I was walking quietly through abandoned school building.
It was kinda... Scary.
It was pretty dark there, so I used my flashlight to looked around. It was shining with bright white, almost blinding light. Maybe it would be... smarter to not use it. Light cause shadows.
They were making frighteningly looking... things out of everything - like snake body, they're sliding over the walls. I knew it would be best if I just watched the ground, perfectly enough to see any object in front, yet to not make my eyes follow the pictures of the night.
..You can't..
'I know.'
I opened random doors, with pistol in my hands, bursting inside. It was old classroom, the board was having graffiti on it, desks were broken, the wood falling apart. it smelled like and old oxygen in attics, it was warm, but still cold.
Others would say hard to breathe, but I believe that there was enough sources. Just because it's hard, doesn't mean it's impossible.
'In this case more like just because the air feel heavy, it doesn't mean you can't breathe.'
I sighed and looked around the place, opened every cabinet and looked at each shelf. All I found was some light green flowers, I think better call it herb.
'We used to have flowers in class. They were next to the window, and one on the teachers table. But always, no matter how much we watered them, they always died. Just by a single touch, no matter how gentle it was, the leaves fell apart. Teachers used to say that it was because the flowers were used to colder weather, but at home it was cold so much that before you could get the water boiled and make a tea, it cooled down.'
I grabbed it, then teared leaves of, mashing them into fine powder. I found a small zip lock bag in my backpack and put it in. It wasn't filled, less than half was empty.
I threw it back in my backpack cover pocket, closing it. I looked at my watch, 17:32.
..I have quite a lot of time. But I need to get those things done..
Before that, I pulled my earpiece and put it in right place. Four seconds of statics, I heard them slowly disappearing. Finally, I heard small beep, with a simple meaning.
"This is Skywalker to Alpha team, does anybody read?"
Only cracked voices answered me.
"Skywalker from S.T.R.T. to BSAA Alpha team, does anybody read?"
"Thi... ris..."
"Chris? You are breaking!"
Static.
But then, there was some clicking, beeping sounds. After ten seconds or so, I heard them, clearly and loudly.
"Luna, do you read?"
"Chris?"
"Finally. Are you Ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine. You?"
"Same. I need to go. Keep in touch, over."
I smiled a bit.
They are okay. That's good.
I went out of the room, back in the dark long, corridor.
"Fuck, it's creepy..."
I whispered, tightening the grip on my right hand which was holding on the handgun, the left one was slightly shaking so light was doing the same.
I was listening to everything, to every single sound. I wished that there was somebody with me. Like some guy. I wasn't scared of the quietness in this place. More like of the things I could hear because of it. How I wished I could hear anything, like a rain.
Then I remembered Alpha, and that guy, Piers.
..He was... Attractive..
I should stop thinking about it, but come on. He is, no lies. I shook my head, to really stop. My foot cracked some glass, I jumped from the shock.
..See?! Focus Luna, FOCUS!..
I opened next doors, and found out it's bathroom. It was dirty, but I didn't think much of it. My shoes were already fucked up so why not. The old tiles used to be in some cool colour tones, I would guess blue but wouldn't put my hand in the fire for it. Probably men restroom.
I tried to pour water from sink pipes, but first one was clogged. I opened second, only three drops made their way out. I frown a bit and tilt towards raspy metal, looking in the pipe, hoping to see what was making the water not come out and get it out of the way.
I saw something muddy, bloody red stuck in it.
Blinking I frowned and crouched down more, to get a better angle. I bit into the light source as I put it in my mouth, so both of my hands were free. the handgun layed on the sink.
I watched the thing in the metal and tilted my head. The light made it shine, it must have been wet or something.
Then it moved.
I yelped in shock, jumping away slightly. As I made my way back, still shocked I slowly came closer again and just in case, I closed the sink tap, so if some water was coming actually out, nothing would bother 'that'.
