Chapter 2
Shamira’s heart felt like it was being squeezed. Tears of anger were blinked back while she locked her jaw, determined. Although the past year had softened her edgy and angry disposition caused by the pain of being an outcast, a pariah, and a handicapped girl with no social skills, times like this scared her. It made her struggle with being a friend to her team and a protector while fumbling to keep the part of her that was finally able to feel emotion for anyone intact. She didn’t want to lose the freedom she now allowed herself—the freedom to care. But she needed the fighter she held at bay—the part of her that had no mercy, no discernment as to who she would have to hurt in order to save the ones she loved. To keep that broken part of herself hidden just below the surface and allow her to not give into her fear that she may lose them all—the people that cared for her. But to allow her to think—think with her head and not with her anger.
Anthony pulled the car alongside Mitch, who was several feet ahead of his fallen motorcycle. His helmet had landed a distance away. The twitching of his leg back and forth before it suddenly dropped flat to the hard packed sand worried Shamira. Her penetrating sight studied Mitch’s face, beyond his skin, the muscle, and then skull to check for hemorrhaging. The skull was one of the few vulnerable spots on a Security Elite’s body, and Mitch’s was swung to the side at an odd angle.
Hedi pushed the car door open and stumbled over to Mitch, followed by Dion and the others. Shamira slowly got out of the car. She moved her inspection of Mitch’s body downward to his chest. Her tongue clicked against the root of her mouth while she made the mental inspections she was trained to make. Willing herself to remain emotionally detached, she approached the others. “He’s got a concussion, some broken fingers and bummed knee. Try to wake him.”
Valens reached into his pocket and stuffed a small vial under Mitch’s nose. Shamira crossed her arms while inspecting their surroundings. The tall volcano stood in front of them, black, solidified lava coated the sides of the peak. Blackened indentions in the red sand littered the distance lead to the Mons. Her inspection surveyed the surroundings and revealed no obvious clues as to who would attack them or why. She gulped back the bile at the memory of the landmines that had littered the ground, almost killing them on their last visit. Thankfully, most of the landmines appeared to be dead.
Anthony stood behind her. “We have to split up. Kurt’s still missing and so is Cal. Had to be some heavy-weaponed-up fools to attack the eight of us.”
Dion cracked his knuckles. “They’re not answering their com devices and everything here seems scrambled. No signals in or out.”
Shamira shook her head, angered. “Set-up. It’s a set-up. No one knew Cal was bringing us here.” Her hand flipped up in an angry wave. “No one. He only told me about us coming to the Mons when I walked him to his bike before we got in the car. The reason he brought us here instead of the other places most cadets were trained is still a question.”
Anthony wiped his hand down his face. “Could be part of our training.”
Dion snorted. “Naw, I talked to one of the older Elite officers, they said the final phase of training only involves research. Study of different terrain—using survival skills, things like that.”
Shamira turned toward them. “You’re right, Cal joked with me that it would be a cold night to sleep under the stars. Guess we were supposed to spend a couple of days here on nothing. No food, water, only our own survival skills.” A shiver tingled down her back. “But I just can’t shake the obvious. Something went really wrong.”
Valens dipped down on his knee, landing soft slaps to Mitch’s face. Mitch’s body jerked like he’d been hit by cold water. With a trembling pale hand, Mitch grasped Valens’ jacked. He let out a groan, then opened his mouth for the vial of medicine Valens tipped up to his lips. He coughed several times, before one last swallow and braced himself when Valens helped him stand.
Mitch let out a roar. His face twisted with pain. Blood flowed around his eye and down his cheek. “Screw waiting. We have to find Kurt and Cal. If those bastards stopped shooting at us, then they went after them.” His nose flared while he visibly struggled to stand straight.
Hedi reached in her backpack and pulled out her head covering that would protect her from laser shots. “Put on your gear, boys, our fearless leader has that look of ‘kill’ in her eyes.”
Shamira’s lips thinned, her back straightened and the numbness of the taste for revenge comforted her. “Right. Kill. We split up. Meet back here within the hour if you don’t find anything. They could be anywhere. Those guys didn’t look friendly. They don’t realize we don’t run and hide—we hunt.” She pointed in the direction beyond the side of the Mons. “I’ll take the back side, everyone spread out. The landmines surrounding this side appear detonated, but you never can be sure.” She sighed, “Just be careful.” She pulled her gun off her hip, temporarily missing some of her favorite weapons she’d used before she’d became a cadet. But instead she tightened her hand on the one weapon she knew would do the deed of bringing down their attackers if needed—her gun.
Valens put a hand on her shoulder. “Wait, I’ll go with you.”
Her eyes shuttered closed but for a moment. Guilt throbbed in her chest at putting her team in danger. For not reacting sooner, and for being too dependent on Valens’ quiet strength. “No, I got this. I need you to watch the others. Make sure they don’t do something stupid….please.” She forced a smile at him, hoping he would take the hint and back off.
Valens’ chin dipped, “Fine. See you in an hour.”