The Last Pack

10…

“Place the charge Sergeant!”

9…

I take a deep breath in waiting for the charge to be armed by Sergeant Jackson.

8…

“You all know the drill. Breach and Clear, be sure to aim for the head and keep an eye out for hostages!”

7…

My breathing slows at my words as I focus in on the task at hand.

6…

“This operation is to be in, and out. If there are any survivors, execute them we are not here for prisoners.”

5…

“The charge is set Captain Varellian!”

4…

“Stand back everyone!”

3…

This is the moment I’ve been waiting for…

2…

…If any harm has befallen you two…

1…

…They shall pay dearly.

0…

The charge detonates blasting the door wide open on its hinges, dangling by a single screw in the bottom hinge. We charge in…

*pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* *pop* five shots, five direct hits

“Room secure! Move in and keep low, there may be enemy patrols.” I relayed into the communications device running along each of our vests.

“Roger!” The squad of 7 other members relayed back.

“Sergeant Vasquez, Sergeant  Johnson, and Corporal Lin, you’re with me, we’re taking the south. Lieutenant Norman, take Staff Sergeant Milo, Corporal Melody, and Corporal Manning and take the north.” I relayed the commands to the squad, given a nod of heads in reply. “Lets get this show on the road.”

With that Vasquez, Johnson, Lin, and I went our own way. We snuck across the grim filled street passing by a few decaying bodies which were recognized to be the rebels we were helping in this war. Slowly we proceeded making sure not to make any noise loud enough to be heard by the many patrols we had hidden from on our way to checkpoint A. Sadly this luck was not to last long…

We came to a stop when we came across an empty parking lot, filled with nothing but trash, bodies, and belongings of the people who had once lived in these homes we now use as pathways.

“Sir, do we proceed?” asked Sergeant Johnson.

“No, this may be a tr-” I was cut off by the abrupt sound of a sniper rifle being fired, only to look back and see Corporal Lin falling over. As she hit the ground, her helmet rolled 3 feet away to reveal that the shot, had entered through the right eye socket, but exiting through the back of the skull, or what it left of the skull.

“GET DOWN! WE’VE BEEN SPOTTED!” I relayed to the two remaining soldiers, luckily for them. The Sniper had misfired and hit the glass bottle behind Sergeant Vasquez.

After waiting a minute to see if they would have troops coming in to try and swarm us, we were instead met with utter silence.

1 Minute……3 Minutes……5 Minutes……10 Minutes……

Whispering just low enough that Vasquez and Johnson could hear me I said, “ Listen, we need to be more careful from here on out. I don’t think that they are trying to defend or be on the offensive here. Either this is a trap, or that wasn’t one of them. Either way, keep a sharp eye out for anything suspicious. Got it?”

“Yes sir! But I have a question?” replied Sergeant Vasquez with a mortified look that would make any sane being cringe.

“Ask away Sergeant.” I replied whispering.

“Sir, first off what will happen with her body? Do we just leave her? and second...What’s that thing behind you and why is your left eye bright orange?” He asked in a slurred voice.

I turned around to end up staring directly into the eyes of a creature I had never seen before, but before I could truly react it leaped onto the rooftop getting away.

What in Gods name was that creature!

“If I had any guess to what in the heck that was Vasquez, I would say that it was mind tricks and we may want to wave it off as just that for now. To answer whether we leave the body or not, we won’t be taking it right now, but we will take her dog-tags.” I replied in a voice laced with pure terror and for some reason, excitement.

“But that doesn’t answer why your eye i-” He was cut off abruptly.

“The reason for that right now is irrelevant, we need to get a move on before that thing comes back or that sniper does. Either way I’d rather take my chances with neither.” I replied in a harsh but hushed voice.

“Sergeant Johnson, where did yo-” My question was cut short to find that Sergeant Johnson had disappeared along with the body of former Lieutenant Lin. I silently cursed myself for allowing one such as him out of my sight, even for a split second. “Vasquez, looks like it’s just you and me from here on out until we reach the rendezvous point. You ready to see how I got the title of, “Lupine Demon”, because I feel that I won’t be holding back this time around.” I said with a sinister grin.

