'Do you smell that?'
I jump, startled by the distant whisper of Viper's voice in my head.
Impossible.
That ability is gone. We lost it.
‘Viper?’I think back cautiously.
‘I can hear both of you loud and clear,’Shade responds, and I blink in amazement.
The strength, which had been slowly leaking from me like a deflating balloon, swells. My next kill is effortless, as if I’ve thrown off my heaviest training weights and am now unencumbered.
My combat knife slices through a plucky enemy with ease, whooping with satisfaction as my body responds with lightning reflexes.
‘I feel… right.’Like a limb I didn’t know was missing, just sprouted back.
My brothers hum in agreement.
I don’t know what this surge is, but although it’s fortifying, it won’t be enough to win this battle.
Not against this many.
‘Retreat. Pull back and do a sweep through town, get as many civilians out as you can,’I think to my squad, thrilled that we are once again linked.
As I slowly fight my way backwards, I grin broadly.
The familiar crack of Viper's sniper rifle echoes from high above. He picks off enemies from his position on the town's church roof, covering my retreat.
He shouldn't be killing, tempting his Blood Lust, but I don’t tell him to stop. Something has changed within us, and I know he’ll be fine.
‘It’s good to have you back, LT’.
I hear Shade and Blaze before I see them. Shade is gripping Blaze’s belt, dragging him away from the front lines.
Blaze empties clip after clip, laughing like it’s a party only he was invited to.
"How copy, Shade?" I ask as I approach, dropping to a knee to steady my shots as I take out the closest soldiers.
"I don't think Blaze can hear our thoughts," he replies, shouting over the snap of my gunfire.
I flick my eyes to Blaze, and notice how far gone he is. I doubt he even realizes Shade is pulling him along like a dog on a leash.
The largest explosion yet rocks the town. Windows shatter, and shrapnel cuts my skin.
“Blaze! Rut-dammit, where the fuck did you get so many explosives?” Shade admonishes.
Blaze just grins in bloodthirsty triumph.
Even if he has more landmines hidden, it won’t be enough.
We’re running on borrowed time.
Demi-humans are hard to kill, but a well-placed bullet to the skull will do the trick. I reposition Blaze’s askew helmet to cover his exposed forehead. His mind might be broken, but he’s still my brother and mine to protect.
The sound of boots hitting the street herald Viper’s arrival.
“I feel rut-damn great,” he says in wonder, his brows furrowed in confusion as he flexes his fists.
