Author's Note: This is a shorter chapter. I'm attempting to change my writing style a bit. Add in a bit more detail as well as slow down the story. Let me know what you think!

Chapter Eleven

A soldier is laying down atop a three story building made of stone. His breathing is slowed to an almost stop as he stares down the scope of his sniper rifle. His light brown camouflage uniform helps him blend into to the surrounding scenery as he searches for his next target. I am standing directly behind him with a grin plastered across my face. I pull out my knife slice the carotid artery on his neck and watch as the life slowly leaves him. I pull out my radio and begin speaking into it.

“All clear.” This is all I need to say. The team of soldiers I have spent the last year with now rush into the surrounding area, making their way towards a known enemy base. Our group is always given these suicidal missions. I am honestly beginning to think that we are meant to die here, thousands of miles from anywhere of importance.

I rush down the building to join up with the rest of my fellow soldiers as we make our way into the compound. A firefight is approaching and all the soldiers know it. Each one is holding their AK-47 with a tightly clenched hands as we continue moving forward carefully. Building to building we make our way forward, but have yet to run into any other enemies. Just as we are about to reach the entrance of the base a lone man walks out of the front. He is wearing clothes similar to the ones of the soldier I just killed, however something feels off. As I hide behind cover with two other soldiers I catch a glimpse of the man’s eyes. They are glowing red. They are shining in the same way the rocks from the cavern shone, with a radiance that seemed almost otherworldly.

“Retreat, get the hell away from that man!” I yell this out, but I was a second too late. The man disappears in a cloud of red smoke and appears directly behind the two soldiers that were taking cover behind a car in front of me. The man’s arms are lodged inside of their heads and the next second he disappears again. The two men are now left with two holes in their heads the size of the man’s forearms. The red-eyed man appears once more in front of the entrance to the base while all of us begin retreating to a safe distance. For some reason the man is not giving chase.

We rush back out to the outskirts of the small town we were in with the entire group in disarray.

“What in the holy fuck was that thing?” A gravelly voice brings all the soldiers back to reality. The man that just spoke is Frederick, but everyone in the group calls him the holy F. Mainly because of his extreme religious views. He obviously only touts his religiosity when we all are not in a life or death situation. I find him entertaining, however. His rough features and stubble that covers his face make him the stereotypical soldier.

“I don’t know, but we need to regroup and figure out a different plan of attack.’ This time a high pitched voice entered the fray and every time it has in the past year, everyone pays attention. Hayley the commanding officer, is a short woman with even shorter dark brown hair. The best way to describe her would be beautiful, but I prefer regarding her as hot as fuck. Everything about her is perfect, but her short stature and great looks don’t cause her to lose any respect or authority over the other soldiers. She has proven herself a better soldier than everyone here on multiple occasions.

“We can’t fight that thing, it killed Rick and Peter instantly. We should call this mission off until we can get backup from nearby outposts.” She is now looking at every one of us, waiting to see if anyone disagrees with her. None of us do and with that we begin making our way back to the camp we have set up a few miles out.

The atmosphere within the camp is stifling. Everyone is in mourning. Death is naturally an expected part of being a soldier, but for most it is never an easy one to come to terms with. We all sit around a poorly made fire eating the rations we had prepared for the day. I have found that remaining silent is the best way for me to fit in with this group and is what I have been doing. I have become the group’s assassin and translator. I take out single targets that may be in difficult to reach areas. My grasp on the Pashto language has also grown tremendously in the last year. I can hold conversations with citizens and if the situation requires it, enemy soldiers. This has also made me the one who interrogates any prisoners of war we may capture during our missions. It’s a job I can do with relative ease while using telepathy.

“I know it’s been a rough day for all of you, everyone should get some well-deserved rest. We will be remaining here until I hear about our next course of action.” Hayley speaks out in a calm voice addressing all of us who are sitting around the fire. There are seven of us in total. It was fifteen a year ago and nine earlier on today. The group continues to grow smaller and smaller and soon we will either be assigned new members or each one of us will be reassigned to a new team. Everyone here realizes that, but it is a reality that not any of them want to face. As the night drags on more and more people leave to go to sleep until only Hayley and I remain.

“I heard you scream for retreat before that monster began attacking, do you know what it is?” Hayley is now staring intently in my direction with her large brown eyes. They are alluring and also a dangerous weapon in her hands.

“No, I only caught a glimpse of its eyes. They were completely red. I only had a feeling that whatever that thing was it wasn’t normal.” I give this reply knowing full well she will not be happy with it.

“I find it hard to believe you. I’ve been watching you this past year and something about you seems different, Jim. You were never this quiet and I don’t recall you being able to speak Pashto at all.” She is now looking at me with a sense of nervousness in her eyes. She has never been good at hiding her emotions.

“I never had a reason to speak it until recently. I also have been a little homesick recently, which may be why I seem so distant and quiet. I’m sorry if I worried you.” I give her another answer that I make up off the top of my head.

She lets out a sigh and begins staring at the ground. “Were all homesick Jim, it’s been years since any of us have been able to go home. Just remember that if you ever need someone to talk to I’ll always be here.”

“I appreciate it Hayley.” I now begin to stand up and head towards my sleeping bag. “Make sure you get some sleep tonight, we don’t know what tomorrow will have in store for us.”

“Good night Jim.” She just gives a soft reply and continues to stare into the slowly dying flames. I walk away leaving her sitting at the fire. She hunches over and begins crying after I leave. Her lonely figure slowly being engulfed in the darkness of the night.