Sergeant Vasquez responded by nodding his head with wide eyes, I could see him visibly shudder at the thought. “Sir is it really necessary for you to go to that extent?”

“Oh it is more than necessary Vasquez, they killed Lieutenant Lin and have taken Major Lynn and my brother hostage.” I said allowing a dark shadow to cloud my face. “They will stop at nothing, and I mean nothing. To get me to give in to their demands, but this time, they have made it personal.” I replied not bothering to lower my voice from the rage rising up inside.

I turned to look at him just to get a nod from him. With that we continued further into the city, this time not hiding from the enemy but stealthily taking out each roaming squad with efficiency and ease from the shadows.

The moon is your friend Lionel, embrace it and use it to bend the world in your favor

What in the world was that? Hello?!?! It must have been my imagination. “Vasquez, tell me, did you just hear anyone speaking to you?”

“No sir, why? It may be your earpiece, these versions of the earpieces are really buggy, it may have just been a transmission you weren’t meant to receive?” He replied with a quizzical look.

“You may be right… but still keep an eye out. I feel as if we’re being watched and I don’t know if it’s good or bad yet.” I replied with a hint of doubt in my voice.

“Yes Sir.”

“So you won’t give us the codes, will you Major Lynn? Or do you need to be influenced-” As he said this he brought a knife to the bottom of my bare back making a long cut up the length of my back, “- a little bit more?”

“You can-” I winced at the feeling of the blade cutting my skin, “-do all you want, but I will never betray my country, as I would never betray my husband and his brother!” She said through broken teeth and black and blue eyes.

“Oh, but I think quite the contrary my darling. I think that you will give me the codes, even if I have to take them-” He yanked my ponytail as he said this, “-by force, but I don’t want to ruin such a beautiful specimen. You would make quite the fine slave around the base. Many of us would request your “Services”.” He let out a small chuckle as he finished.

I smiled through my busted lips and spat a small thing of blood out of my mouth onto the floor, “If you think even for a second, I would agree to any of that you are horribly mistaken. I would rather DIE!” I said as loud as I could and clearly as I could before I felt a resounding smack that seemed like it rung out through the world for hours.

“Well then, if you won’t agree to my terms, I guess it’s time for more eh?” With that he pulls up a cart full or doctor tools. I rely on my ears to tell me what he is pulling up as my eyesight has been disabled due to my black and blue eyes. From what I could hear, I suggest he is taking a scalpel off the tray.

“Don’t worry this won’t hurt a bit” as he says this I feel the tip of the scalpel touch the under part of my arm, causing me to wince in pain as it digs deep into my skin. I screamed as loud as I could as I felt him bring the scalpel down the length of my side then feel as he starts to forcibly peel away the first layer of skin causing me to scream even louder.

“This pain could end if you ju-” He was interrupted by me headbutting him right in the nose. I heard the sound of his nose being broken.

“GAH! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?” As he screamed I couldn’t help but laugh even though it brought me pain due to the long incision along my side.

“Isn’t it obvious? I broke your nose! I knew you were stupid but not that stupid. If you’re going to torture me, do it right, otherwise the one you’re torturing could turn the tables on you!” As I said this I felt a metal object hit the back of my skull knocking me out.

“We’re getting closer Vasquez.” As I said this I heard a loud scream coming from the building in front of us. “Don’t worry Lynn… I’m almost there…” I whispered silently to myself.

“Sir this complex is swarming with guards. How do you plan to get in there?” Asked Sergeant Vasquez, giving me a quizzical glance.

“Well you know that, “Lupin Demon”, title I told you, you were going to learn about tonight? That’s exactly what is going to get us in.” I said giving him a sly smile.

Now I need to concentrate……

Let the moon help you Lionel, let my powers flow through your veins

That voice again?! Who are you?! What do you want?!

