Parallel Crossroads

Chapter Three

(Eden's POV)

    It wasn't ten minutes before I started sweating. A massive tactical vest, two sweaters, I wasn't even sure how many armored pairs of pants I was wearing. Either way, it was affecting the entire team.

    "How come we don't just attack the Johnsons?" muttered the Team Leader who had his head down to hide the sweat practically gushing from him, "It'd be easier and we wouldn't have to patrol the goddamn river every day!"

    "And the Johnsons don't even patrol the river," responded one of his teammates, "I doubt they'd notice if we snuck across right now and massacred them all, they're lousy fighters-"

    "We don't attack because Lord Cortes doesn't want us to attack," they straightened once I began to speak, "We're here to walk the length of the border, guard it, then report back to camp once the next patrol comes along to relieve us." 

    "Yes, Ms. Cortes," I noticed their pace quicken, their eyes darting nervously to me than the trail. I remained in front, seeing how I was the highest rank in the team and also the one who gets to choose what happens when we get to the river. 

    Bushes rustled and the smarter squirrels sprinted for cover. I made my way through the brush with ease, quietly following the well-worn path. Communication is key to patrols, so I had developed a system that allowed a team to communicate without speaking. 

    Planted in the hand, flexing certain muscles would emit specific waves to the team's hands. It felt like a small vibration in patterns, each pattern is a command that the highest rank decided and manually commanded. 

    I gently ordered the team to wait behind me when we approached the water, the roaring river had grown almost three feet from the last time I had patrolled. The ice from the upper parts of the mountain had melted. I noted that down in case of increased risks of mudslides. 

    "There's a team of Johnsons hovering around the South," reported the Team Leader, "There's a teenager in their party-she hardly looks trained." 

    "Too bad," rolling my eyes, I put away the report and made my way South, "Stay behind me, let's see if we can get them to back off without having to kill them."

    The soldiers followed my orders to the dot, staying almost twenty feet behind me in the bushes while I beelined to the patrol who were indeed loitering near the border. 

    "HEY!" I spotted the teenager immediately. 

    She was blonde, maybe 5'7 and lean. She looked like she belonged to a cushy mansion in the city instead of the violent gangs in the forest. She was well-dressed for a soldier as well, her gear was more modern. At the sound of my voice, I watched her spin on her heel and trip on the mud and rocks. 

    Despite her struggles, she was quickly submerged in the river. I followed her team downstream, monitoring my side of the river in case she decided to pop up on my side. 

    Unluckily, her blond hair stuck out from under her helmet like a beacon. As she pulled herself up on the beach, she discarded her water-filled head covering and drew her gun-aiming it between my eyes. 

    Considering my condition, I figured at taking the bullet would be too much damage for one day. Removing my hand from the holster on my belt, I mocked surrender. I looked her up and down again, her sopping uniform would do little to protect her if I decided to attack. But if she managed to throw me into the river- I would most certainly drown. 

    "...I apologize for this intrusion, it was a mistake as you know and I'll return to my side immediately," she said, "I'll let you escort me to the nearest bridge if that's needed, but I want you my soldiers aren't far behind and they will open fire if you dare touch me." 

    Who does she think she is? I chuckled, keeping my hands raised. my eyes continued to wander, taking in every weakness she had on her. her stance was balanced but the mud would make it difficult to maintain that balance. Her hair was wet and plastered all over her face, bothersome, and a definite distraction. And her hands. Shaking and pale, almost blue. I doubt she could feel her fingertips. And a special pin on her chest. It gleamed dutifully, telling me exactly who the girl was. 

    "I don't think you're in the position to be threatening me, Ms. Johnson," I called out, taking a calm but rather slow step forward. Then another. "Why is someone like you doing on a patrol?" 

    "What do you mean?" she answered, keeping the barrel as still as she could, "I'm simply taking a walk-those are my guards." 

    "The Johnsons know the Cortes would kill them the moment they see each other- so why on Earth would the heir to Johnsons be walking around where they're bound to see a Cortes Patrol?" I reasoned, "Is it because of a certain rite of passage, has someone just turned 18?"

    "That's none of your concern!" she growled. 

    I remained silent as I took yet another step forward. The barrel grew closer and closer until it was a shot impossible to miss and closer still. Closer and closer until I felt cold metal press against my forehead. 

    "My soldiers are less than 15 yards behind me in the woods," I informed her, "They're armed, and your soldiers aren't even at this part of the river yet. Who do you think will win if you pull the trigger and begin a gunfight? How would it look, a Johnson coming to the Cortes side of the river and shooting one of the Cortes?" 

    "The truth will out, nobody will blame me for self-defense!" she snarled, replacing her fear with a mask of anger, "How would it look if a Cortes soldier was seen assaulting a Johnson?" 

    "Nobody will see that, not if you pull the trigger," I smiled at her, messaging my soldiers my plan which was already perfected, "It won't bother Lord Cortes if one person dies, so go on." 

    "What?"

    "Pull the trigger."

    "Are you suicidal or something? What the hell-" 

    "Pull the f*****g trigger," I roared, pushing up into her. 

    That was the final push she needed. Crying out, I watched her close her eyes and turn away, finger hesitating only for a moment, before pulling the trigger.