𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙨

Six

Not ten minutes later, we were out on the road again. We couldn't afford to lose any time; the longer we stood around the sooner the organization behind the Victory Project would be close on our tail, if they weren't already.

"So what kind of risks are we talking here?" Fitz asked from the seat next to mine

"Russia's after Maria and we're going to do whatever it takes to keep them away from her." Constance replied.

"I can't let you put yourselves in any danger." I said.

Howalk met my eyes in the rear view mirror, as if communicating something without words before actually speaking. "You don't have a choice." He said.

Fitz exhaled. "So what's so special about you?" He asked me.

"I was one of the test subjects for brain-altering experiments." I answered automatically. I clamped my teeth together, wishing for the chance to comprehend my own words. I thirsted for clarity; the one thing I had never needed. That thirst put me in a position where I wasn't even sure if I could trust myself. In a world where you've been controlled for as long as you know, nothing is an absolute when you have to try and think for yourself.

I met Howalk's eyes in the rear view mirror again, all those thoughts draining from my mind. As long as he knew where we were going, I didn't need to.

Constance looked at Howalk. "What's the plan Desperado?" She asked.

"Keep driving until we get to where we're going. We can't risk taking any stops, at least until the sun goes down."

past...

Ear-splitting shots disguised the sound of the flare as it screeched into the sky. The red flames burst against the backdrop of dark orange and purple sunset, and I was on my feet in no time, running towards its take-off point. Shots rang in my ears but I took no notice. Lieutenant Logan was in danger and that's all I could think about.

I screamed as an enemy bullet sank deep into my shoulder, easily cutting through my skin and tendons. Blood gushed from the wound but I kept running.

Another shot landed right beneath the previous one, cutting even more of the muscle of my arm. I could no longer feel my right hand, nor could I move it. I could feel it limp at my side. The wound felt like hellfire, but I didn't acknowledge it. My left hand maneuvered my gun and I shoot and kill several enemies, plunging forward with all my might. The Lieutenant was ahead of me, laying among a grove of trees.

Slowly the shots in my directions subsided as my fellow soldiers preoccupied the enemy. I fell to my knees in front of the Lieutenant. I could see the flare gun in his bloodied hand, and I shook him.

"Maria," His voice was hoarse and pained.

"Lieutenant I'm here to get you out." I told him assuringly. I lifted him, but without the use of my right arm, faltered. I tried again and got him to an upright position.

Another shot flew past my ear. I shot rapidly in the direction of the assault before realizing my gun was now empty.

"My gun, Maria," The Lieutenant said, his head falling against my shoulder as his breathing became rapid. Tears suddenly fell down my cheeks, and I had no control over them. I reached for his weapon which lay a foot away from where he'd fallen.

Another shot. This time it penetrated the skin on my left arm and I screamed in pain.

"Are you alright?"

"I have to get you out of here!" I yelled through sobbing breaths. Panic seemed to be rising in my chest and I could do nothing to subside it. I placed my hand against the Lieutenant's chest and felt the stickiness of blood.

An enemy approached from behind and I stood and knocked him over the head with the gun barrel. He fell lifeless and my attention drew back to my mentor laying helpless on the ground. My left arm surged with pain, the bullet still lodged deep in my flesh.

The only thought in my mind was saving him. I bent down and fixed my left arm around his torso, lifting with all my strength. My right arm was useless, dangling by threads of dead nerves. My mind couldn't register the shattering pain, all it did was sway my vision.

I pulled him to his feet, grinding my teeth together and screaming in effort. He panted with exhaustion and couldn't keep his balance properly. He'd lost so much blood.

"Alright, walk with me." I instructed with desperation coming from nowhere and leaking into my voice.

He stumbled and his eyes rolled back in his head. "Maria, you have to go." He said, nearly incoherently.

"No! I'm saving your life!" My throat felt like sandpaper and my eyes stung. I blinked; I had to be able to see in order to get him to safety.

He stumbled back onto the ground, and I guided him as gently as I could, kneeling beside him. "Get up! We have to go!" The sobs had taken over by now and my face was damp with tears, blood, and sweat.

My right arm, now detached entirely from my body, fell to the ground and blood spewed everywhere. My brain didn't comprehend the pain, nor the lose of blood that now traumatized my body.

"Maria," Lieutenant Logan's voice shuddered as his eyes closed. "I love you, Maria."

"Lieutenant!" There was barely anything left in my voice. Tears flooded my vision. One final bullet landed in my left arm and it too fell lifeless in a puddle of blood on the earth. I felt dizzy.

"I love you, Maria." The words echoed over and over. I fell. Then, darkness.

present...

I jerked awake. The sky was black outside the car window, spattered with stars.

"Are you okay?" Howalk asked, lifting his head from the headrest of the seat next to me. Constance was now in the driver's seat and Fitz was reclined and asleep next to her.

I breathed heavily but couldn't answer.

His hand rested on my arm and I met his eyes. They were shadowed by the dim light but I could tell he'd been asleep just now. "Maria," he prompted again.

"Where's the Lieutenant?" I asked shakily.