Demon of the Skies [Book 1]

Passage of Time

Chapter Quote:
"When we lose someone we love, we must learn not to live without them, but to live with the love they left behind."
~Anonymous
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Chapter 22: Passage of Time

Cipher

A military helicopter flew Iris, Hammerhead, and me to a hospital on the Ustio-Belkan border. Thankfully, it rested on the former side. I didn't trust the Belkans not to give her the proper treatment for merely not being one of them. The loss of the war was still too fresh in their minds.

When we arrived, PJ waited for us with a group of staff. The moment PJ saw me, he pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.

"Thank God you're okay, man," he said, stepping away. "We watched everything from down below. You were incredible!"

I looked him up and down, noticing his haggard appearance and sling around his arm. "What happened to you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just some scrapes and a fractured shoulder. I landed wrong. I'm fine, though. Let's get you to Janie."

PJ escorted me, Hammerhead, and Iris to a heavily guarded room. The Base Commander was waiting for us, his eyes horrendously bloodshot. Fear engulfed me.

"What's wrong with Janie?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"A stray bullet hit her parachute just as she was about to reach the ground. She had a crash landing and hit her head on some rocks and broke her arm too," the Base Commander said, his voice devoid of emotion. I attributed it more to shock than his lack of feelings. The only things he did have feelings for were his daughter and his love for his country. "They're worried about her brain swelling and are going to put her in an induced coma. Against the wishes of the hospital, she wanted to wait until you saw her. Go in and see her."

Wordlessly, I entered Janie's room, a knot forming at the sight of her. She donned a nasal cannula to help her breathe, and her normally bright and cheery face wore a slightly dazed and exhausted expression. However, she lit up at the sight of me.

"Jaser!" Janie exclaimed. She paused and frowned, then said, "I mixed up Jason and Cipher, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but it's okay. From what I've heard, you hit your head pretty damn hard. I think that gives you a pass." I laced her fingers through mine, kissing the back of her hand. "I'm so sorry, Janie. This is my fault."

"How?"

"I should've told PJ to leave after the mission because I knew Pixy was going to show. I never should've put you and PJ in that position."

"It's not your fault, Jason. You're not the reason a bullet tore my parachute. You're not the reason Pixy turned. You just saved the world, and no one knows it was you except for me, and the four people outside this room. You should be celebrating."