The Hunters

Chapter Four: Wounds

Marco

I held Veronika close as I made my way through the facility making sure we weren't caught. As soon as I saw the way I came in I sprinted towards the exit and made my way up the ladder with Veronika over my shoulder. Once I got out of the exit I returned Veronika back to the way I was holding her in my arms earlier and ran towards my bike which was farther away than I thought I had parked it. I made my way to my bike and then a chopper came down and landed close to my bike. It was Jackie which caused my nerves to settle and my heartbeat to steady. "You can't transport the injured with a bike," Jackie said, "get on board." "Jackie" I let out a breath of relief and climbed on board the helicopter with Veronika in my arms.

I laid Veronika across the chairs in the back of the helicopter after I shut the side doors. I took off my belt and used it as a tourniquet on Veronika's leg. "Geez that looks bad," Jackie said as she looked in the rearview mirror that let her see what was going on in the back seat. "How fast can you get us to the estate," I asked a bit panicked. "How long did it take you do get her Jackie asked. "it took me a couple of hours just to get here," I said taking off my scarf and wrapping it around Veronika's arm to help stop the bleeding. "I'll get you there as fast as I can but I can't say how long it'll take," Jackie said. I remembered that I had a medkit hung on my in my jacket. I pulled it out of the jacket and opened it. The kit held bandages, things needed for stitches, antiseptic ointments, and different kinds of band-aids. I looked at the wound on Veronika's leg and put one of the antiseptic ointments on it causing her to flinch in her sleep. I turned her on her side and applied the antiseptic to the exit wound. I saw the burn on her flank and put an ointment that helps burns heal quicker and hopefully reduce her pain.

Veronika woke up and said, "where are we?" "we're okay we're with Jackie she's taking you back to the estate," I said, "until then I'm doing my best to patch you up." "okay," Veronika said groggily. "you might want to be awake for this that wound on your leg needs stitches," I said prepping the needle and thread. "Okay let's get this done then," Veronika said a bit more aware. "Okay are you ready?" I asked. "Yeah I'm good just get it done," Veronika said. Veronika tensed up as I stuck the needle into her leg. This was repeated until the wound was mostly closed. "Alright I've got to sew up the back," I said and she turned around. I started to work and eventually, I was moving on to bandaging up her leg. I made sure the bandage wasn't too tight but tight enough to keep the pressure on the wound. I moved on to bandaging her arm which was easier than her leg.

Jackie eventually landed the helicopter and I helped Veronika out of the helicopter. She put her arm around my neck and I decided to pick her up instead of her having to limp all the way to the door. I did a slight jog with her in my arms into the estates elevator going down to the first floor I went to the library and pulled on the book that opened our base. "Walter" I said and he understood what I meant bringing a gurney over. I laid Veronika out on the gurney and pulled a chair over to the gurney. "Well at least we know where their base is" I said with a forced smile. Veronika smiled back and said, "yeah I didn't say a word to those scum bags so we're good." I laughed and sat back in the chair. I ran a hand through my hair and breathed in relief "I was worried about you" I said. "Why? Think I can't take care of myself" Veronika said sitting up slightly clearly in pain but with a smile on her face. "I was worried because well look at the state you're in right now," I said. Veronika looked down at her ripped clothes and ran her fingers through her hair which was a mess "you're right I don't look too good do I" she said shaking her head. "It's okay though we'll patch you up," I said with a slight smile.

Walter walked over and said "Sir you can go and get some rest I will take care of the lady" I nodded at Walters words and went out of the hidden room. I found an empty bedroom and put my stuff down forgetting that I still had my guns in their holsters. I took off my black hunting jacket revealing a green tee shirt. I put my jacket down on the desk that was across from the dresser on the other side of the room. I walked to the dresser and found some pajama pants then went to the bathroom to take a shower. I got out threw on my pajama pants and put my green shirt back on. I lazily brushed my hair and walked out of the bathroom. I almost went to flop down on my bed but I locked the door first. I always locked the doors at night before I went to bed. At first, it was a nervous thing for me being paranoid now it's just a habit that I never really paid attention to. I laid down on my bed and I stared up at the ceiling. I clapped twice and the lights in my room went out. I pulled the covers over myself and turned on my side. I nodded off to sleep quickly after the events of the day.

I woke up early from a nightmare. Veronika had died because I couldn't do anything right. The nightmare made me sit up in a cold sweat and feel useless. I got up out of the bed and left the room. I walked downstairs to the library but I turned around when I heard a footstep behind me. A masked woman charged me and I ducked out the way. I got into a fighting stance and waited for the woman to get up again since she ran into the bookshelves. She threw a punch and I blocked it then held onto her arm. "What do you want," I said grimly "are you a thief, an assassin?" "I'm just a woman trying to make a living" the woman laughed which angered me. The woman moved away from me breaking free from my grip and kicking me in the stomach. I almost doubled over but I got up and tackled the woman. I pinned her arms and legs to the floor and said: "I'll ask again what do you want?" "I already told you living" she grinned and a smoke bomb went off. The screen of grey made it to where I couldn't see straight and she got the upper hand throwing me off of her. When the smoke cleared the woman was gone. I entered our secret compound to tell them what had happened.

"Well, I think we just had a break in," I said clearly tired. "I saw it on our security cameras," Walter said pointing at the monitors at the front of the room "she didn't steal anything either she didn't find what she was looking for or she was looking for secrets, not material objects" Walter nodded promptly. I looked over at Veronika who was fast asleep. "Sir Marco are you alright," Walter asked. "Yes I just had a bad dream and then I had to fight off a thief so just a bit tired," I said with a weak smile at Walter. "I'll get you some tea it'll do wonders for you," Walter said bustling off before I could thank him. Walter came back to find me sitting in a folding chair I had pulled from the table where all of our research materials and maps sat. He handed me the cup of tea and I quickly thanked him and took a sip. I stood up and started to walk out of the compound. "Sleep well, sir" Walter called after me and I responded with another word of thanks. I walked up back to my bedroom put my tea down on the nightstand and sat in bed every once in a while taking a sip of my tea. I could no longer resist sleep so I cut out the lights and closed my eyes hoping that no more terrible images filled my head.