Distant Hearts

Charlotte

For the first time leaving my parents, I wanted to return. Mom had softened her hard shell. I could tell she had so much more hurt from her own past that she wasn’t telling me. Dad said to give her time. It had taken me a five-hour journey back to the city. It took me longer because of the snow which had fallen. Exhausted, I reached Claire’s place, where I had arranged to stay.

Claire worked at the reception desks, said I could stay for a short time until I had found somewhere more permanent to stay. With only my suitcase, which had the two bungee cords still wrapped around them from Jackson, and two bags, I heaved them through Claire’s front door.

“Thank you so much Claire, I’m sorry it was last minute.”

“Yes, I’m sorry too. I thought Scott was nice?”

I had only given Claire a quick version about how I left Scott and that I was desperate for somewhere to stay.

“Only on the outside. He only wanted everything for the show. You know he is in that much debt. I don’t know how he will afford where he is staying.” I puffed out when I sat down.

“Err, well…” Claire chewed her bottom lip. “I heard that in the new year he asked Tamzin to move in with him.” Claire dipped her head down.

My jaw dropped open in surprise. “Well, that was quick, then. You know he was fucking her behind my back.” I shook my head.

It was Claire’s turn for her mouth to hang open. “Oh my god, how awful, I’m sorry I didn’t know.” She covered her mouth as she didn’t know what else to say.

“Yes, apparently Scott likes to get things he wants in unethical ways.”

I told Claire everything which had happened over the Christmas holiday, including what had gone on between me and Jackson. How everything felt so incredible between us and how much I had fallen in love with him. It brought tears to my eyes thinking about him and what he would be doing. He had phoned me quickly as he was leaving for his mission.

As soon as I mentioned the Marines and their specialized group called The Recons, Claire’s eyes lit up with curiosity and interest. Eager for more details, she uncorked a bottle of wine. It had slipped my mind just how much of a man eater Claire was, with her seductive charm and insatiable appetite.

Jackson

The anticipation built as I strapped on my parachute, preparing to jump out of the plane with my teammates. It wasn’t until a mission was called up that we finally learned where we would be going. The short briefing we got was this was an extraction to retrieve a corporal who had got caught trying to sneak out of the Peruvian borders. After a top-secret mission alongside several comrades, our sources confirmed he was currently being held at the coastline.

We had found out where he was being kept under close watch in a place along the Laramarca river near Chimbote. I had my hand resting over my uniform where the necklace and ring that Charlotte had given me. I closed my eyes and pictured her face. It was my partner who brought me back out of my thoughts.

“Jackson, are you ready?”

Six of us were going in. With the moon as our only source of light, we embarked on our covert mission. After I nodded my head in agreement, the doors swiftly opened, leading to a collective jump from all of us. Equipped with night vision goggles, we proceeded as a team to land together. The location by the river was a suitable clearing where all of us could comfortably gather in close proximity.

In order to avoid leaving any traces behind, we carefully collected all the parachutes and neatly packed them away. In the event that we had the chance, we left them hidden, intending to collect them on our way back out. Corporal Steve Walker instructed us to stick to the edges of the river. Hand signs were the sole means of communication as we moved silently. Walker and I were working together to lead the team.

I became aware of movement ahead and motioned for everyone to come to a stop. I made a swift motion with my wrist, silently communicating for them to shift downwards and conceal themselves in the bushes alongside. We held our breath upon hearing footsteps from the other side. Illuminated by the moonlight, our eyes were the only thing that could be seen as the six of us held tight. I had the feeling that we were getting closer.

As two men passed by, Walker and I lifted ourselves off the ground, silently moving the knives we had out of the holsters. While covering their mouths with our hands, we swiftly stabbed them in the neck, making sure no noise was made. We pulled their bodies off to the side and checked them over for any radios or keys.

Walker signaled for us to move out and further up, keeping ourselves close to the river. We came closer to the bunkers where the corporal was being held. Three guards were outside. There wasn’t the cover of bushes close to the bunker doors. The darkness was the only thing that kept us from being seen.

Taking a wide angle, the guys moved around and came from the rear, taking out the three guards in one quick, calculated move. Not sure what would face us when we opened the bunker door, I drew my gun ready and took in a deep breath.

Slowly, I moved the lever of the door handle. I cracked the door open enough to glance inside. The passage is dimly lit and stairs lead down into a larger corridor. I made my way down with Walker and two other men whilst the other two stayed at the surface.

The corridor broke off in two directions. I tapped my ear and leaned down one corridor to listen. Shaking my head, Walker did the same in the other corridor. With the faint sound of voices, Walker cupped his ear, then pointed down the corridor.

The four of us worked our way down to an open doorway. With our backs flat against walls, Walker was in front and held his hand to hold us still as he got his mirror out. He used it to see who was around the corner. He raised two fingers to signify how many guys, then yet another doorway which was closed. Giving out the hand signs, we were ready.

Holding three fingers up, Walker counted them down, and we went on one. Both Walker and I headed straight for the guys as the other two followed and to be ready in case more came through the door inside the room. Moving quickly and silently, we take the two men by surprise. Walker and I slit both their throats before they had a chance to set off any alarms. Still working in silent mode, Walker placed his ear against the next door to listen. Shaking his head as he couldn’t hear anything, he tried the door handle.

My heart raced as he opened the door as carefully as he could. It opened up into a room. Bullets came whizzing past his head. All of us flatten ourselves against the walls and Walker flung the door open. They fired gunshots towards us before the door closed again. Fuck, now we had given away our position. I stood on one side of the door with Walker and the others on the other. I then flattened myself on the floor before Walker prepared to open it again. This was not a time to panic or think about Charlotte, but fuck, her face came into my mind. I made a promise to her that I would come back.

As the gunfire went off again, I had my little mirror out to check the number of guys. By my reckoning, there had to be at least three guys in the room, all armed and firing at us. Walker kept pointing his gun and firing down the corridor. I finally spotted the three guys and held up my fingers. Using the mirror, I could work out where they all were. Walker and I had worked together on many occasions, so we both knew each other’s signals.

With incredible speed, we took down the trio of individuals and swiftly moved through the corridor. With its rough and uneven surface, the corridor extended into the distance, creating a harsh and cut-out passage. The weight of time was palpable in the air as we approached yet another door. The feeling of dread consumed me as I opened the door to nothing but silence. Stepping into the room, the air grew heavy with a foreboding atmosphere as we came face to face with the coronel’s lifeless form. I was uncertain if he had succumbed to death or was barely clinging to the thread of life. The clock was ticking, and we knew we had to leave before it was too late.