I walked to next sink, slowly turning the tap on. Raspy, red as blood, water came out. I put my hand under it, it was little bit... Warm.
As blood would be.
..Well that's even better... Fuck this creepy place..
I was still watching the water pouring down. But then, something landed on my hand, it was slimy, dark red and black like slug thing.
I made scared yelp, now loud one. I shook it off myself, it flop and with disgusting smack, it disappeared in the sink pipes.
Then another slug came out of the tap and more and more started to land on me, I shoved them off the fastest I could.
I rushed out of that place, scared like a little kid.
I looked at my watches, only to find out it was 18:03. I jogged to another room, and happened to be the most lucky person on the whole planet.
The room was big, all of the old messy school desks were shoved to one side, right under the chalk board. There weren't any windows, or cabinets. But I saw, that there was broken ceiling, that was heading to the roof top.
I slid one chair there, and climbed up, looking around. It was the place, where you could see everything, everyone, everywhere.
'Perfect spot for guard.'
I smiled widely, happy about that. I jumped back down, putting one of my devices here. It was tracker, so I would know where the room was.
'Now I'll just look around for some blankets, maybe at the laundry room... Try to find map, this is school, there should be some for fire escape system.'
I went out of this room, through some corridors, then checked every place, after four hours or so, I was having about twelve ugly, brown blankets, some more that powder from those plants, and some first aid sprays, but the only place I found water was in that bathroom. I've saw another one but the doors couldn't be opened as something was barricading it from inside.
..Maybe when Edonia was attacked, the school was some kind of safe place, like Police departments are when these things happen... They could have been caught of the guard and someone tried to safe themselves in the bathroom..
Those slugs were scaring me, what if they were mutants, that were dangerous and I was just lucky. If Alpha want water, they are going themselves.
This place is terrifying, and try to be here alone. I found that map, I was right. I drew it in my notebook, and marking the place where I was, just in case they are going to find it. I then leaft it in some corridor. I came back to that room, putting blankets on the floor. I then used my earpiece.
"Skywalker speaking to Alpha team."
After that I finally realized that I was shaking a little bit. Not much but I did.
'what..?'
"Yes. What is it?"
That was Chris.
"I found place where we can sleep, and guard, some supplies and.. uh.. water. Are you coming back?"
I heard muffled voiced, then laughter, voice shouting, but when Chris started to talk, I couldn't hear what it said.
"Yes we are on our way. Can you send me your location?"
"Sure."
I said, pulled out my phone, it's looking normal, but having hologram function, with is damn good for showing pictures. I send my GPS.
"There. When you will be here?"
'I don't want to be alone.'
"Half an hour. You sound nervous, everything OK?"
'Was that worry..? Does it mean he thinks I can't do it..?'
It caught me off guard.
"Ye-ah... I-I am!"
I immediately answered, uncalmly. That didn't go unnoticed.
'Was it that visible..?'
"That's not sounding like that at all. Just take some rest, we will hurry."
"No! I am fine!"
My voice felt... weird, quiet and my neck suddenly started to hurt.. from inside.
"Ok Luna."
I heard that voice from before, was that...
..Piers?..
"COME ON, MOVE!"
"Thanks Chris, but that's not needed at all, I-I am totally fine. Nothing happened. Skywalker's over."
With that I slid down the wall, now I was sitting on the cold floor. I grabbed on of the thick, smelly blanket and covered my whole body with it. Then I felt my backpack, I put it down, next to my side. Same as my sniper, having with me just handgun.
I left the flashlight on, I wasn't planning on sleep. I pressed my head against the knees next to my chest and couldn't hold it back anymore.
One single tear made it's way out of my eye.
I wasn't that girl that always make herself into a sobbing mess when she is crying. I was just quiet, tear maker. Nothing more.
All things that were happening...
..They are all gone..
'No! Stop thinking about them! Don't make yourself remember!'
I sighed and thought about what I shouted at Chris. And what Foxy said. And what would Capitan Connor say.
