Chapter 8 stories of the pas

Unknown Location

The roar of airplane turbines filled the cabin, steady and deafening. A faint beeping broke through the noise as the hatch hissed open. Major Z stood at the edge, unfazed by the howling wind. With a swift, practiced motion, he leapt from the plane, diving through the air toward an abandoned building in the distance.

Inside the Abandoned Building

The dimly lit room was cluttered with monitors displaying various data and surveillance feeds. At the center sat a man in a lab coat, his back to the others as he stared intently at the screens. Slowly, he swiveled his chair to face the group of scientists gathered behind him, their faces illuminated by the cold glow of technology.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, a twisted smile spreading across his lips, "we have finally created humanity's ultimate weapon."

The room erupted in applause, dark satisfaction etched on every face.

"We did it," he continued, his voice brimming with pride. "At long last, we hold the power to rule the land. Our masterpiece—Weapon Lizardous-A2—crafted to serve our will, just as the gods intended."

A unified chant rose from the group: "We rise!"

The man's smirk widened as he turned back to the monitors. Suddenly, a sharp clap echoed through the room, followed by a sickening splash of blood. A chill ran down his spine as he froze, his eyes widening in terror. Slowly, he turned to see Major Z standing right behind him, blood dripping from his hand.

"Magnificent discovery... too bad you're dead."

Another splash of blood stained the monitor as the scientist collapsed to the floor, lifeless.

Back to the Jungle

Rain poured relentlessly as the group moved cautiously through the overgrown path, their senses heightened by the constant threat of attack. As darkness crept in, they decided to set up a small campfire for the night.

Private May sat on a damp log, rubbing her hands near the flames. She glanced at Herald and Rin, breaking the uneasy silence.

"So," she began, "why'd you become mercenaries?"

Herald's jaw tightened, but he didn't hesitate. "My daughter," he said, his tone low and pained. "She's sick... Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia—ALL."

May's expression softened. "Isn't there any other work? Something safer?"

He shook his head slowly, the firelight reflecting in his weary eyes. "I tried. Nothing else pays enough. Treatment costs more than I'll ever make otherwise. I've got a military background, so mercenary work was the only thing that made sense. It was easy to get into, and I made it sound heroic when I told my daughter. Every time I came back from a mission, she looked at me with hope. That's why I keep pushing on—keeping myself alive for her."

Captain Yumi, who had been inspecting her rifle, chimed in without lifting her gaze. "ALL... Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. A type of blood cancer. Life-threatening."

May raised an eyebrow. "Didn't take you for the medical type."

Private Sophie snorted. "Of course she knows. Both her parents are doctors."

Yumi just gave a slight nod, keeping her focus on the weapon.

May turned back to Herald. "How's your daughter now?"

He hesitated, the pain evident on his face. "Stable... for now. Still in the hospital."

Silence fell over the camp, broken only by the crackling fire. Eventually, May looked toward Rin. "What about you, Rin? What's your story?"

Rin hesitated, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I'm an orphan," he muttered. "Grew up in Rasmond... a broken city full of criminals and terrorists."

Private Lina grimaced. "That place? It's a death trap."

Rin gave a bitter smile. "Yeah. The streets were filled with desperate people. Women lined the alleys, cigarettes in hand, doing whatever it took to survive. One of them was my mother. I never knew my father... Mom never talked about him. She did her best, though—paid for my school, kept me safe, and gave me what I needed. She supported me no matter what, and I loved her for it."

A faint smile tugged at Rin's lips. "There was this one time in elementary school when I got bullied. Mom fought back, never backing down. We always went to the park afterward, eating ice cream together... just good memories." His eyes shimmered with tears, his voice trembling with longing.

His expression darkened as his hands clenched into fists. "One night, I heard sirens in the alley. Thought it was just another fight... until I saw her hand sticking out from under a tarp. The bracelet I made her—still on her wrist."

He took a shaky breath. "I didn't know what to do. I went days without eating, begging for scraps. Then one day, a guy kicked me in the stomach. When he recognized me, he laughed—said I was the son of the woman they killed. Thought it was hilarious."

The fire crackled louder as Rin gritted his teeth. "When they turned their backs, I grabbed a shard of glass from the trash and stabbed one of them. He screamed like a stuck pig. The other one punched me down and pulled a knife... but before he could stab me, someone caught his wrist."

A rough voice spoke up, calm yet intimidating. "Come on, he's just a kid."

The man with the knife sneered. "You got a death wish?"

The newcomer just shrugged before punching the man, sending him sprawling. He wore a trench coat, a cigarette hanging from his lips. As the thugs bolted, the man glanced down at Rin.

"That was quite a show, kid. Want to join my crew? I'll train you."

Rin nodded, wiping his tears. "And that's how I joined the mercenaries."

Captain Yumi glanced at the sky. "That's enough. Time to get some sleep."

"Eh, what a party pooper," Sophie grumbled, but everyone agreed, settling down to rest.

In the Middle of the Night

Rin stirred, his sleep troubled. In his dreams, a woman hugged him warmly, and he felt a fleeting sense of peace. "I don't want to wake up," he whispered.

But suddenly, the dream twisted. Coldness seeped in as blood splattered everywhere—heads cut off, bodies dismembered. Lizard-like creatures raced past, and he raised his gun, but his hands trembled, soaked in blood.

He fell to his knees, gasping, as a familiar head rolled toward him. His mother's lifeless eyes stared up at him, her lips moving in a whisper.

"This is your fault."

He woke up with a start, drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged. The jungle remained quiet, save for the faint crackle of the dying fire.