Page 1 of Burn for Me

Prologue

10-12-2022

I found her so that means she's mine.

-Sam

I'm a war dog.

When most people hear that statement, they think of a soldier who has fought countless battles. They envision the bloodshed I’ve witnessed and the lives lost by my side. They might even contemplate the long-term effects it has had on my mentality. However, those people don’t truly understand the extent of what that four-word statement can signify.

They don’t know what it’s like to be a product of Chaos.

Rain begins to pour from the clouds above, soaking my clothes–making them cling to my skin, just like the sweat that used to seep through when I found myself caught in the crossfire, surrounded by bullets and fallen bodies.

From a young age, I always knew I wanted to be bigger and stronger. Thankfully, after I turned eighteen, my uncle sold me to the Chaos Army, allowing me to pursue that goal. I transformed into a beast, lacking morals and offering no apologies for my actions—killing became an insatiable need embedded in my very being. I bear the scars to prove it, both mentally and physically.

However, this transformation ultimately led to my downfall. I was discharged after my superior, Carlisle, ended the Chaos War. The loss of my purpose and new identity fueled my desire for revenge. There's no need to talk about that because I've turned over a new leaf, or at least I'mtryingto.

Running my fingers through my already disheveled hair, I try to focus on surveying the area around our base, but my phone buzzes, adding yet another distraction.

“Are you doing rounds?”My new superior officer, Caspian, otherwise known by his callsign, Tide, asks as I answer. He took over after his father, Carlisle, passed away and transformed Chaos into Depth. He turned destruction into something that is supposed to be used for good, just like he’s trying to do to me.

“Trying to.” Pausing, I look to the clouds and then to the black beach with a huff as the light from one of our base towers shifts to the sea, “It'd be easier if those fuckin’ idiots knew which way to point a light.”

“I'll get with them. You know their training isn't like ours was. Speaking of, I just got word from the prison. They have a runner.”

“A runner?” I grin. This one might be feisty, so I can finally see some action. It gets boring, constantly being held back from my trained instincts.

“Find them and bring them in…” Caspian pauses, and I can already envision his fingers tapping to his chest, “Alive. Bay has been having a field day with our recruits, so we're running low, and our next shipment won’t arrive for a month.”

We’re not your typical heroes; we’resupposedto operate together in the shadows within secret factions to protect the world. Only those higher up—trusted officials and world leaders—know we exist to prevent mass panic. Smaller task forces exist, but Bay and Depth have the most influence. Ironically, we're at war with each other. The sound of his cigar drawer opening is audible on the line. He’s never smoked the damn things until recently, Carlisle was the one with a knack for the expensive death sticks, but with the stress of everything, I hardly see him without one.

“Yes, Sir.” I huff into my phone, distracted by the damp sand on my boots as I cross the beach. Images of blood and dirt sticking to the leather flash through my memory momentarily before Caspian's lighter flicks through.

“Don’t forget to remind them of their options: sanctuary here or return to their cell.”He ends the call, and I pocket my phone while turning away from the beach.

Since Depth soldiers keep falling to Bay, Caspian has taken in moreexpendablepeople—criminals and nobodies. He doesn't have to remindmeof the options since I received the same ones not too long ago. Going from a war dog to being pulled from a rusted cell to being handed a rank and position without hesitation is strange. I guess since Carlisle trusted me, Cas’ followed suit. Don’t get me wrong, I'm grateful for it, but I question my purpose.

Why fight if it's not just to see blood or hear screams? My footsteps thump against the boardwalk as I approach the blinking blue and red lights in the darkness, reflecting off the dry seagrass surrounding the old, battered planks.

“Evening. What’re you boys doin’ out here?!” I call out over the heavy wind, shoving my hands into my pockets to hide my clenched fist.

“Hey, Sam! You're lookin’ good. How’s life outside bars?” Bill, the shorter, older officer, grins and slaps my shoulder as I stop in front of him. He was one of the few guards who trusted me back then.

Before I can respond, the other officer interrupts. “We’ve got a runner.”

He straightens in an attempt to shine his flashlight around me, so I shift. The light catches my chest, reflecting the gleam towards his slicked-back brown hair and narrowing green eyes.Dale. He’s new, but I recognize his profile from the base files.

I suck the back of my teeth, “On Depth territory?Interesting. I assume they're not your responsibility anymore, right?”

“Sure thing,Reaper.” My jaw ticks at the mockery of my callsign in Dale's voice as he backpedals up the pathway.

Bill calls over his shoulder, “There’s no intel on the body. They slipped past a rookie during intake and headed this way.”

“Be agood dogand take care of them, yeah?” Dale taunts before turning away.

I know I should process Bill's information, but Dale's words leave me battling my demons.

---