"No...."
What's all I let out before crawling into a brown ball, wiping off tears and rubbing my watered eyes. Before I thought about it, I fell asleep, like a little kid, waiting for company to come, not doing anything else.
<><>Alpha team, Chris POV <><>
As soon as I let her in that old building, I was regretting it.
"Are you sure Capitan that it was the right thing to let her go by herself? Like I mean she is really good and everything but..."
"But what Piers?"
I said with cold voice, looking at his direction, only to found him, looking at the abandoned place.
"But... She is still a girl..."
He whisper - mumbled. I frowned a bit.
"Listen Piers. She is. But she saved us quite a lot of times. I am sure that she can handle all tasks, and much more. She is in S.T.R.T. and that means something. Like they are damn good. Hell yeah they are. And the thing that they let her be there, must mean, that she is good enough."
"I don't mean it like that capitan! I am saying that it's creepy, and she is going to be there by herself. That's why I said that she is a girl. Couse girls are not that mentally... I don't know strong. I think that it wasn't best thing to do..."
He mumbled.
'Inconfident..? Piers?'
"That's right Piers. But we will be there in 5 hours. I am sure, she will do okay."
I said but in reality, I didn't really believe it myself. Piers was right.
"And now, we will move!"
I said loudly so rest of the team could hear us.
"Yes sir!"
They all shouted back and jogged after me with Piers, down the street, like about two kilometres. There weren't anything else, just us. The war made all of the houses disappear. Everything was gone.
Bioterrorism.
She is a girl...
she shouldn't be here.
It was playing in my haid over and over again, like a radio tape.
Maybe I shouldn't have left her there all by herself, she seemed to be upset about those tags... Maybe it's her lost co-workers. Or worse whole team...
'We will get through this Luna. All together. Couse we are team now.'
I said to myself, and ran even faster.
<><>Time skip<><>
We didn't had a break.
Why, we were all in good condition, we don't need that. Then I thought about Luna again. I was about to radiod her, if she is okay, when I heard her voice.
"This is Skywalker to Alpha team, does anybody read?"
She was loud and clear.
"Alpha to Skywalker, I can hear you!"
I said, right now, we were in some building shooting at J'avos. But I don't think she did.
"Skywalker from S.T.R.T. to BSAA Alpha team, does anybody read?"
'Fuck, these things never work when they are most needed!'
I rotate small button on my talkie and than spoke again.
"This is Chris, Luna do you read?"
I asked again.
"Chris? You are breaking!"
I did it one more time, now pressing some buttons, even muting it and putting it on again.
"Luna, do you read?"
"Chris?"
"Finally. Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine. You?"
I felt relieved. But than tons of J'avos found their way towards our cover and I had to shoot too.
"Same. I need to go. Keep in touch, over."
I grabbed my gun, rushing to my team as we killed them all. Piers came to me, he was having a normal poker face but I saw his fear and worries in his eyes.
"Is she okay?"
He ask in hurry.
"Yeah, she said it. Why do you care?"
I saw how his expression change for a second and than he frowned.
"Because she is working with us and it's fair to ask, isn't it."
He said bit pissed off. I know what was happening, more than anything. I smirked.
"Oh, yeah... Sure."
He growled, when he was about to go away, Andy, one of our team members came close to us.
"Piers like her! I knew it! Yes!"
"Shut the fuck up Walker! I don't give a hell shit about her stupid self! And don't call me Piers, I'm lieutenant Nivans for you!"
He hissed like some kind of snake. Yeah snake Piers. I laughed for myself.
"You do!"
Men shouted. I smirked, but turned around and was wondering, where will we go next. I was having a map, but it didn't helped that much.
"That's not..."
"Oh yea it is, but if we won't move, she is going to probably die, when we won't come back in the time. Ya know S.T.R.T. things. She is going to send whole rescue team if we won't get back, so we will move!!!"
I said loud, all of them looking at me listening to every word.
