Devil's Due the flip side of the coin

Author's note: It was like killing a puppy, but I did it for you. Yes I see you in the back, this is for you. I am making more and have some others already made.

I when I awoke it was dark like the heart of a Daemon. I scrambled around in the dark to find any trace of my backpack. I found it on my left just within reach. I pulled a flare from the bag 'Let there be light!' The area around me was bathed in a familiar eerie red glow. Normally, it would be a joyous time. I hoped help would soon arrive but this was no mission.

I put my gear on and stretched my aching muscles. As the red glow started to die down, I put my NVG on over my eyes. The fading red was replaced by an emerald green world. I felt right at home. Though, as I looked around, I felt the distinct sense of being lost. Running here without putting any markings down was not my best idea. But hey, might as well have been knocking on death’s door.

**

After what my watch said was an hour, I made my way out of this ever expanding cave and started to smell something. It was not sweet or enticing as the smell that first lead me to this cave. No, it was one smell I could distinguish all too well, one I smelled to many times before; it was the smell of death. I raised my weapon and began to crouch-walk to keep my profile low. I search carefully around the moist and quiet tunnel with my M9 at the ready. ‘Sorry dad but you’re just not built for these types of engagements.’

I happened across the source of the familiar odor. It was a dead griffon that looked like a civilian or some kind of scout. The body was laid up against the wall as if she was set here or the poor sod just died here. She reeked of death and decay, her belly was receded to the point I could make out organs and bones. ‘She starved…’ Yet she had a smile of happiness on her face. Her eyes were still open like emerald green pools in my NVG’s vision, I ran my hand over her eyes to close them and set off again.

**

I was still very unaware of where the fuck I was going and kept at a slow pace so I wouldn’t wear myself down. I began to think of my mother and how much I missed her. I wondered how she would feel about what I really did. ‘Hell, she probably still thinks I am a truck mechanic at some cushy base in Europe. I never had the heart to tell her, after what happened to dad I almost could not enlist.’ As I rounded another bend, I started to feel more depressed at the shear amount of hopelessness I felt as I saw the body from before. ‘This place is maze, where’s my damn cheese?’ I stopped for a moment to gather my thoughts. My mind was filled with images of home and I started to remember the last time I saw her before this deployment.

***

I was dropped off in front of an old looking large apartment building. Its walls where painted with a faded blue. I walked up three flights of stairs to the hallway leading to my old home. I slung the strap of my bag containing my gear over my shoulder and heard the sound of a child playing by throwing a red ball against the wall. The ball hit the wall and rolled over to me. I picked up the ball as the child ran over. The boy had to be only ten years old. He stared at my uniform.

“Mister, are you in the army?”

I smiled with pride “Yes, yes I am.”

“Did you ever kill anyone?” he asked coyly.

“No I haven’t.” I lied as I handed him back his ball.

“That’s ok. Dad says our army is full of pussies anyways.” Then the child walked away.

'Note to self; kill that kid’s parents.'

**

I now walked down the doors counting 31, 32, 33, and 34. Home at last. I knocked on the door and got myself ready. It has always been hard on her since we moved to the states, even before I left for my first tour. She opened the door. Her hazel eyes beamed as she saw me. Mom’s hair was starting to show some gray but she still looked like she could only be about fifty from just how fit she was.

“Alex, thank god your home!” She said while hugging me.

“Great to see you’re not mad at me.”

“If you just had picked something safe, I wouldn’t have to worry.” as she let go of me.

“I love you too.” I said while laughing.

“Don’t just stand there, come in come in. Army food does nothing for you. You must be starving! Get in here already.” as she pushed me into our home.

I walked through the home went straight to the kitchen grabbed a beer and then sat in the living room to drink. I watched the TV; some bullshit Russian cop drama was on ‘Why the hell do you move, but still watch Russian TV? Wait what am I thinking? She is old now and pretty alone when I’m not here.’

I finished the beer and got up to get another only to hear mother busy in the kitchen. I said loud enough for her to hear me the little ways away she was.

“I’m gonna go take a nap and check on my room, call me when dinners’ ready.” I said as I walked down the same too-small hallway like I did when I was her ‘little soldier’.

“Ok, just don’t make a mess.”

My room was still very clean as if no one entered, but the lack of dust betrayed that thought. Mom must have been cleaning up while I was away. The room really did not change much at all over the years, never really stayed here anyways. My Xbox 360 in the corner with a small TV was calling me. I walked over to the Xbox turned it on. I checked my messages. Same old bullshit, ‘Message to all friends, insert random stupid shit here’. I played a few matches on Fight Night round 3 and did ok. After a while, I heard mother yell.

“Dinners ready and stop playing those games. I can hear you swearing from here.”

“Ok, ok, I’m coming!” as I got up to turn the Xbox off.

I walked into the kitchen grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat at the table. My mother looked very happy as she put a bowl of beef stew before me. I smiled than began to eat. I was just happy to see that she was ok and the money I sent to her left her at least in a good mood.

“When are you gonna get married?”

“When I find someone more insane than me, I will.” I smirked a little while I said it.

“You know that’s not gonna happen.” she laughed a bit.

“A man can dream.” I said theatrically.

“What about Sarah, she seemed nice?”

“No she sent me the old, ‘We can’t be together anymore, but we can still be friends.’ letter.”

“See, you should just stay home and find a new job…” I cut her rant off.

“Look, I am here for only one day and have to leave early in the morning. Please can we not have this talk?” I pleaded with her.

She just nodded her head in a sad ‘yes’ and we both finished our food in silence. I after I finished my food I got up and walked down to my room closed the door then went to sleep. That was when I still was U.S. Army but those days are long gone.

