It could be said that things didn't go exactly as planned.
"Oh my god.” Stryker breathed, running a hand through his hair, eyes wide as he stared at the burning mansion, the oncenotburning mansion that the dogs had guided them to.
“That isn’t…oh god. I knew it. I knew it, god, I knew it…”
“It was an accident.” Octavia, who had prayed to come along with the excuse of keeping an eye on Stryker, whispered “they were supposed to get out, theydidget out but then-“
“They aredead.”I snapped, the fear that had been climbing up my throat exploding from my mouth in a burst of uncharacteristic fury,jaw locked, hands clenching and unclenching into fists.
“They aredead, you absolute fucking moron.Accident my ass-" my voice climbed an octave with every word.
Theo put a hand on my arm. He was still looking at Stryker, who was standing with a bloodhound by his feet and had full body shakes wracking his frame; I looked at him, he squeezed my arm but didn’t speak to me. Somehow, the touch aided in grounding me.
“Hotshot?” He asked tentatively.
“I’m okay.” Stryker whispered.
“What happened?”
Me and Theo hadn't arrived straight away. We’d been told to hang back, but when the rest of the group had been gone anhour longer than expected I had started to get anxious so we’d left and tracked them down.
“They couldn’t…the dogs…and- and …we went in to save them and…and it exploded.”
“How are you…?”
Stryker’s hand tightened around Honey’s collar “I got out before it exploded.”
“What about Jack?” I asked urgently, suddenly noticing his absence “is he-“
“Fine.” Stryker swallowed hard “he left to give the families their kids back. They- they were alright, mostly. Two of them had been beaten but- but they were okay.” His voice sounded strained.
I nodded once.
“They’re dead.” Stryker blinked twice.
“How stupid can you be?” Theo snapped eventually, turning to Octavia “what- what the hell did you do, huh? Set the place on fire forwhat?”
I was asking myself the same thing.
“Nick suggested it.” Octavia said weakly “to burn the place and burn the men inside. He said he’d make sure everyone got out and sent me to do it-“
“Nick.” Stryker laughed, but it wasn’t a nice laugh at all “he made sure he announced that the house was gonna go up in flames and ran. We got outside and realised that the dogs weren’t and the house was already in flames. Me and Andy went inside to look but I could only find Honey.”
“Stryker, I think you need to eat something.” I observed cautiously as I took in the pallor of his skin “you look like you’re gonna faint.”
“He’s in shock.” Octavia whispered “it’s bad for hypoglycaemia, he-“
“Here.” I murmured, taking Stryker’s arm “sit down.”
Stryker did, on a tree stump. Honey licked his hand and whined.
“Two dogs and Andy.”
Theo swallowed hard.
“Johnathan’s going to-“
“I don’t care, Octavia, this is a little more serious that how Johnathan’s going to react, and since this is on you we’re gonna leave the explaining toyou.” I snapped incredulously. John.All she was worried about was John? Seriously?
