Just a Little Bit of Magick • ONC 2020 • ✓

Having a Blast On a Bridge

'Drop zone imminent.'

I pulled on my parachute, stepping closer to the door as Captain Walker pulled it open. I jumped first, Alex right after me.

We dropped through the dark, slowing with a jerk as our parachutes opened. The ground was fast approaching. I straightened my legs, following the new training I had received. My feet touched the floor and I rolled, jumping to my feet instantly and rolling the parachute up. Captain Walker landed next to Alex and I, all three of us hiding our parachutes beneath a patch of brambles.

As the resident sniper -and the best shot; obviously- on our team, I was chosen to accompany Alex and the Captain on their bridge-blowing-up mission. We had two strategic bridges to blow up and several kilogrammes of live explosives strapped in bags.

The night was warm as we trekked towards our first target, crickets chirping away in the french grasses. I found a tree near the first bridge and loaded my gun, bringing the scope up to my eye. I scanned the bridge for enemies, also checking for checkpoints. There was barely a rustle in the grasses as Alex and Captain Walker crept over to the bridge. I kept my scope trained on them.

Alex ran along the length of the bridge, strapping explosives along the balustrade and connecting them to the wires that the Captain was running along them. They made their way off the bridge, getting to a safe distance before hitting the detonate button.

I jumped out the tree, hitting the ground before it shook with the vibrations of the blast.

I kept my gun in my hands as I stealth-sprinted towards Alex; that explosion will have drawn soldiers, and I didn't want to stick around for them to find me.

There were footsteps behind me and I twisted, finger on the trigger and safety catch off.

Alex stepped into the clearing, hands above his head, 'Easy, soldier. Just a couple of friends.'

I smirked, lowering the gun and flicking the safety back off, 'And loud ones at that. I could hear you coming a mile off.'

Ok, that was a slight exaggeration.

'One we weren't that far away, and two, I wasn't that loud. Was I?' The last directed towards a grinning Captain Walker who stepped out beside him.

'Oh no, she's right. Your footsteps deafened me, and I was a couple of metres behind you.'

Alex sighed, 'I hate you both.'

I grinned.

Captain Walker's expression turned a little more urgent, 'Seriously though, that explosion was pretty loud. We probably should've gotten a little further away before detonating it.'

Nodding I gestured in the vague direction of the next bridge, 'After you Cap.'

The forest got thicker as we got nearer to the target and the floor seemed to crack with every step Alex took.

I winced, it was one thing joking about it when there was no one around, another when your life is on the line.

Pretty soon we reached the edge of the trees, the bridge below us. I chose a tall tree with thick leaf coverage and climbed it, putting the scope back up to my eye and scanning the area.

This bridge had a checkpoint at one end and I could see the glowing cigarette buts of two soldiers as they chatted outside the hut.

Idiots. They always have to make things so much harder for themselves don't they.

Alex and Cap crept down the slope, taking cover behind bushes when the soldiers turned their way.

Pretty soon they reached an area with no cover. Alex pulled out a torch, handing it to the Captain who flashed an order to me.