*******************************************************************

‘Man I would give anything to see her again…’ I heard a sound. No, a faint voice and familiar was speaking out against the dark and eerie silence.

“Alex? Where are you Alex?” a distant whisper said.

I was not even able to tell if the sound was my own homesickness playing tricks on me or if it was her; my mother. Whatever it was, it spoke again.

‘Well fuck it! Wouldn’t be the strangest thing that happened to me today. Hell, I’ve seen talking animals running around like some kind of Disney Empire.’ I felt myself drawn to a tunnel that I heard the faint noise of steps being taken. I ran down the tunnel. Its walls were lined with strange holes that something like a four foot tall bug would sleep in. ‘Ok, weird. Better get ready to go on a bug hunt.’ I checked the mag on the M9. Still fresh and ready to take on whatever tries me down here.

I rounded another bend then stood before a large chamber. Its walls lined with numerous holes and freaky glowing sacs with what had to be eggs floating in them. And pools of a strange green liquid that lined a portion of the floor gave off the aroma that lead me to the cave in the first place. I could not even see the very back of the chamber. It was still shrouded in darkness. I readied my weapon and started to sweep the chamber looking for anything out to kill me. I heard a faint crying come from the very end of the room. I twisted my body towards the noise and slowly went near the crying. My pulse started to quicken, unsure of what the hell I would find down here.

I peeked over a few rocks and saw. ‘Is, is that a bug baby thing?’ It was a small creature black fur like a stuffed animal, teeth like little dull razors, and tiny claws. ‘D’awwww it’s so cute, I want to love it and hold it and name it George.’ I stepped close to the small creature. It looked right up at me then giggled. I said to it “Awe little guy, why are you all alone down here?”

It then burst into green flames. ‘Oh shit! It’s explosive?!’ I kick it away from me then I dived behind some rocks to escape what I thought was going to be like a claymore going off. I sat still for a second. I heard nothing and peered over my cover. It was not the same creature anymore. It looked like it tried to mimic a human form but failed horribly.

The sight was hideous. Malformed bones out of place, its own eyes distorted, and its once black flesh now a bit like skin. Its new ‘skin’ was something like if you threw a hairy man into a dryer turned it on and left him to die there. I looked at the creature in horror ‘Oh my god… I have seen men blown apart by mortar shells, but this…’ it began to cry. I felt pity for the creature I draw my M9 and leveled it pointing to its forehead. ‘It’s in pain…?’ I started to speak to it in hopes I could easy its pain.

“It’s ok little guy… this won’t hurt a bit.”

I cover my eyes with the back of my left hand.

“I’m sorry.” I said with voice quivering.

A shot rang out. ‘I’ve never had to do a mercy killing before…’ A grave silence fills the air I can’t bear to look at the body. I turned away from it and started to walk away ‘Man, I am not in Disney World any more…’ I heard a loud screeching noise that pierced my ear drums. Then a loud rumble began. I started to run, not wanting to stick around for the mommy to come. ‘Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck!’

I ran as fast as I could. My eyes darted from wall to wall as much larger and vicious versions of the previous creature started to come out the walls. They came like a black tide, teeth like white daggers. Their claws now swiped at me like a sea of knives. ‘Game over man, game over!’  I ran dodging from side to side while occasionally firing at the ones that got too close.

I jumped over one that fell from the ceiling. It turned to face me teeth bared and gave chase. I frantically try to gain any speed knowing that if I fall behind, I will stand no chance. I started to grab anything form my bag I could use to aid in my escape. I pulled out a flare, lit it and tossed it behind me as I ran. I hoped since I was underground that they could not handle the light, sadly it was just lost in wave of black that enveloped the light like water absorbing a sand castle. I found finally find a frag grenade; I clutch it close to my chest.

‘Please do something, anything!’

I pulled the pin held it, 1…2…3…4, then threw it behind myself. It flew through the air; my last saving grace. As it hit the floor, bounced once, twice, then rolled. It started to be kicked around by the trampling monsters before it went off in a brilliant display. Shards tore through them like meteors in the night’s sky. At least ten fell because of how close they were in proximity to the blast.

I looked back only for a moment. They ran atop the bodies of their fallen. Though they lost so many, they pursued without hesitation. I started to lose hope that I would make it at all. Something inside me was telling me, ‘Just give up’ but I looked at the M9 and read it’s engraving along the length barrel;

‘Surviving is the glory of war.’

I took another look back as I continued to run with renewed vigor. They lost some distance on me but showed no signs of stopping. I turned back to face forward and I began to see the small glimpses of light coming from the tunnels’ exit. I surged with confidence as I rounded one of the bends and saw an opening of light. I popped up my NVGs and looked to my escape, squinting my eyes as they adjusted to the new light. The walls of the tunnel seemed old and crumbly as I entered the end of the path. The light enveloped me as I pulled one more grenade out from my bag. I kissed the side of it and pulled the pin. I threw it in the cave and jumped into the sunlight.

I fell to the ground with a sudden crash and the cave roared as the mouth fell into itself like a collapsing star. I got up laughing hysterically.

“I made it! I fucking made it!” my words slowly devolved into cheers, thank-you’s and just plain laughter.

I saw a road a ways in the distance through a not-so-dense spot it the trees. I set off towards it hoping to see something friendly for once.

**

I made it to the road and the pain in my legs is indescribable. My only thought was of hope, rescue, or just a place to rest. I saw a horse drawn carriage coming towards me just down the road. I waved my arms frantically to get its drivers attention but saw there is no one driving it. I tried to limp towards the carriage with all my strength, but my consciousness was starting to fade from the pain and fatigue. I fell to the ground. I took my ghillie mask off to catch any air I could. I tried to crawl towards the carriage. My vision faded as I reached my hand out and passed out…