(These comments I get man. They are why I wanna stop writing this. It's the only reason. If you don't like the book, leave. I don't need or want you here.)
*TUK* *TUK*
"JESUS CHRIST! WHERE THE FUCK ARE THESE GUYS COMING FROM?!"
I scoffed at Tucker's complaint. It was quite weird that they would send so many men after us. Aside from wondering how they had so many thugs in their ranks, what was so pressing that they sent an army?
*TUTUTUTUTUTU*
More bullets were fired by the Russians, but they were not towards me this time.
*TUK* *TUK*
The sound of Tucker's M4 assured me that he was still alive and kicking. I couldn't handle however many of them there were by myself.
I got down on one knee and then leaned to my right to peek around the corner again.
*TU* *TU* *TU*
Two of my shots resulted in a splatter of brain matter to line the wall and floor behind the unlucky recipients. The third shot missed.
Thirty seconds.
*TUTUTUTUTUTUTUTUTUTUTUTUTU*
Another torrent of screaming metal ripped through the drywall as I staggered backwards, barely avoiding certain death.
"SHIT!"
*TUKUTUKUTUKUTU*
I heard Tucker yell from downstairs before a stream of bullets was released from his rifle. Something must have happened.
I pressed down on the magazine release, dropping the almost empty magazine onto the floor. "WHAT HAPPENED?!"
*TUTUTUTUTU* *TUK* *TUK*
Tucker yelled back amidst a hail of bullets. "A FEW DOZEN FROM THE BACK! GET READY TO RUN OUT FRONT!"
20 seconds.
*Click* *Chichick*
I jammed another magazine into the AK before pulling back the charging handle to push a bullet into the chamber.
There was no way I would just leave my two neighbors here in 20 seconds. "GET MRS. SANDS AND MY DAD! I GOT THE KID!"
*TUK* *TUTUTUTU* *TUK*
Tucker yelled back immediately. "WAIT, THE KID?! THERE'S A FUCKING KID?!"
I didn't even bother responding as I moved towards the bathroom. The door was closed.
*Knock* *Knock*
I sighed. "Caleb, you alright?"
A trembling voice responded from the other side of the door. "Y-yeah."
I shook my head, moving my hand towards the door handle. "I'm gonna open the door now. Stay where you are."
I pressed on the handle, dislodging the mechanism and freeing the door. Upon opening the door, I found Caleb once again cowering in the back of the bathroom. He was wedged between the toilet and the wall.
My heart nearly shattered for the umteenth time as I stepped into the bathroom. I played a part in destroying this kid's childhood. His home was destroyed. His room was shredded beyond recognition. Blood stained his floors and bodies were sprawled about still warm with the remnants of life.
I held out my left hand and smiled. "Come here."
10 seconds.
He nodded, crawling out from next to the toilet. He stood up and walked over before grabbing my left hand with his right.
*TUK* *TUTUTUTUTU* *TUKUTUKUTU*
I looked him right in the eye as more shots were fired downstairs, struggling to force my words out. "We… We have to go. I want you to stay right behind me and keep your eyes closed."
I turned around a bit and held out my hoodie. "Hold onto the back of my hoodie as tight as you can. When I move, you'll come with me. Let's go."
I turned around and felt him grasp onto my hoodie. After waiting for a second so he could establish his hold, I started moving. "Your eyes are closed, right?"
Caleb responded shakily. "Y-yeah."
I nodded as we approached the stairs. I then whispered to him. "Use both hands and cover your ears."
5 seconds.
I glanced behind me and saw that his ears were covered. Immediately after, I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. Then, I sprung into action.
*TUTUTU* *TU* *TU*
Upon rounding the corner, I saw three men. The rest of them must have been somewhere inside the house. I hadn't heard Tucker firing in the past 15 or so seconds so I presumed he must have grabbed my dad and went to the garage.
I fired five rounds. Two bullets of the first three round burst landed in the chest of one man. The other two shots hit a head and a neck each. All three men went down to the floor, either dead or nearly so by the time their bodies landed.