"You heard him, move!"
"Yes sir!"
All men answered and we made our way to next place.
<><>Time skip<><>
We cleaned a lot of buildings, no-one was injured, just some scratches, nothing else.
I am still pretty sure, that Luna is going to clean even those for hours.
'She is protective... On the other side it saved us many times...'
We were walking back to that school, it was about six kilometres back, because we went even deeper in the city.
I was at the front, we walked not that fast, all of us happy, that we are all okay. Even that new rookie Finn was doing damn good. They were all talking and laughing behind me.
Piers jogged towards me. I looked at him and saw worried look.
"Hey, you okay?"
I ask, frowning.
"Yes."
"That doesn't sounds like that. Is it about her?" Only silence answered me. I sighed.
"Hey listen now. Luna is strong kid, the things that happened to her probably weren't good at all, so you should ask her about it, so we can at least know something 'bout her. She is like... fog. Anytime you think you finally know what would she do, that girl do something totally different."
"...Kinda."
Was all he said, before he dived back into his own thoughts. But when I heard a bit of statics I stopped, same as whole Alpha, but they still talked. Piers was watching my every move and listened to everything she said.
"Skywalker to Alpha."
Her voice. It was quietr than normally but I shooked it off.
"Yes. What is it?"
I said back, Piers was watching everything.
"I found place where we can sleep, and guard, some supplies and... uh... water. Are you coming back?"
They decided to talk about it.
'That's not so smart soldiers.'
"Ha ha! Yes you see Piers? You can sleep with her!"
"Yeah isn't that dream-"
"HEY ITS NOT FUNNY AT ALL!!! SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Piers yelled. I sighed, than glanced at them.
"Yes we are on our way. Can you send me your location?"
"Sure."
She answered shortly, after five seconds or so I got message on my GPS.
"There. When you will be here?"
She sounded urgent.
Fear...
I knew it was bad idea.
Fuck.
"Half an hour. You sound nervous, everything OK?" I frowned a bit.
"Ye-ah... I-I am!"
She said loudly, immediately answering.
Damn... As always, Piers was right.
"That's not sounding like that at all. Just take some rest, we will hurry."
"No! I am fine!"
Her voice was cracking and I heard soft, single sob, I saw Piers' eyes widen, and I know that he will be nervous as FUCK.
"Ok Luna."
I said getting worried too.
"COME ON, MOVE!"
Piers shouted.
"Thanks Chris, but that's not needed at all, I-I am totally fine. Nothing happened. Skywalker's over."
I rolled my eyes at her stubbornness, but men behind became quiet, as we all started to jog down old, sandy road, leaving our footsteps there.
It's about fifteen minutes of us running. We were panting, but all of us knew, that something isn't right. I don't know what happened, but I am damn sure she was crying, but not from injuries...
She is trained to listen to every order I would give... She would say that, I'm sure about that.
She is still a kid... basically.
Finally I saw that building, like kilometer from us. We ran even faster, mostly me and Piers, because other guys don't know her.
'She isn't really for talking. The hell she isn't.'
I thought as we got there. We jumped through the window, I looked to that photo. It was a map, she sent it like two hours ago, it was the fire escape one, there were some things written by bright red marker, on the glass, which was covering the map, like it's always with fire escape ones.
We jogged to room where was she supposed to be. Doors where cracked open, I saw light coming from that classroom.
I opened them, Piers right behind me, other men where looking around building, her flashlight was laying on the floor, next to black board. I didn't saw anything.
This place was fucking creepy, dark and scary. I was regretting that I left her alone here. I saw blankets on the floor, they were all neatly folded, but still old and smelled.
Before I could even went to her, Piers quietly did it before me. He was watching her, more like her face, that was covered with her gray-white hair. I saw her bag next to her side, and her big-ass sniper rifle, that was having her name writted on the new brown, strap. It was secured, carefully laying on her side, I am sure she cares about it. It was looking new.
