Page 30 of Leave Me Behind
A flash of a scope makes itself known behind a wall of trees and underbrush. My body is rolling to the side before I can consciously process it. A false bullet hits the rock I just had my back against. Red powder coats the stoneface and the smoke plumes before being carried by the wind.Jesus.I roll back quickly and locate the marksman. He’s about to shoot again, but I’m faster. My bullet hits his stomach and he goes down.
Reload.
Fuck. Where’s Bradshaw?My eyes trace over the battlefield three times, but I don’t see him. He must be inside getting the hostages. I shoot three more men before Bradshaw comes out of the building with two limping hostages on his shoulders. Pete and Ian help him while Eren rushes inside to get the rest of them out.
I take a relaxing breath.
So far, so good. If this is as hard as it gets, then I’ve definitely secured my spot on the team. If only it were this easy to earn their respect and trust.
All their backs are turned, having cleared the building and they’re making their way back to the base. From my location I have clear sight of them the entire way. Looks like we can call it a day?—
A man comes running out of the building with a dummy grenade. If the red powder gets on my squad, we fail the mock mission. It’s easy to pull the trigger, second to breathing for me. The red plume that breaks on the man’s helmet draws all their attention and every single one of them looks utterly shocked.
A wry smile pulls at my lips, but it quickly fades when I see that Bradshaw doesn’t look impressed. He’s the only one that seems displeased with the results. Of course, he isn’t impressed. What will it fucking take?
I want to land a bullet in his chest as payback. But all that will earn me is an all-night watch.
I follow them with my scope the entire way back. There are a few soldiers hidden in the trees and I pick them off easily before my squad is even walking through the area. I finally lower my eye from the scope as they get back to base and let my forehead hit the ground with exhaustion.
I did it.
“If I were an enemy, you would’ve been dead ten minutes ago.”
My eyes widen and I whirl, pushing up to my knees as adrenaline spikes in my chest. I wince at the pain across my ribs and knees.
“Bones? What the fuck, you’re supposed to be back at base. When did you?—”
“Shut up,” he says harshly.
The air gets stuck in my lungs and my rage flares instantly. I stand and shove his chest hard. He isn’t even fazed by it. His pale blue eyes only narrow at me with disdain.
“What do you want?” I say with venom, unsheathing my sharp, very real, knife. He looks down at it like it’s a toy, as if he doesn’t think I’ll actually use it.
“I want you to quit,Bunny,”his voice is cold and there’s something lethal about his demeanor today. He wouldn’t try something again, would he? The blood drains from my face at that thought. Because unlike our prior fights, today we’re completely alone and our squad is far out of earshot.
“I told you I’m not going to. Do you have any idea how many times I saved all your asses today?” I shove him again but hedoesn’t back up. Instead, he grips my forearm tight enough that it stings.
His eyes don’t show any emotion as he pulls me closer. His cloth mask is the only barrier between our lips as he whispers, “Nell.” My name sounds more like a plea than a threat. More like Jenkins’s voice than Bradshaw’s. “I’m not letting you join our squad. You either quit… or I’ll make you.”
I tear my arm from his grip and turn my back to him so he won’t see the tears brimming in my eyes. This mock mission has been draining and I don’t have much mental endurance left.Focus on something else.I start unloading my sniper rifle and packing the gear up. There’s no talking to this guy. No middle ground.
He’s fucking insane.
His low sigh is the only sound he gives before wrapping his hands around my neck. It instantly triggers my fight or flight response and my elbow flies down into his ribs. He doesn’t expect it and we fall to the ground together—his grip loosens instinctively and I take the chance to slip out of his hold.
I grab a fist full of dirt and throw it in his face. He groans and shuts his eyes but his hand reaches for me faster than I can crawl. His grip on my ankle burns as he digs his fingertips into my flesh.
A shriek rises from my throat as he pulls me toward him. He’s scrambling to get me pinned under him. My mind flashes back to the sparring match and I refuse to be in that situation again. The cut on my ribs throbs and a hot, wet sensation spreads over my side. It’s already broken open a few times over the weeks. It needs stitches to stay shut. I thought to mention it to Eren, but with everyone rooting for me to get off the squad, I thought better of it.
“Bradshaw, get the fuck off of me!” I scream and that seems to piss him off more.
He pins my arm to the ground as I kick him in the balls.
We both groan.Fuck this. Fuck this guy.
I dig my fingers into the earth to crawl further away from him.
“Say my fucking name out loud again and I’llburyyou,” he growls as he rises to his knees. He really won’t let this go. He won’t let me be on the squad.
