The Red Coral Bracelet

Chapter 7

Cpl. T.L. Imlay

I was pacing back and forth with everyone else outside of the operating room. Luke Stone, Navy's brother, was having three bullets removed from his abdomen and shoulder. He tried to protect her but she was taken. Why did I let go of her hand? She was going to run to the bracelet on the ground and I let go of her hand.

It was my fault she wasn't in the room. I let her die. Oh god, I killed her! I sank to the ground and put my head in my hands.

"Imlay, stop beating yourself up. It's not your fault." Anders tried to tell me.

"What are we doing? Nothing! We need to be out there, looking for her, not sitting outside waiting to talk to her brother. He's going to live!" I burst out and started to walk away when the General walked up. "Sir," I saluted.

"Son, don't lose your calm. Sit. Tell me what happened Marine."

I sat down in the chair he gestured to that was away from the others. I sat up straight and looked ahead.

"You went out to secure the buildings that had been deemed a threat, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"What happened after that?"

"All of us were either in the Humvee or outside of it. She- I mean Ms. 'Navy' Stone was getting out of the back passenger seat to take photographs. We had already cleared the area and declared it safe for her..."

My mind flashed back to the incident. Navy was giggling at something Jackson had said. She was snapping photos of us walking around and of the the enviroment. I really didn't understand why someone like her, more beautiful and glowing than any angel, would come to this hell to take pictures. I was lost in thought about Navy and stopped talking about what happened.

"Coporal." I looked up at General Decker.

"Sir?"

"You stopped talking."

"Right. It happened so fast. She put her eye to the viewfinder and was sweeping the area when something caught her eye. Navy started to move towards it, but I saw movement, so I grabbed her hand and held her back. Her brother came around the corner, all alone and the moment he saw his baby sister, Luke ran full speed toward her and she tore out of my grip. They met in the middle of the street by a rubble pile." As I talked, it all appeared to vivid in my head. "She bent down to pick up something that was at their feet. I had no idea what it was or why it was so important. They hugged for the longest time; they didn't let go, never did until she was dragged away. About 15 men came from nowhere and opened fire. I wasn't sure if the siblings were hit when they went down. Next thing I remember is she was screaming, being pulled by her into an alley. We tried to go after them, but the men almost blew us all to kingdom come. We got Luke, patched up as best as we could, brought him back to the base and here we are."

"Imlay, this is important." I knew it was. "If you go back, will you know which alley they took her down?"

"Yes, sir. I won't ever be able to forget."

"Good. Go to your bunk, sleep, and then you, along with your platoon, will go locate her."

"Sir, I- I'm sorry. It's my fault that your niece is gone."

"Son, you aren't the reason she's gone. You are the reason why she screamed and those bastards that took her are going to die."

"I don't understand, sir. I'm the reason she screamed?"

"Yes. She wouldn't have screamed if she felt someone she cared for was in danger. She kept you alive. What happened after you heard her scream?"

"I turned my head to see where it came from then ran towards Navy."

"What happened after you moved from where you were standing?"

"There was an... explosion. Frag round."

General Decker chuckled and patted my shoulder. "She doesn't do that for everyone." I watched as he walked towards one of the doctors.

Navy saved my life and I was going to save hers; I had to. I didn't move from the chair I was sitting in. I don't know how long I sat there, staring at the ground, but the next thing I knew Luke was being rolled out to a room. I walked beside the gurney and watched his face. My eyes drifted to his wrists. There was nothing on them. Nothing. That's strange, I thought. It struck me as strange because something should of been there. 'I gave him a coral bracelet to protect him' Navy's voice spoke in my head. The bracelet! He didn't have the bracelet on his wrist.

"When will he wake up?" I asked the nurse.

"In an hour maybe before, sir." She replied.

"Thank you, ma'am."

I stayed in the room until he woke up. I had a question to ask him. I turned around and saw his blue eyes open. His eyes were just like his sisters and I had to tell myself that it wasn't her.

"Who are you?" His voice was weak.

"Coporal Tanner Lee Imlay. I need to ask you a question."

"OK."

"What did Navy pick up?"

"What? Where am I? Where's Navy?!"

"In the infirmary and she's not here, but she will be soon. What did she pick up?"

"Uhh... coral bracelet, my red coral bracelet."

"Will it protect her?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because she is going to need it, Luke."

***

Picture of General Daniel Decker on the right!