No response…… of course……

As I began reciting the passage the world started to fall away from me.

I call upon the Sun and the Moon to give me strength,

I call upon the animals of Earth to give me form.

Come to me now in this time of need.

Lend me your wisdom, Lend me your strength.

I call upon you, the spirit of the wolf,

May I be your vessel,

Lupine Demon.

As I finished reciting the final verse I felt a strong warmth flow through my body and felt the power start to change my form. I felt as my mouth and jaw turned into a long black snout, I felt as my ears shifted towards the top and back of my skull, I felt my eyes change from human to lupine, I felt my hands and feet grow claws and pads appear on the bottom of them, I felt as my spine grew twice the length making a tail for my body.

If our presence was not known before my transformation, it was known now as a light as brilliant as the sun radiated off my body as I turned. When the transformation was complete I opened my eyes to find a horrified Sergeant Vasquez.

“This is why I’m called the, “Lupine Demon”, Vasquez.” I said in a soothing yet more feral voice than my previous one. Vasquez couldn’t help but stare from the sheer horror that befell his mind from seeing me turn from human into an anthropomorphic creature, commonly called a werewolf. Yet being a werewolf was not the case, as this was one of the many forms I could take.

I turned and walked towards the gate. As I opened the gate I was surrounded by guards, weapons drawn using an eclectic array of weaponry. Everything from small handguns pointed at me, to a 25mm artillery cannon. Sadly, they were going to need a lot more than just this to stop my rage as I heard the deafening scream from who I could only assume to be my wife. As soon as I heard the scream, I ran behind the guy manning the artillery cannon, cutting him and the artillery cannon in half as I ran my claws through the weapon. Leaving all the guards who had previously been opposing me to start cowering and some blindly firing at me. Luckily enough I was fast enough to move behind the stone wall that surrounded the house before the blind fire.

I took this chance to move around to the front gate again. I took several grenades from Sergeant Vasquez and jumped as high as I could dropping the grenades over the group of over 2 dozen guards that gathered in the middle of the courtyard. Creating a satisfying explosion that resounded across the whole town sending off car alarms citywide. I landed on the roof where the room felt as if it were going to give way anytime soon.

*BOOM*

I woke up to the sound of an explosion just outside the room in what I could only assume to be the courtyard of the establishment I was in. I still could not see, so I waited while I heard the sound of ripping, tearing and screams that resounded throughout the halls. Then I finally heard him calling…

“Jazmine! Where are you!?!?” Was he….was he about to cry?

“WHERE IS SHE?!” There’s no denying it, he’s gone Lupine.

“I’m in here Lionel!” I screamed as loud as I could then I heard the door open and slam.

“Oh you’re not going with your cute little boyfriend Major Lynn, not till you give me those codes.” I heard the man say...great of course in disaster I’m his first priority.

“Oh I’m pretty sure I’m safe, Lionel will tear you to shreds when he finds you.” I said coldly to the terrorist.

“Oh yet you have yet to even realize who I am Major. You have yet to even begin to understand.” He said as he slipped a pill into my mouth and forced me to swallow. The world seemed to slip away in a moment’s notice…

Lost Solstice will help you yet Shimmering Dawn, just wait……

Who are you and why did you call me that………

……I am -

“Captain! You need to get out of there! The Building is going to come down on you if you keep this up!” Vasquez yells as loud as he could above the sounds of explosions and miscellaneous gunshots.

I try to yell back to him but all that comes out is a long blood thirsty howl.

CRAP! I need to turn back, the wolf is starting to take control.

Solstice, be calm and recollect, you’re in control, not the demon……

Wait a minute… Who are you and why did you call me Solstice?!

……Tis not important, what is, is that Jazmine needs you, now go!

Listen to me! This is not some sort of game! WHO ARE YOU?!?!

I was met with silence of the mind. I can’t let it get to me, it might be trying to screw with me.

On the verge of tears I cried out one more time, “JAZMINE! Where are you?!?!” I was met with enemy forces rushing me, this time they tried to use swords in hope that it would meet them with better results. “WHERE IS SHE?!” I yelled at them.

