Rebirth

Spc Will Anderson

All I could make out was the sound of muffled screams and gargling. Sometimes the occasional laughter. A disturbing amount of cigarette smoke and vodka filled my nose. More gargling. “Alright, that’s enough.” The flow of water stopped rushing down my throat. The cloth was removed from my face and the bright light pierced my eyes. That's right, I was being waterboarded.

“Alright now American, are you ready to tell us what you’re doing here.”

I coughed up the little bit of the water that was still in my lungs before speaking. “Sorry but I’m not quite sure what you mean, I’m just a tourist you see.”

CRACK, he struck me with a metal baton. “I don't care for your jokes.” He began pacing to the other side of the room. He grabbed a wallet off the desk and opened it searching through the cards. “Specialist Will Anderson of the United States Army. A long way from home don’t you think? Russia isn’t the best vacation spot for someone of your status don’t you agree.”

CRACK, he struck me again. I began to cough the blood out of my mouth due to a massive gash it had caused. “Well I just love the thought of communism here and letting people starve to death, you know. Just really raises the spirit.”

CRACK. “Is that what you believe we do here in this country”

“Well, I sure don’t think you’re all singing kumbaya and having family picnics that's for sure.” I couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle before he struck me with a wrench this time.

“My boss is already very displeased with you being here so can we please just cut to the chase.” He flipped the wrench in his hand a few times before crashing it down onto my hand shattering the bone into so many pieces a doctor would struggle to count them all. “So what is the reasoning for you being here in Moscow Mr. Anderson.”

Breathing heavily after the several screams of agony I let out, I looked up at the man. “Did you think dealing military weapons into small terrorist cells within the US would go unnoticed or something? Come on I know your schooling system is bad here but fuck you can’t be that stupid.” More chuckles. This time when he went to the table however he grabbed a pair of pliers.

“We are simple merchants, nothing more. I would have expected a soldier trained as well as you would know that like the others.” Before I had a chance to ask what he meant he proceeded to rip the nail off my left pinkie. I gasped for air through the muffled screams. “I have heard the first one is the worst, but I have never actually found out.” He then proceeded to rip each of them out, one by one.

“You are a strong man for an American, you know that? Don’t worry I shall return tomorrow so we can have more fun.” He and his friends laughed as they opened the door. But as it swung open, three loud bangs from gunshots crashed through the air. I looked up to my surprise to see two men entering the room. Both wearing blackout uniforms with very familiar weapon kits.

“Took you long enough Maverick.” I spit blood onto the floor.

The first man removed his mask,” It isn’t my fault Odin was taking so long to get the directions.” The other man then removed his mask, “Russian mob hideouts aren’t easy to find you know. Especially in another country.” We all chuckled.

“They did a number on you, didn't they snow?” Maverick began untying me from my chair.

“You should see the other guy.”

“You mean the guys we just killed?” He laughed.

“Exactly they're dead and I’m alive, I say that’s pretty good.” He threw one of my arms around him and began to help me out.

“I hope you can still hold a pistol with the hand that hasn't turned purple.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“It will be hard to squeeze the trigger but it isn’t the first time my nails have been plucked. Anyways, how did you find me, Odin?” Maverick handed me his sidearm.

“I was able to match the suv tracks from your room to here.”

“I see.” We began to exit the facility with only a few oppositions in the way.

“It’s strange how few people are here, I would have figured a stronghold with an American hostage would have more security,” Maverick commented while reloading his weapon. “What did they say to you anyways.”

“The usual bullshit, what do you know, who are you here with, we aren’t the bad guys blah blah.”

“Anything else?” Odin asked, holding a watch at the corner.

“Yes, someone on the inside is helping them it seems.”

Odin turned to face us now. “If that’s the case we can’t trust anyone on the outside.”

“We’ll then let's take one of the SUVs they have outside and get the hell out of here, somewhere we can talk more.” I stammered up now being able to stand on my own.

Maverick began to stand as well, “Would but I didn’t see any when we got here.”

“What?” I turned to face Odin. “You said that you tracked their SUVs here, how else would you have known how to get…” The words caught in my throat. I tried to draw my sidearm but before I could he put a bullet through my hand.

“ODIN WHAT THE HELL!” Before Maverick could even turn to question him, Odin put another bullet in his head. I wanted to hold my hand however it was still so mangled I had no choice but to let both dangle at my sides.

“I wish those goddamn idiots hadn’t opened their mouths. It’s a shame to have to kill such good soldiers, I mean shit you’re twenty-one with a kill count of over three hundred. So many completed missions, it is a waste of a good tool.”

“I did it all for my country, and so did Maverick, unlike you you filthy fucking traitor.” He hit me with the butt of his gun.

“A traitor? I was making extra money on the side for my family. I don’t think that is too much of a bad thing. I’m no super soldier like you. I’m not an expert marksman like Maverick is… or, was I suppose. I’m just a guy needing to feed the mouths of the people I love. Not everyone can be as courageous and chivalrous as you are.”

“God you are old, it was always a joke but no one has babbled on like this since my father's sex talk. If you're going to kill me then fucking do it.”

He smirked as he put the barrel of the Glock to my head. “Goodbye Anderson, say hello to Sphynx for me.”

My eyes shot up, “WAIT ARE YOU THE ONE WHO…”

With that a gunshot echoed through the hallways, I began floating through a black hallway. So this is death huh, floating through nothingness, or maybe I am finally going to hell to atone for my sins. I tried to look around but all I could see was my body in the darkness. It felt like I was in my body, but I was also looking at it from the outside. As if my soul was staring at it, but still connected within. I looked back again and my body was seeming to grow smaller. Regressing in a way, it continued down to that of a teen, and then an infant. The next thing I knew I was being tossed through a light, and into someone's hands. I wanted to shriek in terror or ask what in god's name is this, but all that came out were baby noises.

“He is absolutely adorable my love!” A man stared into my eyes holding me up into the air. I wasn’t the biggest man in my days, I built my body to be agile and fast with a little strength behind it. Maverick was our buff guy, but this man that held me could easily rip me in half or even my friend.

“Let me see our son, my love.” A beautiful voice spoke from behind me. The man handed me over to a breathtaking woman. She had shining white hair, and purple eyes that sparkled like gems. However what caught my attention was her ears, they were pointed like an elf from The Hobbit or Eragon.

“Mommy mommy! What’s his name!” An obnoxious female child said behind me. I think they noticed me glaring at the girl because they laughed at me.

“Luna, we told you yesterday what we decided his name would be.” My name would be? Why are you speaking about me like this, as if I don't already have a name?

The woman spoke again, “We named him Apollo sweety, he’s your little brother so take care of him.” Little brother, just what the hell is she talking about? I then looked down at my body to realize I was a small child.

I wanted to scream in shock, but instead due to my body's age, I cried. Though maybe I would have done that normally as well, I’m not quite sure.

“Awe hun he’s crying, maybe wash the blood off of him a little.”

“Are you sad because you’re a little slimy right now sweety? Here Mommy will fix it.” She held her hand above me as if ready to clamp my now tiny skull like a basketball. However, she did not grab me, instead her eyes began to glow even more vibrantly than they already had been. And suddenly, water came from her hands sprinkling me off and cleaning my body.

Huh, is there a hose? No, is there a faucet? no….

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS PLACE!