I let the hot water of the shower pour down my face and hair. I tried to forget about all the bad memories I would have to give my best friend. Silent tears fell down my face, getting mixed with the water already streaming down my face.

A particularly painful memory started to resurface. Normally I can suppress it for a minute or two, so I quickly washed my hair and body, and managed to put my clothes on and get halfway into my room before it hit me.

Rifle shots. Men in camouflage hid in trees, waiting to ambush us. We know they're there, but keep moving forward. Our goal is in a building three miles away, and the less casualties the better. I have a M16A2 rifle in my hands, and two small pistols on my thighs. I can see the guns trained on us, and wait for the moment to fire.

The commander gives the signal and we train our guns on the hidden men and open fire. The noise is loud enough to blow someones eardrums, but we can't worry about that. I train my gun on a specific person, and fire five shots, all hitting their mark. Bodies fall all around, some from the trees, and some next to us.

I know what's going to happen next, but I can't ease the pain. I feel the shot. I feel the pain. I feel the hard dry dirt hit my face as I fall to the ground. I feel the touch of my comrades hand on my shoulder, then my neck, checking if I'm alive. I am, but just barely.

Then the worst part. I see him, my friend, get shot in the chest, and he falls down next to me. I can see the hole in his torso, and the blood coming from it.

I wake up to hear myself screaming. My clothes are soaked, because I didn't have time to dry my hair. My head hurts, but I manage to stand up, and make it to my counter. I splash some water on my face, and brush my hair into a bun.

I walk out of my room, in desperate need of food. I grabbed an apple for me and one for Nick. I first looked in the library, but he wasn't there. I searched the other two rooms I had besides mine, and couldn't find him. When I started to get concerned, I walked outside and found him on the front porch.

“Hey. Are you okay?” I asked, handing him the apple.

“Yeah. I guess.” He said, taking the apple but not eating it. He rolled it in his hands. “How do you deal with it? The pain, and seeing the suffering. It makes me feel like I'm going to explode.”

I sighed and sat down next to him. “I know its hard. It's like someone just threw a brick at you, and you're stuck to the ground. But you have to believe me. I never meant for you to see that. Not for a long time.”

I took a deep breath and stared out at the land in front of me. “One thing you have to understand is that I really have no idea what I'm doing. I crossed the barrier and all of this was suddenly thrust upon me. I got all the good and all the bad at once, and I don't want anyone else to have to go through that.”

As I looked ahead I saw a small dust cloud appear. “Go inside.” I said.

He looked at me quizzically. “Why?”

“Just do it okay? Please.” I said, looking straight into his eyes.

He searched my face. “Okay. Just, don't do anything stupid.” He said, glancing at the cloud slowly getting closer.

He went in and shut the door. I stood up and waited for the cloud to get closer. The army stopped in front of me, just before the steps. “We have orders to take you and the one known as Nick to the Keeper's Hall by any and all means necessary.”

I folded my hands across my chest. “I wish to know why he has summoned us.”

“We are not informed on why the Keeper does what he does. We have been ordered to bring you and Nick to the Keeper's Hall.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Just a moment while I get Nick.” I said, turning around and heading inside, not to get Nick but to hide him. But then I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“I suggest you wait outside Miss. The Keeper warned us about your antics and told us to make sure once you exited the house you were not to re-enter. Not even try and enter. I will have two of my men go and get Nick.”

“And if we refuse?” I said, turning around to face the man in white.

He pointed up. I slowly looked up and saw a weapons drone trained on me, and one on the house. “They aren't equipped with lethal weapons. Just ones that hurt. Really, really bad. Or so I've been told.” He had a slightly creepy look on his face.

I have him a haughty look and stood my ground while two soldiers marched past me and went inside the house. I scanned the faces of men in front of me and counted. There were 6 men outside and 2 inside. 8 men total. Several seconds later I heard a crash like a bookshelf falling. I turned around and tried to look inside.

“Nick?” I called. I heard a grunt and skin hitting skin, then a cry of pain.

“Nick!” I yelled, making a run for the house. I got to the door when I saw Nick towering over the two fallen men. He looked up at me. I smiled at him, but his eyes just got wide and his face became distorted with rage. I felt something cold hit my neck. My mouth filled with the taste of metal, and I lost control of my body.

My vision started to go dark. I saw Nick run towards me in slow motion as my legs gave out and I fell to the ground before blacking out.

Notes

Sorry it's short, and that I haven't updated in forever. My house flooded in May and we just got back in. Merry Christmas!!!!!