by J. Dursky
Chapter 9
With a semi-automatic weapon pointed at my chest, I see Ayla. There is a noise coming from the man's radio. It sounds like half voices, half static. I am unable to make out what is said. It must have been directed to him because he answers the call.
“Affirmative, one Fallen, one unconfirmed.”
Ayla shifts her attention away from me and to the man. I get a sick feeling in my stomach. I need to get Ayla's attention back so he does not kill her. Would he kill her? Would he kill me?
Before I can do anything Ayla charges the man, screaming. It happens like Deja vu. Only this time is from a different point of view. It's like she doesn't know he is some sort of military. It's like she does not see his gun. I step forward to do something, I don't have time to think it through. He pulls the rifle up to his shoulder and with no verbal warning, he fires.
I see Ayla's head go back, her scream is silenced, and her body falls limp to the pavement. I can't believe what I just saw. My mind goes blank. I don't know what to do. I look at Ayla's body on the ground. I feel overwhelmed with fear, sadness, and rage. I can tell I am going to explode. Still looking at Ayla, I notice the man turn his gun to me. I cannot hold it in, I am panicking. I scream. "Ayla!" I charge the man without thinking. It seems like he doesn't notice me moving towards him. I feel like I'm moving in slow motion, just like the near car accident yesterday.
I hear a squeal, it sounds like feedback through an amplifier. It is coming from his radio. It sounds like it is malfunctioning. He covers his right ear and turns his head as if it is extremely painful being that close. I take two more steps and swing my fist at him. I don't know where he is vulnerable with all of his armor and pads so I want to hit him somewhere it still has a chance of hurting him.
When I was a kid my dad showed me a weak spot on all humans, the Xiphoid Process. He explained to me it is a place that even a small boy could hit a grown man to win a fight. It is a small, triangular shaped piece of cartilage that is located right at the intersection of your Sternum and Ribcage. Even pressing on it lightly is painful. If it breaks it has the ability to puncture or lacerate the diaphragm and/or the liver. This can cause lethal hemorrhaging and instantly stop anyone in their tracks. He instructed me to only use this as a last resort in a fight or if I felt my life was being threatened.
I bend my knees, throw my body weight forward, drop my torso low enough to be almost even with his chest, and strike. The blow hits him directly where I aim. The man lets out a noise, similar to the sound most humans make while throwing up. I can tell it knocks the wind out of him. He groans and stumbles back, but his upper body moves back faster than his legs. He falls to the ground. With the rage and adrenaline running through me, I feel stronger than usual. The man I punched is larger than I am; he is also carrying probably 40 pounds worth of equipment. Hitting him felt good, but only for a second.
I want to hit him again. I don't want to stop hitting him; he needs to be punished for what he has done. I don't know what was wrong with Ayla, but with all the equipment and training he has, he should have been able to defend himself without just shooting her. He didn't need to kill her. She is just a girl. Where did he come from? He is too big to be the man I saw from the tree. What happened to Ayla when that person saw her in the depot station? I’m missing something.
I step towards the man to hit him again. I’m still pumped full of adrenaline. He is no longer groaning. He is not moving, not even his chest. He looks unconscious. Thoughts run through my head of the possibility that I killed him. That isn't possible, I can’t hit hard enough to kill a man. Let alone with a Kevlar vest and only one punch. I look back at Ayla. She lies completely motionless on the ground. I hear the man's radio go off.
This time I understand what is said. "Ranger Krier, Report. Did you find the target?"
I walk over to listen closer. "Ranger Krier, do you have a copy? We are sending backup to your location."
I see a rectangular patch sewn on his vest with dark green letters, “Krier.” They were trying to communicate with him. Not more than a few seconds later I hear what sound like footsteps on the ground. Someone is coming... It sounds like a lot of them.
I don't know why the thought crosses my mind, but I grab his radio off of him. I turn it off, I may need this later and don't want to waste the battery. I hear the boots against the concrete path getting closer. If they see me I assume they will they kill me. Or maybe capture me. I don't want to stay to find out. On the other hand I don't want to leave Ayla. I can run back to the car and get out of here. I can't. I need answers, and I can't leave Ayla here. I run towards them, towards the bridge, I can hide under it.
The steel beams that hold the bridge in place are rusty. Remnants of red paint still left in a couple places on the rails. The earth underneath the bridge is dirt. It feels cold against my body. Plants only grow where they can get sunlight. My best bet is to get under there, crawl back as close to the path as I can to get completely out of sight. I hope. When I make it into the best location and get into the most comfortable position I can, I hear footsteps hit the bridge. They stomp across and I hear the steps sound less like rhythm and more like popcorn popping. They must see the bodies. I don't bother trying to get a better look. It isn't worth getting caught.
I hear them reach the path and the stomping stops.
I hear one say, "Approach with caution, if they have turned, they are extremely dangerous and you are authorized to use deadly force."
A man replies, his voice muffled by a facemask. ”No symptoms General. One deceased, one unconscious."
The clear voice speaks again, "I'm not taking any more chances, get this body back to the base and burn it. And get that body to the infirmary but strap it down. If it wakes up as one of those things, I want Dr. McNeal to examine it."