World of Darkness World of Darkness: Attrition - A Lone Wolf

[109]

Thu-thump

Everything was bright, Dan couldn't see anything. For a split moment, nothing else existed. His vision was nothing but white, he could could only hear hits own thoughts.

Thu-thump.

Then reality came back with full force. His vision began to return, and the too familiar sounds entered his ears. The echo of the explosion, the sound on metal crunching, fire burning, and the screaming.

Thu-thump.

Dan stumbled as he got up, turning around quickly. His speed didn't seem to matter, the scene behind him was the same. The Humvee behind them was completely wrecked, and the one closest to him was currently on its side and on fire.

Thu-thump.

Dan ran back towards the truck, to the source of the yelling. Muscle memory was taking over as his heart pounded in his ears.

Thu-thump

He could see the source now, the gunner was trapped inside. There was blood everywhere.

Thu-thump.

Dan tried to crawl in, only blocked by his body armor. It too big to fit

Thu-thump

He could only hear an echo of his Platoon Sergent's words as he stripped out of his IBA and helmet.

Thu-thump

The cry for help was getting weaker.

Thu-thump.

Dan squeezed in the burning remains, outside he could hear a fire extinguisher from another truck start in an attempt to douse the flames.

Thu-thump.

Dan was almost to the gunner, he pushed a box out of the way.

Thu-thump

His vision flashed, and he saw it. It almost looked like a skull, but a fuse ran from its head and a clock was crudly taped to it. It hung on Jacob.

Thu-thump

Dan worked as fast as his could. He could -feel- the thing growing. Like it was getting stronger. The skull faded from veiw but it was still there.

Thu-thump.

Dan watched Jacobs eyes glaze, and his breathing stopped.

Thu-thump

Dan became aware of his platoon all around him. Pulling him out of the truck.

Thu-thump

They all looked at him with anger, sorrow, and judgment. It was his fault that Jacob died. He should have protected him somehow. He was too slow, he should have reacted quicker.

Thu-thump

The skull reappeared, bigger and with sharper teeth. Dan was paralyzed, he couldn't move. He knew what would happen next. It ate his platoon one by one, with each bite another explosion happened. Closer and closer to him.

Thu-thump

Fear and regret filled him. This was it.

Boooo-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

Dan's eyes opened to the alarm, breathing heavily. Sweat covered his body, and his sheets were a wreck from tossing and turning. He sat up, raising a shaky hand to his forehead.

They had warned there would be some issues when they got back. Problems 'readjusting'', PTSD, whatever. Dan laughed bitterly, remember the urges to get help. He could take care of himself. He expected the dreams, and he felt he deserved them. What he still didn't expect was the replay of the 'thing'. It was the first he had seem, and its visage still haunted him.

He wished it was the last.

Dan stood up and tried to push the the thoughts from his mind. A thump from his fist silenced the alarm on his way past. He walked to the kitchen in his relatively small apartment. He was grateful for having BAH as apart of the GI bill was nice, which afforded him to live alone. It was better that way, he didn't do well around people since he got back from deployment. His temper flared worse then usual, and people tended to feel weird around him. It was like he still carried an aura of war and pain with him.

Dan stopped off at the kitchen counter, spotting a half finished bottle of Jack Daniels. He picked up and taking a deep swill, something to distract himself. The familiar burn trailed down his throat. He still couldn't push it all out of his head. The familiar ifs and regrets hit him. If he had been faster, if he had been more prepared, if he hadn't taken so long getting his gear off. A familiar rage followed the guilt, anger at himself. He was wasting his time feeling sorry for himself and insulting Jacob. With a growl he threw the bottle against the wall, igniting an explosion of glass and whiskey. He wouldn't let something like that happen again, he would improve himself.

A long moment passed with just Dan staring at the wall angrily and breathing heavily. He wondered if he was going completely bonkers sometimes. It certainly wasn't normal to see some sort of battle field spirits in the first place, let alone in his dreams. It always came down to the same answer to himself. He knew what he had seen, what he had felt. Hell, what he still felt. Even if he didn't know what it was.

It took a few more moments for Dan to calm himself and begin to clean up his mess. Yeah, it was much better he lived alone.