Base Alexandria

Chapter 20 12 Years ago

“Charlie, Sarah and Roger. They were all seventeen years old i was the youngest of course but i was just as good at them in training. Dad and some other high ranking officers came up with a test, a final stage of training. They figured if we could survive at least two nights in this jungle then we would be worthy to join the military early. They thought nothing was out here but rebels who most likely wouldn’t harm a bunch of kids so why not? We all volunteered to go because it seemed simple enough. Then of course if anything happened there would be a little camp nearby in the desert. 

“Well we’re on our last night you guys, anything important you want to say to the campfire? Sarah? Roger? Little mantha?”

“I told you to stop calling me that charlie.”

Charlie was like a big brother to me, he always looked out for me even though he didn’t need to and he was very charming. Him and Sarah were a thing and they loved each other so much. I wished I could have seen them actually get married like they always talked about.

“Oh come on Samantha, you know i’m just kidding, you’re a big kid like the rest of us.”

“She’s kind of wearing the big pants right now don’t you think charlie?”

Roger, he was always on my side whenever Charlie tried to tease me about being the young one, but sometimes i think Roger only came with us because we were his only friends. Even so he was very loyal one time another kid from class tried to bully me for being the general's daughter, Roger came from behind me so fast and just punched him so hard he knocked a tooth out. “No one messes with the best,” he said. 

“Looks like it’s three against one charlie.”

“You too sarah? You’re breaking my heart.”

We all laughed so hard that night.

“Seriously guys after this we’ll be cadets, it’s amazing isn’t it? And i wouldn’t have it any other way than with you guys.”

“Don’t get all emotional on us now, all mighty squad leader.”

That's when we heard something rustling in the trees.

“Did you guys hear that?”

“Come on charlie stop playing around. There’s nothing out here.”

“Sarah, I'm serious.”

“I hear it too, it’s coming from over there.”

Thankfully they didn’t send us out with nothing. We had pistols and grenades and they gave us walkies too, but that barely did any good. 

“Show yourself whoevers out there!”

“A rabbit? A f*****g rabbit.”

We were laughing so hard at first but then something pierced through rogers shoulder and dragged him back into the trees. We heard him screaming and whaling so hard before he finally stopped.

“Roger?! Roger?!?!”

“Charlie? I think-”

“Yea lets get out of here.”

“We can’t just leave Roger out here.” 

"Samantha, he's gone we have to go.”

The look on his face was a look I had never seen out him before, he had never faced defeat in training but that wasn’t training, something had taken Roger and killed him and it was going to kill us too. But it came back and dragged Sarah away next. I was for sure he would go after her but it was the same he was ushering for me to run in the west direction towards Alexandria and we both ran together but it wasn’t long before I heard his screams too. I was alone but I was able to at least radio it in.

“Command? There’s something out here chasing me!! It got my team they are all dead!!! I'm coming to base camp.”

Then I felt a really sharp pain in my leg, I don't think it registered with me because I was so scared and my adrenaline was running but I looked down and almost my whole leg was gone. I screamed so loud it was so much blood gushing from my body. I collapsed right there but i could hear that f*****g thing rustling again not attacking but playing with me it seemed. The pain was unbearable but if i was gonna die i was going to take this thing with me. So I took out a grenade from my pocket that I was playing with from the campfire. I felt myself getting ready to pass out but i hobbled to my feet and listened for what direction it might come from and as soon the rustling stopped i pulled the pin and at that moment it lunged for my arm with the grenade i could feel it’s tongue wrapped around my whole arm just before it bit down to take it off and just before the grenade exploded.

I remember laying there cold and shivering, I couldn't move anymore I felt defeated. i didn't think anyone was coming since i never heard a response from the radio but I remember thinking about my short life, my friends, my family, Kyle, who had just admitted to me that he had a crush on me a couple days earlier, and then i could see light a bright light was reaching out me i wasn’t sure if it was the sun or not but i could feel myself reaching for it back. 

“Briggs!! Briggs!! Where are you!?”

That light went away and I could see that the sun was coming up and i could hear people calling out my name along with my teams names and i don’t know how but somehow i was able to let out a yelp as loud as i could.

“General she’s here!! I found her!!”

“Everything is a bit blurry after that. I was in and out of consciousness for a while but at one point I remembered crying out for my friends but my mom confirmed they were dead. They found the top half of charlie's body hanging from a tree and everything but Sarah's head not too far off from the campsite and roger well….they found half of his arm somewhere towards the inner jungle but nothing else.”

“Wow, I'm sorry you had to go through that at such a young age.”

“I just….i just wish i could have protected them better.”

Mark scooted a little closer to me on the bed.

“I know there’s nothing that i can say that will change anything but i'm pretty sure your friends are looking down on you right now and they are probably proud of the great woman and fighter that you’ve become and you should be proud of yourself too hell i'm kind of glad i have a kick ass cousin that could probably kick my ass.”

We both laughed.

“Thanks Mark that means….a lot.”

“No problem Briggs. Well i'll let you get some sleep now.”

He walked out of the room and I found myself staring up at the ceiling.

“Where ever you guys are, i miss you...and i'm sorry i couldn’t do more to protect you.”