“I’m in here Lionel!” I heard someone scream, it was one mixed with fear, happiness, and pain. As I heard this I took the sword from one of the enemies and used it to skewer the skull of one, then proceeded to use the arm of the next to beat him to death. The other 4 tried to run away to no avail. I proceeded to jab my claws into the back of one of the enemies and rip his spine out and then I took that same spine and stabbed it through the top of the head of another. Then I grabbed the last two in the chest and tore their hearts out and proceeded to devour the hearts.

This has to stop….

Lupine soul be cast from my body,

Lend me your strength no more.

Return to the Earth,

From whence thee came.

With this I slowly started to revert back to my human form. The power that once flowed through my veins slowly vanishing bringing back consciousness and control. As I turned back I couldn’t help but notice, my eyes felt strange, as if they had not changed back.

*creeeek*

I was brought back to attention by the sound of the building starting to collapse. Crap. I need to find her and get the heck out of here! I ran swiftly to the room I heard her voice come from to find the room empty but for a single note lingering there in the middle of the room from a thin string. The letter read the following:

To: Lionel Varellian

From: Commander ########

Dear Varellian,

                How does it feel to know all that bloodshed was pointless, that you could not save her because you were too slow? You allowed yourself to lose control, as I was counting on and it proved to me something. Yet it seems you yourself have yet to understand exactly what that is. As for your brother, he lies dead in the closet of this room. I hope that you enjoy this little gift from the one you called a Tyrant those many years ago. If you wish to ever see your wife again you will come to the following location. Alone. You will bring no weapons but you will bring me the codes, or you can say goodbye to your dearly beloved. The time is ticking Varellian, will you be too slow again? Or will you be able to give up everything for the one you love?

Signed,

                Commander ########

As I finished reading this letter I fell to my knees allowing the anger, rage, sadness, and fear rush over my body. The tears I fought to hold back finally came out in a violent rush. I tucked the letter into my pocket then proceeded to slowly stumble over to the closet where the Commander said I would find my brother. As I grasped the doorknob I felt something on my shoulder. When I turned around I found it was nothing. The doorknob felt cold, not a normal cold, but one that could be felt as a ghost travels through the same room as you. I slowly turned the knob to be met with the strong smell of entrails and blood. What I saw of my brother, could hardly be recognized as him. His entrails were decorating the wall, his heart in the middle of his large intestine that formed a heart on the wall. Spelled in his own blood on the wall was a message for me. “The “Tyrant” Queen awaits you Solstice”.

What in the living heck did this mean? I couldn’t stand the sight any longer so I said my final goodbyes and took his dog-tag then proceeded to hastily exit the crumbling building.

By the time I reached Sergeant Vasquez the enemy forces had evacuated the area leaving nothing but the dead bodies of their fellow soldiers and the crumbled mass of the once beautiful building behind. That was when we saw Lieutenant Norman. Or at least what was left of him.

From what I could infer, his squad never made it. We lit a red flare signaling we were ready for pickup. What I have seen tonight, shall never be forgotten, nor shall it ever be forgiven. The “Commander” will pay for what he has done, same as this so called “Tyrant” Queen he speaks of.

Solstice, be at peace, for I know the pain thou dost endure but we shall make her pay, as well as the Commander. Be patient and we will see each other soon.

Please, at least tell me who you are. I’m not in the mood for guessing games, I just lost my only brother and I may lose my wife if I don’t do what I need to for this person.

I am the one who guards you in the night, I am the one who revived you. I am the one who gave you the, “Lupine Demon”, you will learn my name and who I truly am with good time.

Fine, but when all is said and done, I demand an explanation.

You shall Solstice. May you rest tonight for tomorrow your life changes…Forever.

What do you mean?!

I was met with the hum of a chopper overhead starting it’s descend to pick us up.

I will rescue you Jazmine, and I will make them pay for this pain they have caused us, and I will ensure them the same fate that they have given my brother.