Then suddenly she quickly opened her eyes, they were wide and still puffy and red. When she saw somebody standing right opposite to her, she let out small, yelp. She threw the blanket of her, but realized it was only us. Then single tear dropped on floor.
"Oh come on, that's definitely not fine, what happened?"
I asked, coming closer too. She didn't answer, only panted raspy. She opened her mouth to say something, but she looks only like fish that was gasping for air.
Suddenly she shook her head, she wiped her eyes with sleeve of her black sweatshirt. Than stood up, her eyes were bravely open, she was having strong expression on face.
"Nothing. Where are the others?"
She said, loud enough to shock me and still silent Piers.
"They went to look around, I will go get them."
I said, leaving them alone.
<><>Luna POV<><>
He left me and Piers there, and I just sat back, looking away from his gaze direction. He then kneeled down to me. I gave him my full gaze.
"Luna... Hey you can tell me everything that's on your mind okay? I won't tell it to anybody, I swear. And I will listen to everything. I think it's gonna make you feel better."
He said, with careful voice.
I shook my head no.
"Come on. At least let me see that roof with you so you will think about different things."
"F-Fine."
I whispered and he stood up, pulling me too. I grabbed my sniper rifle, just in case and looked towards him as he was standing on the chair.
"Piers?"
"Luna."
He looked back at me.
"Just go by yourself. I will come in minute."
He nodded, and climbed up. I unzipped my backpack, rummaging through it, only to pull out some big bag of meat stripes. Foxy always buy it, then he give me some packages too. I smiled at remembering him. It was bright blue plastic bag, having in a lot of meat insidd, but not pork or rabbit, I don't eat those, and I never did.
Then I took my bottle, and blanket, two of them. I pulled myself up, having it all in my arms. I saw Piers watching the destroyed city.
For a second I just watched it too, but soon realised it and walked towards him, sitting next to his body, our feet dangling over the flat roof.
He looked at me, as I was having one strip in my mouth, but it was sticking out, and laughed.
I quickly ate it, almost choked myself up. I pressed the bag between my legs, and started to eat, more like swallowing.
"You seem hungry."
I glance at him for second, before going back to eating. He pat my head.
"So will you tell me something?"
He ask calmly, I immediately stopped chewing and slowly swallowed. I looked up, and watched the dark sky for a second.
"Maybe I should..."
I whispered and frowned.
"It all started when I was born... Logically. My parents were hard on me, pretty much, they were beating me for nothing, just for me getting back... Home. But I still loved them and I still do. I was going to school, then, I wanted to be a cop, because I fell in love with guns, one of my friends, Leon, was in Racoon incident and survived it, he was sometimes helping me with school and when I was small kid he was like babysitter. He was using his guns in work, he is working at government. He isn't much older than me, but still is. I think... 13 years? Yep, 13. I was at home, but then, one day some weird guys came. Now I know that they were Umbrella soldiers. I...
They killed my parents. I ran away, they were after me, I hid in the woods and they didn't found me. I was still in Sweden, that's where I was born. I ran more.
After like two days, I was starving, I drank water from a lake, and ended lost somewhere in the woods.
Then, soldiers found me. I got to an area where they worked."
I sighed.
"They got me to the base, there were 17 of us. I just joined them after some training, it made me youngest and only girl. It was fun with them, really... it was.
I was mostly with Ed, Ed Rawlings. He was like father to me... Like he was one of the most caring people I ever did get to know. He was the one that give me my sniper rifle.
Oh I remember like it was yesterday.
When Ed first give it to me, I just smiled, and started laughing, not even knowing how to reload it."
I made a painful smile. I closed my eyes, so I remembered better.
