Chapter 27: Jungle

It was cold, Ronan felt the chilling steal chair send chills running down his back. A large visor with cords flying out of it slowly lowered down. It always reminded him of the sci-fi movies. A loud click sound ringed in his ears as it sat in place.

“Ready Ronan?”

“Yeah let’s get this over with.” Ronan sighed, he always hated running simulations.

Ronan was now standing in a forest, a M16 sat in his hand, one smoke bomb and grenade held at his waist with a combat knife and another magazine for his M16. Ronan quickly surveyed the area, he seem to be clear.

Where is she going to come from this time? He though to himself as he started to walk through the forest. It seemed almost real to him; he could feel the air blow past his face as he was walking, the smell of plant life filled his nose.

Ronan stopped; he heard a sound from behind him. Quickly spinning around and his eyes landed on a jet black panther up in the tree. Its green eyes glowed as they stared at Ronan, white razor sharp fangs growled. Ronan try to figure out what to do, he knew if he shot it his position would be given away. The panther’s legs bent back as it pounced forward, fangs spread open coming towards Ronan. Quickly unsheathing the combat blade from his belt he drove it forward, stabbing the panther in the chest as it landed on him.

Ronan felt crushed by the panther, it had to weight about two hundred and fifty pounds. With all his might he rolled the panther off of him. Blood had covered his body and sent off a light odor. He sat up off the ground, panting slightly. Looking at the dead panther, he pulled out his bloody knife placing it back in his sheath. Now to find the bitch. Ronan mumbled to himself as he got up.

Ronan’s ears started to pick up a sound, he heard someone running. He couldn’t tell from where. I got to hide. Ronan thought as he climbed the tree the panther attacked him from. He kept his back to the tree as he looked down, the sound was coming closer but Ronan could still not see anything.

Gun fired started flying over Ronan’s head, into the leaves above. His hand reached next to his waist grabbing the smoke bomb and tossing it in the direction of the shooter. As the smoke filled the air Ronan jumped down hiding behind the tree. His heart raced as he waited. He could hear the sound of the shooters gun click as a new round of bullets was placed into it.

Ronan waited, he knew it would take about a minute till the smoke cleared enough so he could attack. He flipped around the tree. His eyes landed on her, his target, her face lifeless like always, her dark soulless eyes glancing in the unknown, red lips that never frowned or smiled, she was lifeless.

She still hasn’t caught glimpse of him yet as his finger pulled the trigger. Bullets flew out of the M16 muzzle towards her, her lifeless face never changing. With acrobatic skills and super fast reflexes she started to back, her hand quickly grab her knife and threw it at Ronan, she landed on her back as the bullets flew over her. The knife landed in Ronan’s arm, he could feel the electric shock from the simulator feed into him.

Ronan quickly hid behind another tree as he pulled the knife from his arm and tossed it to the ground. He took a deep breath, his eyes glancing on a grenade being tossed in the air. Ronan thought to him self, M67 stander military grenade, five second fuse, deadly in five meters, approximately two meters away. Ronan launched his feet, jumping away and landing face first into the dirt. The grenade exploded, Ronan could feel the blast tear across his back.

Quickly getting back to his feet, Ronan gripped his M16 tightly. Dashing behind a tree, he saw her walk into view. Watching her eyes shift around as she saw his body wasn’t there. She went to run, but it was too late. Ronan flipped out from behind the tree, bullets flew from the barrel toward her. He was sure he got her this time, she started to run his hand still held the trigger follow her every step, a bullet scraped across her arm. “Clink” The M16 stopped firing. Fuck, the grenade blast must have damaged it. Ronan thought tossing the gun to the ground.

His hand went for his grenade. He pulled the pin and tossed it towards her. He saw her eyes lock on it; she jumped in the air and kicked the grenade sending it flying. You got to be fucking kidding me. Ronan hand griped onto his knife and pulled it out. She went to grab for her gun, but Ronan had already tackled her to the ground. Her hand grabbed his wrist holding the knife away from her, Ronan lunged his head forward head butting her. Her grip loosened as he drove the knife into her chest.

Everything went black; Ronan could only hear his deep breathing as all the pain quickly faded away. The visor started to rise, showing his face dripping in sweat. A group of men in lab coats where scattered across the room working on various interments.

“How was it Ronan?” came a voice over the intercom again.

Ronan laughed “She getting better, but what the hell was with the panther?” Ronan stood up, stretching his body out. It always took a while for him to get use to moving after simulations. A man walked into the room, Ronan could only see his outline as he approached.

Ronan’s eyes opened, he was sprawled out on the couch in Van’s apartment. He held his head confused. Shit, that dream. He thought as he rubbed his eyes open.