Chapter 25:

Chapter 25

2.5 billion times


As they ran out of the warehouse, their enemies tried to shoot them in the back because they were unprepared, but a simultaneous blackout in the light left them distracted and clouded their view of the enemies. Without suffering any loss, the soldiers finally managed to escape from that place, only Arthur and Mike were left behind. Mike was looking out the front door and in the middle of that darkness in the hallway he heard footsteps heading in his direction.

-That's bad Arthur! They are coming this way! (Mike)

-Lend me your weapon. (Arthur)

Arthur takes the gun from Mike and takes aim at the mirror that was around the office, after shooting and breaking the entire mirror on the left side Arthur returns the gun to his colleague.

-What are you thinking? (Mike)

-The second floor, if we jumped maybe we could land on the part that was left of it. (Arthur)

Mike looks at Arthur, it was a totally crazy plan, but the footsteps he heard increased, his enemies must be 50 meters away, there was no more time to think of another plan. Arthur and Mike look at each other, nodding that they were ready, the two start running and jump. The enemies enter the room but find no one, their flashlights just see the shattered glass on the floor, one of them goes towards the broken glass and sees Arthur and Mike fleeing through the window.

-THEY'RE RUNNING AWAY!! (enemy)

Notifying everyone on the first floor and his colleagues who were with him in the office, Mike and Arthur became targets of his shots, but managed to get through the window.

-BEHIND THEM!! (enemy)

Fleeing for their lives, the two ran trying to reach the trees where the enemy's vision of them would only get worse. The enemies went out the door and after aiming with the flashlight on the terrain ahead, they saw the two targets running, after that they started shooting without thinking, hoping that one of the shots would catch them both. But that was not able to stop them, in the end the two managed to enter among the trees.

-Let's go what are you waiting for!? (enemy)

In the middle of that dark and extremely cold forest, a chase began. Arthur and Mike moved cautiously so as not to draw too much attention, but also quickly so as not to be overtaken. In order not to lose sight of the enemies, they split to cover a larger area of ​​the site. On top of all that tension, Arthur started to weaken his legs, they were running for hours non-stop and at their full speed, unlike Mike who had an athletic body trained for years in situations like this, Arthur's body was just over the top. average but not exceptional.

-Are you okay? (Mike)

-Damn it. I can't rest, but I can't go on, my legs don't move. (Arthur)

-It's all right. Let's find a safe place to... (Mike)

Mike looks scared forward, pushing Arthur away he ends up getting shot in his mate's place. Arthur looks in the direction the sound came from and saw an enemy who was reloading his weapon. Immediately he throws himself at Mike to protect him from the second shot, the enemy points his gun and a firing sound is heard.

BAMMMM.

The enemy goes down with a shot to his head, looking at his friend Arthur realizes that Mike had fired his pistol in time to save him.

-I'm sorry, I'm sorry... (Arthur)

With a smile on his face Mike responds.

-What are you talking about? I'm still alive you know. Hahahaahaahh. Ghhhrrrrrr. (Mike)

Mike starts to feel pain in his stomach after starting to laugh a little, the shot appeared to be a little deep, but he had no idea if he had caught one of his organs. Arthur looks scared, not knowing what to do he tries to put it on his shoulder, but just moving it a little was enough for him to vomit blood. That made him even more nervous, Arthur's worries increased, the injury had been very serious, placing him gently on the ground he could only look at the whole situation without knowing what to do. Mike looking at Arthur's face realizes how terrified he was. Knowing what he should do, he just starts to smile.

-Arthur... could you hold my hand? (Mike)

-Huh?... (Arthur)

Arthur didn't understand Mike's intentions, but his friend with a slightly bigger smile and closing his eyes tries again.

-Please, I want to hold your hand a little, just to calm down. Please. (Mike)

Arthur does as instructed and with his right hand he holds Mike's hand. After a few seconds of having his hand held Mike starts talking calmly to Arthur.

-Listen Arthur, the enemies must be coming, they were attracted by the sounds of gunfire... (Mike)

-What are you talking? (Arthur)

Arthur begins to shed tears in his eyes realizing where this conversation was going.

-That's why Arthur, before they arrive you must... (Mike)

-No!! (Arthur)

Putting both of his hands over Mike's hand he refuses.

-Arthur... (Mike)

-No, no, no, no, no... snuff... all this is my fault, it's me who should be in your place... snuff... if anyone should die it would be me... for that. .. snuff... DON'T ASK ME TO LEAVE YOU ALONE THAT EASILY!! (Arthur)

Mike knew Arthur very well and knew he wouldn't leave so easily, Arthur was crying intensely into his hand, he could feel his tears running down his fingers. Arthur's feelings were conveyed through his tears to Mike, it was clear to him his intentions, but he could not allow him to lose his life for no reason. Breaking that atmosphere of the two, a noise in the middle of the bushes calls their attention, imagining it was an enemy the two prepare for the worst, when a man comes out of their midst.

-Captain? (Arthur)

It was their captain, who, instead of fleeing with the other soldiers, returned to fetch them, but seeing that scene of one of his men already on the ground filled him with deep sadness. Approaching Mike without saying a word he crouches beside Arthur as he looks Mike in the eye.

-You came back? (Mike)

Smiling intensely at his commander, it made the poor man's heart break even more.

-Idiot, why are you smiling like a child at a time like this? (captain)

-Hehe... listen captain, I know you're not much of a person to do favors, but could you make one last request of mine? (Mike)

-Clear. (captain)

-Please take Arthur away with you. You know, he's not the type to abandon a friend and it would be too bad for him to die here since I risked my life to save him. (Mike)

The captain nods in agreement, but Arthur refuses the idea.

-I already said that I will not leave here! If you're going to die here then so will I, because it was my... (Arthur)

The captain delivers a very hard punch to the region of his stomach, so hard that it made Arthur faint at once. He puts it on his shoulders and turns to leave. With his back to Mike he warns him.

-We are going. (captain)

-Thank you, captain. (Mike)

On his face, small tears begin to flow, tears that his soldier couldn't see.

-Idiot, I'm the one who should be thanking you. Thank you for serving all these years at my command. You were an excellent soldier. (captain)

Mike is extremely happy to hear that and with his vision a little blurry to see his captain leaving.

My eyesight isn't working very well anymore, I'm really in bad shape. To make matters worse I'm starting to feel very cold. (Mike)

Looking up, he notices small black grains falling towards him, but actually those grains were snowflakes.

Could these things be? Yes, it's already winter, which is why it's so cold. Hahahahhahah. (Mike)

Looking further into the sky, his face seems to remember a nostalgic moment.

Tell me Dean... that day, was that the vision you saw with your eyes? (Mike)