Project 24
Chapter 1
Rescue Mission
Gunshots, there’s a lot of them everywhere. The air is filled with the hotness of summer. But there’s something else. There are a lot of footsteps that lingered around the floor.
What day was it? My head hurts, really bad. My eyes are heavy; I can’t even open them. Why is it like this? Wait a minute; let’s trace back what has happened. My high school life was over. I was heartbroken that’s why I was so happy that I already graduated. So what’s next? Yeah right, we were about to go to church and buy ice cream for later. But why am I sleeping? Guns, I held a gun, why?
Suddenly a huge sound of bazooka shot next to her. Aimy immediately stood with her eyes wide open. Her hands were shivering, her hair, totally ruined, she observed the surroundings and was totally shocked. Everything’s broken, buildings were ground zero, and the air was filled with smoke from different directions. Gunshots here, explosions there, a dead body in front of her, a large scale of rock behind her, this is a warzone!
Speechless she stood, tears drop on her eyes, she saw a rifle in front of her and slowly moved forward to grab it. Another boy came running while shooting her. She was shocked and immediately moved away from the gun. But the boy didn’t stop shooting. Aimy got shot on her left arm as she ran towards the rifle and ended behind the rock. Aimy observed herself, she stared at her bleeding arm and flashback of her yesterday was seen on her memory. “Blood, blood, I was shot with a sniper yesterday” she whispered.
“Get out of there and face me! Let’s finish this!” the boy shouted. “Did I even start it? What is he talking about?” Aimy told herself as she grabbed a small rock and threw on the opposite direction. The boy immediately pointed where the rock landed and showered the spot with bullets.
Aimy got out from the rock and pulled the trigger as she aimed at the boy. Continuous gunshots were fired; both the boy and Aimy’s spot were filled with blood. The boy laid down on the ground as Aimy walked slowly towards him with her bloody arm. She was still shaking; she slowly took the boy’s rifle and closed his eyes. “I’m sorry, you wanted me dead, I was just protecting myself.” She immediately ran towards the woods as she heard footsteps coming towards her.
In the first place, why was I here? This is a warzone! No, no, this can’t be. I killed him? No, no! Oh, this can’t be! Why is this happening? Is this just a dream? No, this is real. My arm, though bullets did not enter my body, they left a big scratch and it hurts.
Flashes of yesterday started flowing on her head; I also killed a man yesterday, didn’t I?
A stem cracked on her west. She immediately pointed the rifle towards that direction but a tall shadow moved from behind. It was too fast, the moment she turned her head, the man was already on his move. He was already pointing his rifle towards Aimy, having the red mark on Aimy’s chest. It was too late, she can’t dodge that. She can’t even move to the ground or even wave her rifle to the man’s direction to counter his attack.
Is this where it all ends? A blurry beginning about my yesterday and a fatal death from someone I don’t know. No, I don’t want to die yet, not now!
Suddenly a gunshot came from the west side and hit the man. The man went down and Aimy immediately held tight on her rifle and pointed the gun to where the shot came from. She saw a boy about the same age as her; he was kneeling on the ground, pointing a gun towards her direction. He was wearing a navy blue uniform with bulletproof vest on his chest. His hair was straight, skin was white, and he was wearing yellow glasses.
“Put the gun down sweetheart.” He said.
“Sweetheart? What are you talking about? Why do people keep on saying strange things?!” Aimy uttered with trembling voice while still aiming on her target.
“Okay,” he said, as he moved his hands up and put his rifle down, “I’m not the enemy here, I’m here for your rescue, so stop pointing that gun.”
“How am I supposed to know you’re not an enemy? Every man that I saw today tried to kill me!”
“Well, am I trying to kill you right now?”
“You were pointing your gun at me awhile ago!”
“I was aiming at the one behind you.”
“How am I supposed to believe that? Maybe you just slipped your target and hit him.”
“Whaaaat?! I’m a good shooter sweetheart, so stop mumbling…”
“And stop calling me sweetheart or I’ll shoot you!”
“As if you can, you can’t even point the rifle straight to me.”
Aimy observed her hands, yes, it was still shaking, the moment she woke up awhile ago, her hands did not stop shivering. She was just lucky to hit the boy awhile ago because she was using a rifle.
“What makes you think I won’t shoot you?” Aimy asked with her voice raised.
