in front of her, causing Annie to cover her mouth. She started to shake as the legs bent down and the person’s knees came into view and they ducked their head under the jeep.
“Annie,” Samantha said. “Thank God.”
She reached for her daughter and pulled her out. She immediately wrapped her in her arms and kissed her forehead. Her joy soon gave way to anger as she gripped Annie’s arms tightly. “What were you thinking?” she yelled harshly. Annie’s face looked down. “I didn’t want them to forget Tigs when they came to get daddy.” The cat crawled out from beneath the jeep and meowed up at the two of them. Samantha’s face softened. “Come on,” she said.
Jim stood frozen at the door next to the two dead bodies at his feet. It just didn’t make any sense in his mind. Matt glanced down at his watch. “Eight minutes, Jim,” Matt said.
“Just turn it off, Matt. I don’t know who’s making you do this, but,” Matt cut him off.
“Making? Making me do this?” he asked laughing. “No one is making me do anything, Jim. This is my choice. This is what I was trained for.”
Matt sidestepped around the desk and slowly began to walk towards Jim while he spoke. “We were able to strike every major city in unison while leveling the biggest logistical military base on the West Coast.” He inched closer to Jim, tilting his head to the side. “We made the largest military force in the world look like fools. They couldn’t stop us. They can’t stop us.”
Jim’s breathing became sharper. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Matt was less than six feet away from him now. “People died, Matt. Innocent people,” said Jim.
Matt’s face became distorted with rage. Spit flew from his mouth as he spoke, “Innocent? I would kill a million innocent people if it meant keeping my family stayed.”
“You want your family safe? Shut the program down,” Jim said. Matt gripped the pistol tighter and walked closer. The gun was less than an inch from Jim’s forehead. Jim’s eyes didn’t leave Matt’s. Matt was shaking now. Jim shook his head slowly. “Don’t do this, Matt,” he said. Matt pushed the barrel into Jim’s forehead. His finger was on the trigger. His knuckles turned white against the gun’s black grip as he squeezed the gun hard.
The door flung open as Samantha walked in with Annie following behind with Tigs in her arms. Samantha’s eyes went straight to the gun in Matt’s hand. Annie started to cry as she looked at the men lying on the ground surrounded in a pool of blood.
“Samantha get behind me,” Matt ordered.
“Matt, what are you doing?” she gasped.
“Now, Samantha!” Matt shouted.
She stepped over the bodies and moved behind Matt with Annie close.
Matt gripped the pistol with both hands as he gritted his teeth. “Move, Jim,” Mat said.
Jim slid to the left as Annie peaked up from her mother’s arm at her uncle.
“Matt, what’s happening?” Samantha asked. “It’s fine, Sammy,” Jim said. “Just do what he tells you.” Jim looked to Annie. “Annie, you take care of Tigs for me okay?” he asked.
She nodded and held the cat close. “I’ll see you guys real soon,” Jim said.
“No, you won’t,” Matt said as he brought the handle of the pistol across Jim’s face, knocking him on the ground. Samantha screamed and, as a result, Annie began to cry while Tigs meowed incessantly. Matt peaked out of the door. Men were scattered around from the sound of the sirens still blazing in the background. He grabbed Samantha’s hand and rushed out the door.
A jeep sat idled next to the fuel truck and Matt climbed into it. Samantha stood motionless and afraid. “Get in!” he shouted. She stood clutching Annie in her arms. Matt crawled across the seat and held her face in his hands gently. “Do you trust me?” he asked. She nodded as tears streamed down her face. “Yes,” she replied. Matt flung the door open and Samantha
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