The next day, the base was hit.
There were no survivors.
Bethany was dead.
Asael's chest ached more than the bullet wound in his side ever could. He had wanted the enemies to feel his pain, but it didn't work.
It had dire consequences.
Asael and the squad went into enemy territory.
They massacred the militia.
Root was shot through the head.
Biggy pushed Asael underwater to save him and died.
Asael kept going.
He used his knife to move through the water like a shark, killing the enemies as he went. He took every bit of anger and pain he had inside him and poured it into every enemy that stood in his way.
Then he found a child.
The child had pearly skin and was dressed in bloody rags. His white hair looked like someone had captured moonlight and braided it.
Asael raised his weapon.
The child looked at him.
"Please don't hurt me."
Asael dropped his knife.
"I won't hurt you."
The child looked at the bodies around them.
"You killed them. You killed the bad men."
Asael looked at him.
It was then that he realized the child wasn't a child soldier.
He was just a child.
"We need to get out of here."
The child pointed down the tunnel.
There were voices coming from somewhere deeper inside.
Asael looked down the tunnel.
He knew he would probably die anyway.
He took the guns and grenades from his fallen comrades.
Then he remembered Bethany's book.
He remembered the prayer.
"Cool my blood in earth,
That my anger might be quelled.
Bless mine eyes with silver that I might watch for the saviour's coming.
If I die today, let it be penance for my sins,
Redeemed by guns of Holy men.
Let those who remember me,
Remember a child of righteousness and on the day of judgement,
Let me welcome home all those I loved."
Asael looked at the child.
He gave him a vest and a knife.
"You'll die if you don't take it."
The child puffed his chest.
Asael looked toward the tunnel.
Then he looked at the child.
And in they went, into the belly of the beast.