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The blades started to whirl, that slow whoosh turning to a whomp-whomp-whomp that increased with each beat of my heart.The wind tugged at me.
Patrick yelled something.
I remained focused on the infected in front of me and hoped that the soldiers on the other side were doing the same.
Hands circled my waist, and I was lifted and turned in one smooth move.Molev shoved me into the aircraft and then was gone, sprinting into the mass of infected just outside our protective circle.Heart in my throat, I watched him behead the infected while the rest continued to fire.I thought I saw Molev jerk, but I couldn’t be sure.
“Roni, get in!”he yelled.
She pivoted and leapt in beside me, taking a position near the door.As soon as she had, she yelled, “Cover them,” and started shooting.
I did the same.Another soldier joined me, covering the others.Another joined us.Then another.
Everything was happening in seconds, yet nothing seemed to move fast enough.One of the soldiers fell to an infected on my side, and Molev roared on the other.The pilot yelled something I couldn’t hear, and a moment later we jerked.The helicopter started to lift.
I held on and continued to shoot, ignoring the fear that we were leaving Molev behind.
The helicopter jolted, listing to one side before stabilizing.
I glanced over to see Molev squatting down with Tamra in his arms.He was pulling at her clothes, trying to take the riot gear off of her.She opened her eyes and set her palm on his cheek.Her lips moved, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying.
He stopped trying to take her jacket off and cupped the back of her head to bring his forehead to hers.After a moment, he helped her sit up, facing out of the door.He looked at Patrick and for the first time, I could see the raw emotion in his eyes.
Anger.
So much anger.
When he stood and stepped back from Tamra, he held his hand out to me.
I understood what he wanted, but I didn’t hand him my sidearm.I couldn’t.Instead, I lifted my hand, ready to pull the trigger myself.Sid beat me to it.
Tamra toppled forward, falling from view as the helicopter raced forward through the night.
I settled in for the transport and focused on the moment rather than the last fifteen minutes.Molev sat next to me, his shoulder brushing against mine, and I met Sid’s gaze.He looked tired as he gave me a single nod.I returned the gesture and gazed out at the darkness, not letting anything fill my mind.
No regret.No sorrow.I allowed nothing in.
When Sid and Roland began checking weapons, I forced myself to do the same, even though I knew the journey to Irwin would take hours.
Molev’s hand slipped from his leg to lightly rest on my thigh.I glanced up at him and saw his head tipped back and his eyes closed.It was like we were back in the tank.He wasn’t sleeping but shutting down and assessing.I wasn’t so sure we humans were proving worthy of saving.How many times had he told Patrick to call for the airlift?How many times had he warned that we’d lose lives?
Without wanting to, I let my gaze sweep over the helicopter’s occupants.Six of my squad remained, along with Patrick and seven of the base personnel.We’d lost so many tonight, and why?Because we couldn’t trust what was new and different.
I tipped my head back and set my hand over Molev’s.It wasn’t comfort; it was camaraderie.Sacrifice for salvation.We were both in it so deep we’d drown in it.We knew it.Fighting it after embracing it would only change the focus from the sacrifice to the struggle.
So I maintained focus.
Zion and every other person on the planet were praying for a miracle.A miracle that was sitting beside me, hopefully.
Someone yelled something, and I opened my eyes to see the pilot motioning to Patrick, who was putting on a headset.They spoke for a moment, and then the helicopter veered to the left.Molev’s hand tightened on my leg, and I realized this was probably his first time in the air.I patted his hand, and he turned his head to look at me in the dim light.
Our altitude dropped drastically.
His hand turned and clasped mine.I didn’t mind since I wasn’t a fan of the sudden fall, either.
The cabin began to brighten, and I realized we weren’t crashing but landing.I looked at the base members as they got into position, weapons ready.My squad copied their moves.I stayed right where I was with Molev as we touched down.
The engine immediately shut down, and the doors opened.A bevy of activity around the nearby building had us all on high alert, but the people that came running our way moved with the fluidity of the living.