"Then there was Arslan Campos. He was our Capitan, but we never called him like that. Only Arslan, or Ar. He was so calm, never scared, always leaving a good memories. Everywhere. And others. Jimmy, Jose, Philipp, Steven, Randy, Harry, Jonathan, Scott, Brian, Justin, which we called bae, Couse you know Bieber, on one training we were supposed to shout our teammate chosen by Ar over some noises, I got him, but Arslan said that I am supposed to not call him Justin, because there was another one in the training room, some kind of guard or something, and we didn't wanted to bother them so I think quickly, than shouted BIEBER, and he really looked at me, and soon after all of us called him like that, ya know nicknames are better.
Yeah...
and then when we were getting back to base from successful mission killing some bad guys, I was talking to Randy, we were having so much fun, and we wanted to tell the joke to Justin too, because we were on a plane, and he was the only one awake. Then Huggie, oh that's how I call Randy he always hugged me, every time. So Huggie just said bae, instead of Bieber, and I laugh so much that I woke all of us, and soon we called him just Bae."
"But on next mission...wait...
no... no, no no!
I won't tell it! Never! Go away Piers! NOW!"
I suddenly shouted, he was shocked, of course. I started tearing up again, more and more tears streaming down my face.
He immediately realized it and gently turn me around, facing me. He pulled up my head by my chin, two of his fingers pressing it. He looked deep in my blue eyes, that were glossy from water streaming down from it. I watched his hazel ones, getting lost in them.
"I know that's it's hard for you. I know how is it."
I froze, when he started stroking my hair, but relaxed soon.
But then I heard rocket launcher land on the roof, opposite side of the building. And on the roof was one of men.
Oh hell no...
I jumped on my feet and grabbed my bag, with my sniper rifle, bit on the torch that was between my teeth so my hands were free.
I rushed to place, where I was able to see him, he was taking cover by a quickly breaking wall.
Another shots, some light from helicopter, it was pointing my direction. I rushed to the soldier side.
Rocket,
vibration,
pressing his body to the wall,
laying on the ground...
..He can't die, don't let Capitan Redfield DOWN! You PROMISED!..
"WHAT'S HAPPENING!!!"
I shouted at him, cause the loud noise around.
"I DON'T KNOW! I JUST CHANGED WITH MARCO, AND THEY STARTED SHOOTING AFTER LIKE TWENTY MINUTES!"
"I UNDERSTAND! WHAT'S YOUR NAME!!"
"I AM FINN MACAULEY!"
"OKAY FINN! I NEED YOU TO TRUST ME, AND DO ANYTHING I WILL SAY! IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE YOU, ME AND WHOLE TEAM!!! WE CAN'T STAY HERE ANY LONGER!!! YOU WILL JUMP DOWN THE ROOF, THERE ISN'T TIME TO GO DOWN THAT WAY!!!"
I pointed at the hole in the roof. I heard guys from downstairs.
"I UNDERSTAND!"
"WHEN I WILL SAY YOU JUMP, YOU WILL DO IT, DON'T THINK ABOUT ME, I WILL TAKE THAT HELICOPTER AWAY FROM THIS BUILDING! SAY TO CHRIS AND PIERS TO BE CAREFUL! TAKE TEAM BACK TO YOUR HOME BASE!!!! YOU NEED TO DROP MISSION! WHEN I WILL GET HOME TOO, I WILL WENT TO BSAA FIRST DAY OFF AND WRITE MESSAGE! WE WILL MEET AND I WILL BE OKAY! BUT I WON'T RADIO, IT'S GIVING J'AVOS STATIC, SO THEY KNOW WHERE I AM, IF THEY HACKED THE SYSTEM, WHICH THEY PROBABLY DID! SO FINN, TAKE CARE OF THE TEAM! FOR ME!"
I shouted again, pulling out my earpiece, throwing it away. I looked behind the wall, that started brake even faster. Then I stood up, but still crouched.
"OK FINN GO!!!"
I yelled, running away from the wall, bullets around me, then I jumped down, my ankles silently cried, but I sucked it up.
Another rocket was heading my way, I dodge it and rushed down the path to forest, that was leading from the Edonia city.
I will hate this city forever and much, much longer.