Chapter 8

One explosion.

One wing down.

An other one.

Remaining wing down.

We were crashing. You can't fly without wings.

I was thrown about the cabin like a ragdoll as the plane spiraled out of control. I searched for parachutes, but I couldn't find any. Damn it! Why don't we have parachutes? And why did we fly in a C-130 again? I hate cargo planes.

I fell on top of Alferd. I looked up at his surprisingly calm face. He was always calm in situations like these. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. What is he doing? This is not the time for him to hug me!

"I will always protect you. I am your hero." he said squeezing me tighter as I braced myself for impact.

I expected a crash. I expected pain. I expected death. However, Alfred decided otherwise. Before I knew it Alfred had thrown the both of us out the side door of the plane and we were hurling through the air, Gilbert and Matthew close behind us. Alfred turned his body, so he was free falling back first.

"You're goin to die if you hit the ground like that." I managed to say.

"I'll protect you with my life." He said smiling.

I blushed. God! Why am I doing silly thing like this when I am falling through the air without a parachute?! I need to prioritize better.

The tan, dry sand just got closer and closer. I closed my eyes and buried my head in Alfred's warm chest. At times like these, I really think he's invincable. That was far from the truth.

I didn't hear sound from Alfred as he hit the ground and we skidded to a stop. I felt his grip loosen and I immediantly sat up. His eyes were barely open and sand covered his face. I brushed as much of as possible while screaming his name frantically. Matthew and Gilbert didn't look to hot either. Jumping out of a plane was better than getting crushed by it, if we lived. At this point, it seemed our chances were slim and none.

I felt tears roll down my face, cleaning the sand that had pasted itself on me. Alfred weakly pulled his hand up to wipe on stray tear.

"Don't cry. I told you I would protect you." He said.

"But I don't want you to die!" I said.

"I won't die as long you live. Now go finish the mission, you can do it."

"What about you?!"

"I told you I'm fine. As long as you never give up, I won't either."

I took a shacky breath and nodded. He smiled, brushing my untamed hair out of my face with an unsteady hand. I grabbed it, refusing to let go for fear that he might slip away.

"Go." he said.

I suddenly remembered my messenger bag that was still glued to my body. I should have something like a radio in here that he call for help with. I began rummaging through the ragged bag and pulled out a small device with one button on it. It had an antenna that pulled out of it like a cable T.V. I gave it to Alfred.

"Use this to get help." I said.

He smiled and nodded and I began on my journey. I had already looked at map to the place and had it memorized, so I needed a way of finding direction. I don't think my laptop survived. Do I have a compass in here? I dug around in the bag once more and found nothing I could use. I thought for a moment before it hit me. Just use the sun! It seems like it was early morning, so I would be walking towards the sun. I set off on my quest. I had to do this for Alfred. That stupid guy jumped out of a plane for me. He's so headstrong. Never gives up. It's probably a good thing in this situation. I have to be like him now. I have to be headstrong.

...

I hate the desert! Why the hell does it have to be so bare?! There is no where to hide. What am I supposed to do? Walk right into this al Queda hideout and say "Hey, I'm going to kill you all now!" God, why did they have to meet in the desert? There are probably traps everywhere! What am I supposed to do? Ugg.

I paced back and forth with my hand on my forehead. It didn't matter that I wasn't hiding. There was no place to hide! I looked at the house in the distance and noticed two gas tanks that were next to cars. Holy crap! If I could hit them it would blow the place skyhigh and there, mission complete. It almost seems too easy. Way too easy. I went through all that fucking pain for this! I hate field work. it always ends up being way to easy when it was way too hard when you started out.

I pulled out my pistol and aimed it at the gas tanks. I only have one shot. Once they hear the noise, they'll come running. I took a deep breath and focused. Alright, let's do this.

I shot. And missed. I quickly took another shot and it reached the target. The gas tanks exploded, bringing the cara into their firey torture. I felt slightly accomplished when I realized those traps they set were also going off. Underground bomb after underground bomb fired, sending dirt flying everywhere. I could hear the screams from inside, but I was more concerned with the advancing explosions. I turned and ran, but bombs are faster. The ground under me broke as I was caught in the trap. The last thing I remembered was helicopters flying overhead before I blacked out. He really does have connections everywhere.

...

"Stay strong Arthur." A distant voice said.

Was it Alfred's?

"Alfred!" I called out, but I got no response.

Please help me Alfred! It was no use in mentally pleading. The darkness is already here, ready to take me away. Goodbye world. Goodbye England. Goodbye Alfred.

Alfred! I must see him again! I will not just die without seeing Alfred one more time.

...

I gasped as my eyes flew open. I breathed heavily. It was like I had held my breath for too long. It sat up and looked around. Alfred was staring at me with wide eyes and Matthew and Gilbert looked throughly stunned.

"What's wrong guys?" I asked as I held my now pounding head.

No one spoke. Matthew kept looking from something behind me to me. I turned and saw a machine. It was the one that measured your heart rate and what not. It read zero and there was a flat line. All of a sudden, it started to pick back up again.

"Guys?" I asked.

"You were dead!" Matthew exclaimed "You're a zombie!"

"Wow! I am most certainly not a zombie. I don't have a urge to eat brains." I replied.

"We should probably leave. My awesomeness is too much." Gilbert said.

Gilbert lead Matthew out of the room. I looked at Alfred who was still staring at me. He was bandaged on nearly all visible parts of his body.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Me? What about you?" He replied, slightly angered.

"I'm fine. You're the one who fell out of a plane."

"You're the one that almost got blown up by a bomb, died, and came back to life."

"I never died."

"Yes you did. The machine reached zero!"

"If that's true, then you're the one that brought me back to life."

He looked at me surprised.

"What?"

"I don't know what was going on but I heard you're voice and was about to give up and then I remembered our promise and I woke up."

"Came back to life."

"Whatever."

Alfred got up and encased me in his strong, yet gentle, arms.

"Don't ever do it again." He whispered.

I nodded and put my arms around him. I love him so much, it scary. But it also kept me going. He's the reason I'm alive, I'm sure.

I pulled away and looked at his sky blue eyes. So careing. I slowly pulled him toward me until our lips touched.

"I love you." I said when we broke.

"I love you more." He replied and he pressed our foreheads together.