Chapter 29

                                    

                                          
While jogging down the side of the building toward the bridge, I couldn't help but have a gut feeling that something was wrong. I tried to keep positive thoughts that Teddy was fine, and that his comms must have gotten damaged. But my mind couldn't push away all the awful thoughts of what could have happened to him, while we were inside. Because not only had I failed with bringing in Peyton, but I hoped I hadn't failed at the most important job for a commander, which was to keep everyone safe. At this time, I rounded the corner of the bridge's railing, and my heart sank.
                          
Because apart from the two bodies of the guards Teddy had taken out earlier and our empty extraction car across the bridge, in the distance, I could see a third body with dreadlocks laying in a pool of blood on the sidewalk. I immediately quickened my pace into a full out sprint and ran as fast I could toward the body. Dreading the incoming sight that I was about to see in front of me.
                          
As I got closer and closer, the features of the body began to look more like Teddy's, making one of my worst fears come into fruition. I slowed down to a halt, and bent over with my hands on my knees, with tears welling up in my eyes, as I realized that it was no doubt, Teddy, collapsed in the pool of blood. 
                          
I stood there for a minute trying to hold back the tears because he was my friend. And although he would get on my nerves from time to time, he didn't deserve to die like this. Teddy was a warrior that loved the action and enjoyed having others see his greatness. So to see his death be all alone, without being by his brother's side, was all the more heartbreaking for me.
                          
Suddenly, I heard a scream of pain and turned around to see Jules crying her eyes out. Falling to her knees with her hands shielding herself from the horror. Then having the denial stage of grief take hold of her.
                          
"No, no, no, no!"
                          
These are things that I felt as well but didn't have the courage to speak. As she, subsequently, picked herself up off the ground and began slowly walking past me toward his body. Then when she reached his body, she just stood over him for a second, before collapsing next to him and cradling his blood-soaked dreads into her chest. Crying into his cheek as she kissed him one last time.
                          
That's when I noticed the two bullet holes in his body. One in the chest, and one on the left side of his neck. Precise and fatal shots that would kill any man that went up against it.
                          
Then I watched as Jules' tear-filled eyes turned into pure horror as I heard Cam say behind me in a confused voice.
                          
"Teddy?"
                          
I looked back to see that Olivia was standing right behind me, carrying Cam with his arm on her shoulders. He then pushed her off of him and started rushing to his brother by hopping on his one good leg. Subsequently causing him to trip and fall at his brother, crawling the rest of the way to reach Jules, who was still holding Teddy's lifeless head into her chest. Cam pushed her away and grabbed hold of his dead brother in a gentle embrace.
                          
Meanwhile, I walked back over to Olivia and sat down next to her. As she was still on the ground from Cam pushing her out of the way. She sobbed and put her face deep into my shoulders. And for a minute, we were a silent, broken group. Crushed by a devastating loss, with no clue how it may have happened. 
                          
Sirens in the distance broke our grieving silence as they were heading our way, reminding us that we were still on a mission. And we had to get out of here, or else things would be much worse. So I carefully lifted Olivia's face off my shoulder and said, "Olivia, I know you're distraught, and I feel the same. But we have to get out of here. The sirens are getting closer, and we can't be here when they come."
                          
With watery, tired, and broken-spirited eyes, she looked up at me with a sad smile and responded back. "I know. But can we take him with us? So at least Cam can bury him in peace."
                          
To which, I wiped a tear off her face. 
                          
"Of course."
                          
I took her hand into mine, and we got ourselves off the ground. And we walked along the bridge towards Cam, who was still holding his brother, crying uncontrollably and in denial. 
                          
"Teddy, wake up. I'm here. Why won't you wake up? How did this happen to you?"
                          
These questions from Cam to his brother would haunt me for the rest of my life. And we had to come up to this devastated man with the courage to tell him we had to leave.
                          
Yet, we looked past him to find Jules sitting on the curb with her knees to her chest, tearfully looking up at the stars. So Olivia and I decided that we would tell Jules first. In the hopes that we all could form a collective front when telling Cam we had to leave.
                          
Olivia went over to her heartbroken friend and put a hand on her shoulder, before standing Jules up and giving her a tear-filled hug. Olivia then faced Jules in front of her and told her,
                          
"Sweetie, I know your heart is hurt and you probably want to stay on this bridge all night with Teddy and Cam. But do you hear those sirens getting closer? Because I can, and I can tell you now that we have to leave this place. We'll bring Teddy's body with us in the car, but we have to go."
                          
"Okay, let's get Cam." She said in a hush while grabbing Olivia's hand and walking over with us to Cam, who was no longer crying. But now sat in a shocked state, staring at the blinking sirens in the distance that inched closer. 
                          
I reached out my hand onto Cam's shoulder, to which he snapped at me with a beyond angered expression. Then looked around me to see Olivia and Jules. Before standing up with Teddy still in his arms and he turned toward us at a loss. 
                          
"I know, the sirens. Right, Dak?" He groaned angrily.
                          
"I'm afraid so, Cam. But I think we should bring Teddy with us. So that way you can bury him properly."
                          
"Thanks," He thanked as he bumped into me with his shoulder. Walking towards the truck on the other side of the bridge.