Standard Operating Procedure: Chapter II

The first thing I can recall is the dirt
face down, the grit in my teeth, caked around my nose and mouth
I still cant open my eyes or maybe I can
tied, in the dark, I didnt even realize I was making noise until they came and got me
The brightness of the new day burned my retinas
"where is he...where is he"
I look around the camp nervously as they drag me through the dirt
I black out
new surroundings, cold tile floor, acrid smell.
this must be where the torture happens.
I search my mind and look down upon myself, stripped.
I only know my name. I know my rank. I know my country.
repeating the words over and over in my mind until I hear footsteps
lots of footsteps
the creak of a door behind me, it shuts but does not lock.
three men crowd the room smelling of musk and shite.
I realize I am on a table, an embalming table, not good.
"kde su"
I open my eyes, memorize faces, and watch.
"KDE SU KDE SU KDE SU"
"when I find my brother, you will find them."
A small man whispers translations into anothers ear,
"keď som nájsť môjho brata, nájdete je"
Suddenly theres a gun against my temple its still hot, and it burns
I watch as they take out a disgusting pair of pliers, and begin the mutilation.
death before dishonor
my thumbs are first I can feel the ridges of the pliers pinch my skin and nail, as they force it up then pull it out from my skin.
index, middle, ring, pinky. one by one.
i try not to look at my hands, reserve my strength, I hate the sound nails make when they drop to the floor, I also hear something metallic be knocked off by the fat man.
now I can feel a blade the tip just in the nape of my neck.
it was like rendering chicken skin, tilting my head sideways and pulling it up hard and cutting slowly and sharply, the serrated edge making what I imagine cheese grater ears I now possessed, the blood pooled in and around my ears, made my face hot, surprisingly I could still hear everything.
Three men stare at me, and I stare into them. They ask questions I do not understand.

Its unfortunate I killed their general. All I can think about is Chris. Im not dead, or a stump, so they need me for something...but what?
Three men exit, I hear the door open, I hear the door close, and it does not lock.
I hear footsteps fade away, and I look at the ground and smile at my upper lobes, fingernails, and blood. Not a good look for them.
I roll off the table, onto my feet, my hands and legs are still bound, I lose my balance instantly and hit the floor with a smack.
I wriggle across the floor, turn over on my back and grasp it in my hands, lighter.
I burn my palms about three times attempting to get what I figure is a flame behind my back because its burning my skin, is blood flammable?
i drop the lighter and pull my arms apart, nothing. I try again, I burn my back with the cord, this time it shakes loose. I turn my wrists and struggle until I get them free, then start on my legs. Success.
I listen, nothing. I stand up wipe the blood and dirt off of my face, spit, and wait.
The three men come back into the room one at a time
I stood behind the door waiting for this moment. 1 down heavy door to the face. 2 strangulation against the back wall, the fat man watches, as the door slams shut, and does not lock. He was already reaching for his pistol when I disarm him with an elbow to the mouth, I have him on the ground, knee on his chest, gun in his mouth.
"where.the.fuck.is he?"
"Americký trash"
One shot, 5 left. one of his teeth ricochetes into my forehead, where it remained.
I carefully open the door, kicking the bodies aside..and walk slowly down the corridor. He is here. he is alive.

Liquidation: Chapter I

a shot rang out in the night
the crowd shifted directions and flies past us as we walk towards the blast, the moon shining on our faces, the city lights, the wind against , as well as the people rushing against.
amongst the rubble and the bodies theres nothing, we creep behind buildings
searching out the regime , the gun is cold and numb in my arms, the weight becoming limbs and flesh of my own
you move ahead, the wind is getting stronger, as well as the noise from the tanks, theres not much distance between here and safe point, time seems to stand still
suddenly this place is ominous, I can hear the click of the gun behind us, synchronized we turn around and shoot straight into the noise

we stop when we hear the slight plop of a body falling face first into the pavement
I hold my ground, look towards the skies, backtracking now, we'll never make it back, I radio base while you move ahead and check the body
"shite breeze."
I reload and check the skies one more time, theres never just one guy..never just one.
we stand over the body of a two star general
"woah shite."
"how much time do we have"
" about an hour, where did this guy come from?" I kick his hands away from his gun, even though I know hes dead it still strikes anger in me
"looks like hes a slav, this guy did not come alone we have to get out of here"
"agreed"
we trek across the city, this time moving quickly, quietly...staying close to the shadows
you move ahead and I check the skies, surprise mortars for a surprise general
we both hear the high scream of a mortar and the crash into a building to our right, maybe a street or two away
I look at you, and we both instantly go into a full run, position has been given away
I throw you another ammo pack and we duck into an alley
"where the fuck are we"
" 400.68 E 37.8 N"
"fuck you where are we."
"about 4 miles away"
"we cant risk giving away the base position"
I finish my sentence and put my map back in my bag, two more screams 2 more bombs.
we make our way up the narrow alley, trash and broken concrete everywhere
I can hear the marching, too many feet, too many people for this army of two
I keep my eyes on the sky, double tap one, double tap two double tap three
the alley way ends, I can hear scattering and screaming in slav, you lean out from the wall
I grab your shirt before a stray round nicks your arm
"fuck you"
"hey fuck you"
I get on my knees slide my gun just outside the wall and aim low
and shoot an entire platoon in the ankles
its almost too easy

20 men fall down screaming and we turn the corner and finish them off, I take an AK-47 from the ground
the army is behind us
still in the lead, I keep my eyes on the stars, the sky is so big and black
I cant feel my feet
my heart goes silent
keep moving.

you stop suddenly
I run past you right into an oncoming platoon
from the alley way to the open way sliding behind a building
at least 100 bullets come flying into the wall I lean against
I wait for the noise to stop
I stand straight up
catch my breath
turn to shoot

lights out.
my last image is you being put in handcuffs, I am on the ground, all I can hear is my heart, this is worse than death
before I completely comprehend my pow training in the one second I have my eyes open I get slammed in the back of the head with a large piece of rock
my feet bump up and down on the pavement like cans on the backs of cars, as they drag us away.