Base Alexandria

Chapter 14 We're Here

We finally made it. I was so tired from carrying all of our equipment and Mark. I was so tired I hadn't even realized Mark had already passed out from the amount of blood he was losing from his leg. When we reached the cool shade I was able to do some sort of patch work but it wasn’t the best. I was losing consciousness fast so I wasn't able to do my best but good enough before I passed out. 

All I could think was how screwed we were. No one knew where we were and Mark's dad didn’t even know we’d be coming. Then not to mention if a predator  were to smell the blood and sniff us out. Nothing seemed to be going exactly right as far as getting to the jungle but even with all that all i could say was we tried.

“Hey. Are you awake?” 

I heard someone's voice, it was a woman’s voice. Concerned but calm. I opened my eyes to see a lady with short brunette hair. 

“Who...who are you?”

She smiled at me and felt on my forehead.

“My name is Madison and before you ask, you’re here in the rebel base. A patrol squad was nearby when they heard a loud bang and lucky for you they decided to check it out.”

“Mark is he-”

“Mark is fine unfortunately he’ll probably be getting chewed out by my husband when he wakes up, that boy never listens. Can you sit up?”

I used my strength to raise up just a little and she handed me a cup of water, and I can say that water was so refreshing it was like taking a walk in heaven. I basically gulped the whole cup down.

“Slow down girly, water is good for you but not if you drink too much too fast. What’s your name?”

“Samantha, Samantha Briggs, well Tank now according to marriage laws.”

“Briggs, you can’t be general Briggs daughter can you?

“Yea, that’s me.” 

She looked towards a window and nodded her head, but I couldn't see anyone on the other side of it. 

“If you don’t mind, I kind of have to handcuff you.”

“What the hell for?”

“Safety reasons, i mean there are some people here who recognized you when they brought you in and they don’t think you’re here to help. They don’t even think the general himself is a good man.”

“Do you know my father personally?”

“No, but-”

“Then how would you, or anybody else know his intentions?”

I raised my wrists up to her so she could cuff them. She grinned as if she was impressed but nonetheless she cuffed me. When she was done a tall man walked through the door. Maybe a little taller than my dad, scar on his right eye, almost white hair, not super buffed out but buff enough. He almost reminds me of my dad.

“Did he wake up yet?”

He only nodded his head, but she sighed.

“Did you go easy on him?”

“I said what i had to say to him.”

“Well go easy on her, she’s not your kid.”

She sat the key to cuffs down and walked out the door not even looking back at me. Although I kept my eyes on him the whole time. He pulled up the chair that sat on the wall and sat in front of me looking me over up and down.

“So my baby brother and Amanda really had a kid. I can see the family resemblance.”

“You must be Frank, can’t exactly shake your hand since your wife decided to cuff me. Not that i’d really want to anyway.”

He let out a intrigued laugh. He continued looking me over as if something was wrong with me. 

“Can i help you find something?”

He smiled and stood up and started waving a lighter around.

“Some years back a little girl about twelve or thirteen years old, and her friends were out here in the jungle camping around doing some training and on their last day here something attacked them. It killed her friends first then it turned to her, took one of her legs then her arm but not before that little girl pulled a pin for a grenade and blew that thing to pieces. It baffled me because at first i thought, who in there right mind would be f*****g stupid enough to send a thirteen year old and a three other untrained kids into the jungle alone with no real weapons? Then again i tell myself those kids must have really been shitty trainees.”

Before I knew it I was pinning him against the wall with the metal arm that replaced the one I lost and then he did something weird with the lighter. He held to my arm and the synthetic skin started to melt but it didn’t hurt it was like the metal shielded itself. At the same time I hadn't realized that there were a couple guards and his wife surrounding us all with guns pointed at my head.

“Lower your guns boys, looks like might just might be ok.”

He held out his hand for a handshake.

“Frank Briggs, nice to meet you.”

I only stared at him and his guards around me.

“Can somebody get these cuffs off me please?”

His wife finally took them off but I didn't shake his hand and I wasn't going to not after what he said about my friends.

“I want to see Mark, please.”

She smiled and ushered for me to follow. I looked back at Frank and before we disappeared behind the door he did a weird hand gesture. A salute but with two fingers and he was very nonchalant.

We walked for a bit before she finally broke the silence. 

“Sorry about my husband, I promise he means no harm. He can be a bit overzealous with his tactics sometimes.”

I still didn’t say anything back i wasn’t sure if me being pregnant added on to me being pissed off or not. We finally walked into another room where Mark was waiting with his arms crossed. He tried to jump out of bed at the sight of me but a guard and a doctor stopped him.

“Samantha! Am i f*****g glad to see you.”

“Language Mark.”

“He’s more like his father than he realizes.”

“Stop comparing me to him mom, i will never be anything like him.”

“Lieutenant please, your son needs to rest or he’ll open up these wounds.”

“It’s ok Betty, i’m sure he’ll get plenty of rest later. When guys are done talking, I'll be outside.”

The three of them left and we were alone. I still remembered what he said before we got attacked by those things. The words were still fresh in my head and I was uncertain if he had wished death on me or not.

“Look Samantha, i’m sorry about what i said i did-”

“It’s fine Mark, it’s not the first time anyone has told me they hate me.”

“No it’s not ok, and you were right.”

He laid back against the bed.

“I’m the one who's the scared asshole. I could have gotten us killed and it’s my own fault I'm like this. Please accept my apology.”