Electric

chapter twenty-six

"You ready for this, Freak?" Josh saunters over to me, his gun swinging on his back, momentarily leaving his squad to speak with me. We're out of our tanks and just waiting on Hawkins to show up and give the go. I glance back at my squad and shrug at Josh in answer.

    "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

    "That's a horrible answer and isn't reassuring in the slightest. Your squad is back there biting their nails and you're up here shrugging." He frowns at me. "No matter how difficult it gets, Freak, you've gotta be tough of shit. It'll make you feel better, even if it's just a facade."

    "We're gonna win this, right?" I ask him in a hushed tone so none of my men will hear me. He glances at his own squad and I watch his eyes turn in emotion. We stand behind a bundle of trees that surround the Flesh Feeder camp. Once we breech the trees, their camp and the ocean will be all there is to see.

    "I hope so."

    That's encouraging.

    "Okay, let's go kick some Flesh Feeders ass." I say loud enough for my squad to hear. Josh laughs at my use of a profanity and someone behind me clears their throat.

    "Be cautious with your language, love." Parker tries to hide his smile with a stern frown, but I see right through it. I smile at him. He comes close to me so that he can whisper in my ear. "That suit needs to never be worn again after this. I can see everyone's eyes all over you." I roll my eyes and fix the collar of his uniform. He's absurd sometimes.

    "Well I only have eyes for you so you can rest assured, General. Your men are harmless in this case." I whisper softly in his ear and he swallows hard. My eyes flicker up to his and I smile warmly at him before I turn around to address my squad.

    "Remember, men, we're a group. We're on the same team here. Help each other out but not at the expense of your own life. We can win this if we just focus on who the real enemy is." They nod in agreement to my words and I turn my back to them, facing the trees. The beach is so close that I can taste the salt in the air. Parker nods to me as he passes my squad to check on the others. My eyes follow him as he talks to each squad leader.

We love each other. My lips turn up in the corners just thinking about it. This is...unbelievable. There was a while there that I couldn't stand him and I remember that time like it was mere days ago, yet after this dreaded battle, we're home free. Parker and I will create a life together and there's nothing more that I want than exactly that.

    "Division 64!" Hawkins's voice suddenly interjects loud enough for us to hear but not loud enough to cause suspicion in the camp. We all stand at attention as Parker walks behind us to where Hawkins is. I so badly want to turn around and glare at Hawkins but I remain staring at the line of trees stretched out before me.

    "We're ready for battle, Sir." Parker's voice carries through the squads and I hear a shuffle of anxious bodies. This is it. It's happening. I keep repeating those words to myself maybe in an attempt to make it real because at this point, it feels surreal that in less than thirty minutes I'm going to be using my power to kill Flesh Feeders.

    "I absolutely love the suit." Hawkins's voice slithers through my ears and I can't help but shiver. Parker comes into my view first and his face remains impassive. As soon as Hawkins appears, I clench my jaw.

He repulses me to an extent that seems almost intolerable.

"It really sets you apart from everyone else. I think it's quite symbolic." He smirks at me and I smile sweetly. He's the one going to hell here, not me.

"I'm so glad you like it, General." I grind out and he nods at me in dismissal. The second his back is to me, my innocent eyes turn into daggers at his back. Parker gives me a look of warning and I shake it off. Parker can't control everything I do.