you before a big event can have a deep influence on your performance on said big event. Whether it was the shock of Jerry’s words or how she had completely changed her attitude towards me in a matter of minutes, I knew I couldn’t allow her to fulfill that promise. Which was why as Jerry was cornered by a Sentry, I quickly pulled a helmet off of an unconscious Sentry's head and slammed it hard against the Sentry blocking Jerry’s exit. Her eyes widened as the Sentry, who was a good head taller than me and much more built, crashed to the ground.

    “Thanks.” she breathed picking up a gun from the fallen Sentry’s belt.

    “Don’t mention it.” I replied turning and noticing the 2 men dressed in black were dragging unmoving Sentries into a room on the side. My nose scrunched up a bit as a dragged Sentry turned his head and his eyes were completely glassy.

    “Ey, half of them are most likely dead by now, and if we hadn’t killed them, it would be us taking the bullets.” one of the men said as he closed the door when all of them were inside, locking it. He couldn’t be more than 3 years older than me  but he had a heavy accent I couldn’t quite place.

    “Good to know..." I say my voice trailing off as a line of men in black enter the hallway. None of them looked at me once but made a circle around Jerry. Awaiting orders, like I could've- and should’ve- done if I weren't caught up in this. .. whatever this is. “What’s our next plan?” I hear one ask in a hushed whisper.

    “Well our main goal is to head back to the Tent,” she started but had a look of wavering concern. “On foot, we can’t risk going in the sky right after such a breach. There’s no way to go dark unless we head in the other direction and somehow hijack the air base there. Plus our package is wounded and needs to be treated.” She began to scan the crowd, “Where’s A.D. and G.L.? Are they seriously going to play into their nicknames now out of all the times?”

    “They’re outside.” one of the men reply awkwardly shifting his gun from one shoulder to another. Jerry starts to clench her fists and motions me to come to her. How she saw me with all these men towering over me was besides the point, but I made my way past them. When I reached her she said to the gathered men,“You guys stay here. I’m going to deal with them. Rye, follow me.” and she shoves past all of the guys and calls behind her back “You guys better be ready to head out of this place in less than 10.” As we were walking though, the adrenaline pumping in me was beginning to wear down and I was beginning to feel the pain from my wound. Trying not to catch Jerry’s attention and break the silence between the two of us I place my hand over it and gently applied pressure, slowly pressing harder and harder. As we exited, I was greeted by the trees I would never grow tired of and the now beading sun that I eventually would.

    “C’mon. I see them up ahead.” she gestures towards the two figures sitting casually in gear on fallen logs. Shuffling my feet I follow in step behind her and luckily stop to take a breath before I heard her begin to yell.

    “Are you kidding me? You seriously come here instead of prepare with YOUR men to head out and go back home? DO you seriously want me to report to-”

    And for some reason I find myself in a strange position and walk away quietly. Hearing Jerry’s voice fade as I move further away. I find another log some 20 feet away and sit right down, wincing when I do. I unzip the tight black sweater and take off my shirt. In an undershirt I look down and see a bloodstain the size of my middle fingers and thumbs making a circle. But when I lift my undershirt just enough to see if the bullet was lodged in there, it’s then I notice it was a clean shot through.  I take deep breaths and attempt to elevate myself against the log but the pain causes my movements to be slow and precise so I won’t end up falling on the ground and have no way to get up. I rest my head against the log and hear footsteps approach me. Thinking its Jerry I call out, “I’m over here Jerry.”