“Well, because you don’t seem to be a kil~” suddenly Aimy pulled the trigger as she aimed on the ground beside the boy.
“A killer?” Aimy wanted confirmation.
“What did you do that for?” the boy asked with panic on his face as he stood from his position.
“I killed a man yesterday, and a boy awhile ago, what makes you think I won’t kill you?”
The boy slowly walked towards her, “don’t come near me!” she shouted. But he seemed not listening to her. “I will shoot you if you don’t stop!” The boy stopped as he was about one step before the tip of the rifle. Aimy shivered more as she was forming her tears on her eyelids.
Suddenly the boy swiftly grabbed her hands and the riffle. He pulled her to the ground and held her to his chest. He moved her facing the east direction and aimed for target. He pulled the trigger of the rifle and shot another man. He felt Aimy’s whole body shiver with fear. He pulled the rifle from Aimy’s arms and placed it on the ground. He pulled Aimy onto his chest and wrapped her with his arms.
Aimy, still left speechless, was stunned about how things were swiftly happening. She killed a man yesterday and a boy awhile ago, a boy who called her sweetheart killed a man behind her, and protected her from another one who wanted to kill her, and now, he hugged her. Who wouldn’t have gone insane with all of these?
“You won’t shoot me, because I wasn’t trying to kill you. If you’re a killer, you wouldn’t close your eyes the moment I pulled the trigger on that man. I saw you closed them and opened for confirmation that he was dead. You’re not a killer, you’re a protector.” The boy whispered as he slowly moved away.
“I’m Earl, Agent 02. What’s your name?”
But Aimy stared at him without a word. A van drove behind him; two more boys went out armed and secured the perimeter. “Let’s go Earl.”
They all went inside the armored van and fled from the chaotic scene.
The two other boys put off their helmets, one of them gave Aimy bottled water. “I’m Jeric, this one is Dino. And perhaps, you already know the name of your savior, Earl.”
“Savior?” Aimy mumbled.
“Yes, savior, he was the one assigned at that area to rescue you.” Dino butted at their conversation.
Aimy stared at Earl with curious eyes. “What are you staring at?” Earl asked with sarcasm towards Aimy, “She’s always like that!”
“She had a trauma Earl. Be patien~” Jeric explain but Aimy spoke with a soft voice, “he called me sweetheart.”
A sudden change of aura, the van was filled with silence, and then a quick change of atmosphere, Jeric and Dino burst into laughter. “Hahaha!! You called her sweetheart? You’re joking right?” Dino exclaimed.
“Well, uh…” Earl couldn’t explain. “You really are a playboy, are you?” Jeric stated as he was still laughing.
“Look guys, she didn’t even answer my question when I asked her name!”
Aimy stared at her bottle of water and whispered, “Aimy.”
“Uh, what?” Dino inquired. “Wait, she was saying something.” He added.
“Aimy…” she uttered.
“Aimy? Is that your name?” Earl asked.
Aimy stared at Earl again, “she’s doing that scary stare at me again!” Earl exclaimed. Aimy smiled at him which made Earl panic and he stood up. Unfortunately, he forgot that they were on a van which made him bump his head and immediately fall onto his sit again.
“Did you see that? She smiled at me!” Earl exclaimed as he held his aching head.
“Thank you,” Aimy bowed her head and straightened her voice, “I’m sorry if I didn’t believe you at first. It’s just that, people were having me as their target, I don’t know why. My hands won’t stop shivering.” She added.
She sighed a little as the boys gathered around her. “My name is Aimy, a newly high school graduate. Thank you for your rescue, would you like to explain to me what’s really happening? I would like to understand how and why these things are happening. And where are we going?”
“We’re heading to our next rescue mission. We still need to rescue another one. For the meantime, please stay here inside this van, you will be safe here.” Jeric explained.
“Oh, and don’t worry, we will be taking Earl with us, so you don’t have to worry about some stranger calling you as sweetheart.” Dino kidded. “Shut up Dino!” Earl exclaimed as Jeric and Dino laughed.
The driver of the van pressed the breaks, “we’re here” he said. “It’s show time.” Earl said. The trio grabbed their riffles and opened the van’s doors. Smoke started to enter the van. Aimy, a bit stunned by the white light gathered by the sun. The aura’s still the same, from where she came from and here.
This is where she will live a new life, wherein a lot of questions needed to be answered. At least she knew she’s not alone.
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