The Summoner Series - Book One - DUALITY

Chapter 5: Bruce - A Demon in the Mist

Bombs. That was the first thing I saw when I looked out of the plane. Explosions like fireworks going off mere feet from the plane. And I was expected to jump from the plane with a parachute that could be torn up by machine guns mounted on the ground. Everyone lost count at how many wars had happened by this time, but this war was larger than any war in the past. A single battle decided the fate of an entire small country. It was the geological superpowers, America, China, and Russia fighting each other. Russia and China were fighting a one front war, and were conquering whatever countries they could come across. Russia took over western Europe and the Middle East, but China took over all of Asia, Africa, and Australia. America did not want to be a part of this, but China pulled Pearl Harbor 2.0 with atomic bombs in Alaska, forcing their hand to take over South America and Canada. It was not a fight to win, it was a fight not to lose. The first power to lose any land was at a severe disadvantage. That's why this fight was so important. I was fighting for the American Power, dropping in the heart of Russian Brittain.

"Alright, boys," Yelled my drill sergeant. He had a deep voice I thought was only possible in the movies when actors made their voice sound deeper. But I was shocked to find that his speaking voice was deeper and more gravelly than anyone else I knew. He had a scar across his face, going over his left eye ranging from the left part of his forehead to the bottom of his chin. There were always stories about how he got it, but he never told anyone. But I was sure that the stories made about the scar were worse than what actually happened. "We're right over the drop point. It's now or never. Go pummel those Russian commie bastards."

They bay doors of the cargo plane opened up. Every soldier stood up at attention, waiting for the red light next to the door to turn green. My drill sergeant stood near the end of the door and saluted his men. "It has been an honor serving with you." The red light turned green, and everyone started to jump out of the plane, regardless of where the bombs were exploding in the air.

I was near the back of the plane, so I had to wait until I was able to jump. When I got there, as I was adjusting my parachute pack, I saw something coming straight towards me. It had smoke and fire tailing it, and it had no sign of slowing down.

Shit. I made the quick decision to run straight at it and try to jump under it before the missile hit the plane. I ran as quick as possible to the door, but the missile was faster. I was at the edge of the door, and the missile was right in front of me. The next thing I remembered was a bright white light as I closed my eyes to brace from the explosion.

I opened his eyes in a panic. I was still seeing a bright white light. My vision focused and I realized I was looking at a lamp shining down on me. I was laying down on a now sweat soaked metal table. I tried to sit up, but there was a sharp pain in my ribs. I grabbed my side in reaction and realized that I had been bandaged up. I sat up at his waist, but that wasn't much better. I hurt all over, but I eventually sat up, pushing the light away with my hand. I looked around and realized I was in some sort of run down hospital.

Dammit. Did Riechter beat my ass? I wasn't exactly sure where I was, but I was willing to bet money that I was in some sort of hospital backstage where people who survived go to heal. I looked out the window and saw that the sun was just about to rise. It had some nice orange beams with some purple reflecting off of the clouds.

I heard a door open from behind me. "Oh, you're alive." I assumed it was some sort of doctor behind me. When I saw the doctor come into the light, I noticed that the only thing that looked like a doctor was a stained white lab coat. "I can't say I'm not surprised. Only a handful of people survive a fight with Riechter, especially when they insult him the way you did."

"Heh," I chuckled, even though it hurt like hell, "I've survived worse."

"Well, that's good to hear, because all I could find were some broken ribs and a slight concussion, but that's about it. No scars or bruising anywhere else."