Page 4 of Absolution

I brace myself against the wall as it bursts from the frame and into hundreds of pieces. A large man, locked and loaded, rushes through the opening. His hand fists my shirt, I don't put up a fight, I'm too weak for a battle.

"Name?" He growls as shots reverberate off every surface around us. "We're here to help! What's your name?"

My lips are cracked and bleeding, my mouth so dry I can't even make enough spit to hurl at him. I want to be defiant, strong and prove I have fight left in me. Instead, I mutter the only thing I can.

"I don't remember." Another man, dressed much like this one, comes running into the room. I feel like I should know who they are, but I don't have a clue.

"Do we have him?" His voice is deep and commanding.

The larger guy turns to him. "He says he doesn't remember his name."

"Let's see." His hand appears beside my face, and with a nod, I crumple to the floor.

"Fuck! I got him." The big guy grabs me, tossing me over his shoulder before turning to follow the other out of the room.

I use my right arm to cover my head as shots ring out, and I'm carried from the building. A swarm of people meet us with massive vehicles. I'm tossed like a doll into the back, and people jump in from every side.

"That's two, no sign of the third."

"Where the fuck could he be? We have swept the place." The big guy grumbles.

"No clue." His partner's jaw grinds.

I push my ear into the back of the seat and cover the other with my free hand - the noise pulses in my head, causing blinding pain. I wince with each thrum, agonizing over whether this is better or just another level of hell?

I continue to struggle to open my eyes more than a slit and startle easily with movement next to me. Some dude motions to my hand before sliding a headset over my ears. "Here ya go, this should help."

"Treating for head trauma and at least three bullet wounds."

"Hmm." The big guy grunts. Who am I kidding? They're all massive men, and I'm not a small guy. At this point, I don't have a clue who they are, but I'm guessing they're on my side because I'm not in that hole anymore.

The burly guy checking me over, shoves a machine in front of me, rolling my finger over the top. Between the sound and light, I can't open my eyes more than a mere slit, but my hearing is excellent.

"Got him!" He turns the handheld device around for the others to inspect. "At least we found him."

"Hopefully, he can tell us more once he gets looked at." The commander says as he types on his phone. Yeah, maybe I will.

When I can, I eavesdrop on the two men. They're deep in conversation as their eyes cut to me every so often. I'm dizzy, and the piercing sounds around me make my head hurt so much more.

"Ten minutes," a voice murmurs through the headset.

I rub the heal of my hands into my eyes, hoping to banish this debilitating throb behind them. What I want to do is to relieve this deep ache in the center of my chest.

"Where are you taking me?" I croak, my throat still so dry I'm not capable of more than a whisper.

A hand lands on my knee, drawing my attention. "Home."

"Thanks." I nod.

Now, if I can just remember where that is.

The helicopter descends along with my stomach and the lack of contents in it. I peek around the body next to me just in time to recognize what I believe to be a base below.

My body shudders as chills wash over me as I realize I don't have any fucking idea if these are the good guys or not. My basic instincts kick in, and I wonder if these guys are on my side. And if not, what in the hell am I going to do?

"Relax, man. You're in the right hands." This guy next to me has a reassuring presence. Still, I'm apprehensive, worried the bottoms about to drop out from under me. Sweat beads on my forehead, stinging my abrasions.

"Sure." I squint, trying to focus on the compound below. I inhale sharply when I recognize where we are. "It's been a minute since I've been here."