Without waiting, I turned around and tapped Caleb's shoulder with my left hand. His hands came off of his ears. "Come on. Let's go."
He started walking forwards and right into me. I knelt down, wrapping my left arm around him. Then, I stood up, lifting him into the air. "Caleb, keep your eyes closed."
I felt his chin tap my left shoulder as he nodded.
*BVVVVVVV*
The roar of engines came from outside. Was that my way out?
*SCREEE* *THUD* *THUD* *TUK* *TUTUTU* *TUKUTUKUTU* *TUK*
Car doors slammed open as a symphony of gunfire ignited just outside. Two distinctive sounds reigned supreme. One coming from the AK's wielded by the Russians and the other coming from the M4's held by my allies.
*THMP* *THMP*
I rushed down the stairs with heavy steps, going straight through the front door without any hesitation.
*TUK* *TUK* *TUTUTUTUTUTUTU* *TUK*
"CHECK FIRE! PRINCIPAL ON SITE!"
After a brief spike in my blood pressure from several M4's being aimed at me, I felt relieved as they were pointed away and towards the sides of the house.
I continued running towards the blacked out SUV, Caleb in hand. After finally reaching it, I was heaving deep breaths in and out. I was thoroughly exhausted.
I stepped forwards, placing Caleb into the SUV. "Stay right there buddy. We're gonna leave as soon as your mom is in the car."
*Thud*
Caleb nodded so I stepped away from the SUV and closed the door. I walked up to one of the men that had just arrived. "Are we leaving?"
*TUK* *TUK*
The man fired another few shots before reaching down and into his pocket. He then pulled out an earpiece. "Sir, once Zephyr is outside, we are good to go."
I nodded, getting down on one knee and remaining next to the man. I also took the earpiece from his hand and secured it in my left ear.
From the earpiece, I heard a voice. "Reaper, Principal is now on-channel."
Another voice then replied. They had an accent that was without a doubt from south of the border. "Good. Kyle, can you hear me?"
*TUTUTU*
Before replying, I let go of a few bullets, taking down another Russian. "Yes, I can hear you loud and clear, Reaper."
Reaper replied. "Very good, sir."
"CHECK FIRE! ZEPHYR ON SITE! ICARUS ON SITE! CIVI ON SITE! MOVE OUT!"
My head shot to the left, bringing the garage door into my vision. The garage was half open and two people, one of them carrying a third, were running towards the SUVs. They were, precisely, Tucker, my dad, and Mrs. Sands.
I waved. "MRS. SANDS! OVER HERE!"
She saw me and slightly changed direction, sprinting towards the SUV I was next to. It also happened to the one in the lead.
I stepped back and pulled open the door, revealing Caleb. Thankfully, he was still listening to me. His eyes were closed and his hands were covering his ears.
Mrs. Sands rushed to get into the car to check on her son but I grabbed her shoulder, looking her straight in the eye. "Don't you fucking dare let him open his eyes."
I then nodded towards the front seat of the car. She glanced over and gulped nervously. In the driver's seat was one of the agents sent to pick me up. There was a bullet hole in the front windshield and blood covered the dashboard. He was dead, lying at rest upon the steering wheel.
She nodded before rushing into the car, not uttering a word and just holding her son while weeping.
I watched Tucker come over as well. He went to the other side of the car and put my dad in the back seat next to Mrs. Sands and Caleb. He then noticed the dead driver. "Fuck."
After a moment, I heard him through comms. "Reaper, Driver-1 is KIA. Moving him to V2."
Reaper replied. "Noted."
I glanced over and noticed Tucker pulling the driver out of the car. "Let's go. Load up and clear out."
All of the men that were with us started moving towards the SUVs. I instinctively rushed towards the driver seat of the vehicle that had just lost its driver.
*THUD*
I slammed the door shut and switched on the safety for my AK. I then placed it to the left of my left leg before grasping the steering wheel with my left hand and the shifter with my right.
Just a few seconds later, word came through comms. "CLEAR! MOVE OUT!"