Chapter 1
Patience is a virtue
A single movement would give them away,
The slight twitch of a finger,
The rustle of even a single leaf,
The swaying of the bushes,
The change in the air from a breath,
It all had to be meticulously controlled,
A small slip up could give everything away,
The weight of the P90 in her hands, it was light as usual but today it had a heaviness to it, like the weight of the world had cursed her weapon.
She fought hard to stay in control while a shiver rose from head to toes, her body was tired, exhausted and she wanted to stop but her mind pushed on with the endurance of a runner. She fought hard and stayed in control the entire time.
For hours she waited, watching over every breath, every twitch, every shiver, every shuffle, every movement was under her watch. Not a single one would give her away.
She, they, worked too hard for it to be exposed just like that.
The road was empty.
No cars, no movement, just the stones that lay out the path forward. It was silent like it would be any other day. The stars were as beautiful as always and the moon shone brightly illuminating the path.
It was all perfect, the reticle lay in the middle of the road. The notches adjusted to get the distance just right. He knew the first shot would land. He could see it all unfold already without it having started. He would breath in deeply, control every muscle in his body and stay calm. It would be done like any other day. He would steady the rifle in his arms and let it rest on its bipod. He would catch every detail, not a single slip up would go by unnoticed. He was ready. All that was left was to wait for the promised time to come. And then pull the trigger.
Patience is a virtue. Why? Because impatience leads to rash decisions, impatience leads to impulsive actions, words are not properly thought out and plans are rushed. Impatience leads to failure. At least in this line of work.
He had counted from one to a thousand, he sang out every song he knew in his head, he ran through his favourite series what felt like a dozen times. It got to the point he was watching an ant for entertainment. Ants are interesting animals. They are disciplined, they have a clear hierarchy, they work together and when it comes down to it, fight hard for each other. Ants are surprisingly clever. A work of nature that thrives with their teamwork and societal connections. Looking at how ants live can tell you a lot about their personality. In a way they are a miniature version of humans. It was quite intriguing.
A nudge on his leg told him all he needed to know, it was time.
The rumbling of cars echoed all throughout the night. Everyone heard it, they knew what was coming. It was time. It was time. It was time. But still they had to wait.
Patience is a virtue
The cars became clearer, the lead vehicle was a silver SUV. The number plate was tinted black and the windows kept the passengers hidden, but that didn’t matter. The plan was in motion. All they needed was to wait.
Three vehicles in total. They were getting further away now, the signal had yet to come. Would they lose their chance? No they couldn’t afford to. People began getting antsy but still they waited. They stayed in control and had patience. It was all they could do.
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
Poof
The signal. The road erupted with gunfire and the echoes of explosions. The waiting was cut and replaced with a steady stream of lead. Vehicles swerved and came to a sudden stop. And even still, lead kept pouring down from the trees and surroundings. It was a nightmare lit up by bright flashes and torment. Even as the gunfire died down, they still had to be patient.
They didn’t know who might still be moving, so they waited.
And waited.
And waited.
Until finally they moved, They didn’t move particularly slowly or quickly. Instead they moved with purpose, reaching the vehicles and opening each door with a steady motion.
They reached the boot and without a countdown, it opened. A muzzle raised to defend against the unknown.
They found it. The package was secure.
All that waiting, only for it to be over just as soon as it started. It felt practised and smooth, no flaws to pick at. They didn’t waste a second longer than needed and left the scene of the ambush with the package in tow. Everything went as planned. Patience had indeed been virtuous and brought forth a plentiful bounty. In return, heaven gained yet more believers. These gunmen, though they may seem violent and shorttempered. They may give off the impression of being sinful, hateful and spiteful in their actions. But in reality these saints are messengers of god, the hidden dagger he holds in the dark to thwart the temptations of sin. These are trained soldiers who are here to bring forth a brighter tomorrow in place of a dark today. They fight and hide in the dark, all so God can shine even brighter in the light. This is the story of the angels who fight in the shadows. Who embrace their sins to highlight others virtues. In place of halos they wield shotguns, in place of bibles they use lead, in place of wings they wear body armour, these angels are as deadly as they are pious. And in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit they shall fight.
