Brothers

Chapter 13

We hid behind buildings as we made our way through the city, shooting the enemy as we go.

I didn't see my squad or the new Lieutenants anywhere.

A scream erupted right besides me as the weight from Mariah dragged me down to the ground with her. She unwrapped her arm from my neck to hold the gunshot wound that pierced her skin on her waist.

Another bullet whizzed passed us, only inches from my right ear. 

Immediately dropping to the ground, I pulled my pistol out and propped in on Mariah.

"Don't take this the wrong way." I told her, looking for the shooter.

"Just take him down." she wheezed.

"On it." I said, just as the muzzle flashed a quick spark, making another bullet fly out at us, only inches in front of us.

Got him. I thought pulling the trigger. I listened closely to hear a body drop to the ground a half a second later. I looked at my surroundings closely, which was difficult with all the dirt, smoke and gun  powder in the air, but came out successful when I saw no one around.

"Okay. We're almost there. Can you walk?" I asked, looking down at her. 

"Yeah. I'll make it." she got out. She didn't look very good, her blood was pooling through her fingers and down her side.

"Let's see if the bullet came out." I said, getting to my knees to take her jacket off.

"No." she grabbed my wrist. "Don't. It didn't come out. I can feel it."

"Are you sure?" I gave her a skeptical look.

She nodded.

"Fine." I relented. "But I'm checking it once we get to the prison."

"Deal."

I wrapped her left arm around my neck as she puts pressure on her waist with the other. Before I could take a step forward, she stops me.

"Wait." she looks around. "Where's Dante?"

I looked up to see no living creatures around.

"I don't know, but we have to go>" I mumbled, urging her forward.

"But we have to-"

"No!" I grabbed her face so she was looking at me in the eye. "We can't. If we don't get out of here then we'll be dead."

She was taken aback from the sudden harshness in my voice, but the war has rubbed my nerves raw.

"Look." I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. But what I said is true. If we don't move we'll de. If he's alive, he'll find us."

She looked at me for a moment before nodding her head.

"Okay. Let's go." he voice was thick, but she let me guide her to the prison.

***

Mariah lifted her hand and pushed on the wall for the door to open after we checked to see if anyone was near us. 

The door opened with a low groan, letting us step through before it slammed behind us.

 "Let's go to the back. We'll be more hidden." Mariah gasped out.

We went around the corner before walking into a cell. She sat down with her back against the wall with a grunt.

I took my backpack off and crouched down next to her waist. 

"Don't think of me as impolite." I told her. "But I need to check out the wound."

She rolled her eyes before spinning around so she was laying down.

"Just look at it." she mumbled taking her hand off the wound so I could look at it.

I nodded and gently lifted her jacket, along with her shirt, just below her breasts.

What I saw made me gasp. There was an outline of the bullet in her skin. Apparently the bullet wasn't powerful enough to travel through her skin. It was right above her bellybutton, all we need to do it make a little cut in front of the bullet and squeeze it out.

"Is it bad?" Mariah asked, bringing me out of my thoughts, She tried to lift her head to see the damage only to drop it with a grunt.

"Hey, don't move. It's not bad. It's in your skin and we need to make an incision to get it out." I told her."

She took a deep breath before letting it go.

"Okay." she whispered.

"Okay?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"Take the bullet out before I lose my nerve." she gushed out, looking at the ceiling. 

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. I took my knife from its sheath that rested on my left thigh.

"Okay. Do you want me to count down or just to do it?" I asked, getting the tip of the blade ready.

"Just do it."

I nodded again and pressed the blade down making an inch cut in front of the bullet. She hissed but didn't make any other noise. I put the knife down and squeezed the bullet out.

"Almost out." I mumbled, taking my index finger and thumb and pinched the bullet, taking it out. "Got it."

She let's out a breath that she's been holding. I put the bullet on the ground and grabbed the bandages and gauze from my bag.

"Let's hurry and bandage you up before you bleed everywhere."

With all the pain she's feeling, she managed out a laugh.

She swiveled around so her back was against the wall as I put the garbage in the backpack.

"Lieutenant Wolfe?" a familiar voice called out.

I froze and slowly looked at Mariah to find her already staring at me with caution, fear and wary.

"Lieutenant Buchmann?" another voice rang out.

Her eyes widen in realization before she called out. "Nick? Spencer?"

A minute later they appeared at the cell door. They both had fear in their eyes.

"What's wrong?" Mariah asked, trying to stand only to be pushed down by me.

She glared at me and I gave her a pointed look. She knew she could barely stand, especially with a wounded leg.

I looked at Nick to find him staring at me. I didn't like the look in his eyes. Something he knew I didn't like; it sent me over the edge.

"What is it, Lieutenant?" I asked warily, standing up.

"Sir, Lieutenant Hertz has been shot."