Page 60 of Leave Me Behind
Eren has been different since then too. Cold and distant, like a switch was flipped inside of him.
The briefing room is humid and quiet, with the exception of Eren’s voice. We’re leaving tomorrow at 0500 hours to set out on the mission we’ve been preparing for. My leg bounces with anxiety as Eren projects a map of the drop zone and where we’re heading first onto the white board. The projector makes smallclicking noises and it has Harrison tapping his pencil nervously against the table alongside it.
Before Eren can discuss the details, the door creaks open and all of our heads lift as Bradshaw enters the room.
Harrison stops tapping his pencil and Ian’s jaw flexes.
I take Bradshaw in. He holds himself differently—his shoulders are lower and there’s a distinct dullness to his eyes. He doesn’t bother looking at anyone as he takes his seat beside me. His crisp pine scent alerts my senses and his low breaths ring in my ears. His presence alone is enough to start a fire in my heart and it takes every ounce of my willpower to keep from looking over at him.
Eren’s eyes flick to me briefly and when he’s sure I’ll follow his orders as to not show attention to Bradshaw, he continues with the mission’s details.
“We are going to Labrador, Malum. This is a Level Black mission, which is why I haven’t shared any details until the night prior to departure. We can’t risk any leaks and absolutely no bumps on this assignment.”
Level Black? Oh shit. My leg starts to bounce now too. I’ve never been on anything higher than a Level Red, which is four levels lower than black. The only squad to come back alive from one was the Warsaw Squad over a decade ago.
Bradshaw sets his hand on my knee to stop the bouncing. I freeze at his touch. It’s discreet but my heart flutters.
“There’s no easy way to say this so I’ll just come out with it: Hades has been compromised.”Compromised?My throat goes dry. Another dark forces squad that’s been targeted by this unknown operation. “They’ve been MIA for six months and we’ve managed to locate the group behind the attacks on the dark forces squads. Our intel tells us that they call themselves Ghosts.” Eren’s eyes are empty as he shares the shocking information.
Jefferson slams his hands on the table. “What do you mean Hades has been MIA? Why weren’t we notified?” He stands and knocks over his cup of coffee. Pete curses under his breath.
“That can’t be right,” Harrison mutters, more to himself than to the sergeant.
“It’s been confirmed. We didn’t notify anyone because we aren’t in a position to call the shots. We’re being targeted as one of the last upper-ranked squads and it was strictly ordered by General Nolan himself that I keep my team in the dark about it until go time. Any more outbursts? Or can I get back to the mission details now?” Eren eyes Jefferson coldly.
Jefferson blows out a breath before falling back to his seat and crossing his arms.
Hades. They are reckless, sure, but they can wreak havoc unlike any other squad. The entire team is MIA? What could have possibly happened? My mind flashes back to Patagonia.Were they ambushed too?Who the fuck is hunting us? And why?
“Jobs, Badger—you two are going headfirst into the field. I’m anticipating an ambush and we need to go in fighting. Make it as loud as you can to draw attention.” Jefferson and Pete nod, their expressions firming. “Wasp, you’ll be hot on their heels, but you don’t launch grenades unless you’re signaled, understand?” Harrison grunts as he nods.
I’ve been on many missions, but none as severe as this one. The trust between us has to be tangible. We’re all relying on each other, with our literal lives. One slip up and… fuck.
“Colt, you’re going to stick with Bunny and Bones. You three will remain out of the line of fire and keep the backs of your squadmates safe.” Ian glances over at me and I know a flash of uncertainty when I see it. He’s not sure he can trust me as much as he does his other squadmates. It makes sense. I’ve beenhere for close to two months—they’ve been together for over five years.
Eren moves his pointer past the field on the map and toward a heavily wooded area. “We will need to move through the cover of the forest and head to the first bunker, located here.” He uses a red marker to circle a boulder somewhere in the forest. I do my best to memorize the coordinates of it before he moves on to the next ones. “The remaining bunkers will be on the charted paths dialed into your GPS. The locations will not ping until our boots hit the ground.”
There’s an uncomfortable shuffle of feet. We’re going into this almost completely blind. Why?
Eren clicks to the next slide. This image is zoomed out farther than the rest and shows just how isolated the area is. “The operation running in Labrador is heavily unmonitored and dangerous. There won’t be backup. Wearethe backup. I want you to keep your heads in any kind of situation you might find yourselves in. Our objective is to find the asshole running these attacks, take him out, and hopefully find the Hades Squad unharmed. We’re looking at invading their base and the potential extract of wounded soldiers. If we follow the mapped location carefully and keep to the script it should be an in-and-out operation. Quiet, quick, and merciless. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Sergeant,” we all say in unison. Though, my mind is whirling.
I zone out when Eren starts getting into the fine details with the fireteam regarding their part in the initial landing. My attention shifts to Bradshaw, who sits stoically beside me in deafening silence.
“Where’ve you been?” I ask casually, keeping my arms crossed like his are.
His head dips and the weariness rolls from his shoulders. When he doesn’t answer right away, I look at him. A coil of emotions rolls through me as I stare at his empty expression.
“Not your concern, Bun,” he whispers.
I’ve missed him calling me that so fucking much.
My jaw sets and my fingers curl against the sleeve of my jacket. What happened to him?
Eren moves down the line of our squad until he’s dismissed everyone but myself and Bradshaw. The air is thick, a wordless conversation hashing out between the two of them.
“Bunny. You are to serve as Bones’ double in this mission,” Eren says in a low, gravelly voice. My eyes lift to his with surprise. His expression falters for a moment, revealing his discontent with the decision that I’mreallyhoping was out of his control.
