The Longing

Chapter 1

He glared at me.

I did the same, "Well excuse me for changing my schedule AND actually wanting to sleep."

He walked out of the room but of course, slammed it shut.

Is he on period?

I was currently guiding my team through training. More like warming them up, Derek and Tom were sparring really bad.

They didn't even last 10 minutes. The two are now panting hard, breathing through their wide open mouths, trying to suck as many air as they both could.

They all scrambled around and some even bumped into each other while going back which almost made me break into a laugh.

Now that everyone was busy with themselves, the duel continued while I asses their movements for a feedback later.

After their duel and some talks, I let them train on their own way and trained myself. All that goes in my head is that the better you are, the stronger you become.

You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.

Those words have been stuck on my mind as long as I can remember.

We trained for the whole day and when it was time to go, we got ready.

It is a search and rescue mission.

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After I spoke, they stood up and formed two lines close to the door, preparing to run out and finish the mission.

They told us to deploy at night but not immediately.

The doors opened when we were still above the ground.

I heard a few laughs and chuckles from others, making fun of his ridiculousness. Everyone knows he is afraid of heights.

Me and Derek like to tease each other, it's like our own personal happy pill.

I always start it but he always ends it.

Derek is one of my military friends. Well, my only best friend to be exact.

He has raven black hair that is styled with a undercut hairstyle and is brushed properly.

He has bright hazel eyes with a mix of brown in them which makes a smokey appearance when you look closely.

He has a 6'2 height which towers over my 5'9.

He has a tan skin and a perfect shaped jawline.

He's tall and buff, but not that kind of buff.

It fits him perfectly. Some girls find him hot.

Er.

While I, I find him as a grown up man with a brain of a 2 years old child.

When Derek came to our team, he was an idiot. He was new and scared and he had a lot to learn, he was too thin and short.

I decided to teach him some things because I want him to learn more and be stronger and more courageous, and look at him now.

Although I doubt he'll get rid of his fear of heights.

Those times and bondings we spent, I treasure them because in all my time in the military, he was the one who I can always talk to about things, that's why I like him.

He is like a brother to me. Sure he sucks in some ways but, I like that about him. It never seizes to amaze me and that way, I found the joy I lost the day I lo-

And down we go.

Seconds before landing, a gunshot was heard.

When we landed, we looked around, seeing nothing but darkness.

Good news is that no more bullet was fired nor was anyone hurt from it.

When we knew that there's no threat in the rooftop, we continued. Derek is last, as always.

After we were off, we became more alert than before. We headed down to the main lobby carefully and quietly using the emergency exit stairs.

When we reached the area, there's no sign of light anywhere. The light from the moon was illuminating some places but it was not enough.

The lobby is big, there's a reception desk at the center, it has a quartz countertop and black-colored body. 3 computers and some stuff are found on it.

I looked around the area. Where did the gunshot come from?

The walls are colored white, just basic walls with tiles making it look clean, minus the blood sprawled on it.

There's two paths, big ones, one on the right and the other is on the left. It looks like we are splitting up.

I looked around the area more, searching for any threats. Broken glasses are everywhere, even the doors are busted. I see at least, five broken glasses and 4 busted doors including the entrance, the two paths and a bathroom door.

Who breaks down a bathroom door? My consciousness inside me thought.

We checked all the bodies on the floor, none of us felt a beat. I checked one body by crouching and put my fingers on his neck to check for a pulse.

I sighed, no pulse. He don't look like he got shot. No bullet hole. Just...blood.

There is also at least 5-7 dead bodies in the main lobby.

Some precautions and I signaled them to go.

We went left and Bravo team went right.

We walked straight for at least 10 seconds then we saw a staircase. We put red flares in some areas we went.

We went down to the spiral staircase. It leads into a private corridor with a lot of rooms. There's a lot more dead bodies in here.

We passed something that seems to be an experiment lab, the glass is not shattered at least. I looked to my right to see another broken window. We kept going straight.

Before continuing, I signaled my team again to put a flare in front and back so that we know our way back and to illuminate the area. We went down to another stairs, which I assume leads to another hall.

There is also broken glasses that are shattered everywhere, sometimes making us flinch every time we step on it due to the noise it produces.

Talk about stealth mode.

When I heard a noise at the left side of the corridor, I immediately pointed my gun at it. But to my dismay, I found a rat.

We turn to our right and we found what seems to be a room which holds some kind of cage in the middle of it. I looked at the side of the door and read the word:

Sector 13 - Phase 2.

This room is different. From all the rooms we have passed, this is the only one that holds a huge cage and monitors beside it.

The cage is big. Big enough to hold at least 10 people in it.

It's giving me goosebumps.

I walked closer and closer, my gun was still in position and I was on high alert. I wanted to see why they have this cage here. And when I was so close to it, my radio beeped.

Almost.