Warning: Everything in this chapter is my imagination. Thank you so much to all the readers. The readers who comment and vote, the readers who just vote and of course the silent readers.

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♡  On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation!♡

I scowled deeply when my eyes fell upon my fingers. Holy shit! The tips of my fingers were pink and the rest was pale as the blood started to freeze in my veins. I exhaled, looking at my breath turn into small puffs in the cold winter air. I clicked my lips and they almost turned into ice. Ignoring it, I slung my rifle over my shoulder and rubbed my hands together.

Standing far away from the fire, I once again looked around. It was Dusk and the light was fading away quickly. We had heard from the Base that the medical team was on their way but it was taking them too long for my liking. I was hungry, tired, cold freaking cold and worried to death. No, not for my death, but for the people around me. It's been a while since I feared for myself and today saw no change to that.

I have seen death many times and got lucky every time. Guess I had prayers with me or death was too busy to take me yet. I knew if today something were to happen I wouldn't hesitate for a second before throwing myself to shield the others. I was feeling the rush and excitement of this mission, even though the cold was literally making me turn into ice.

 I kept my distance from the patients for a specific reason. I can't bring Avalina into my thoughts when I am working so I let my man Hassan do it. He was worried but brave and very good at what he did. We both made sure to give everyone whatever the hell they demanded, even though half of which we didn't have. They were scared I could see that and now even Fiona was beginning to bite her lip with those small eyes filled with explainable fear.

Seconds ticked, the tension getting heavier. That's when my sharp hearing caught a movement behind the people who sat around the burning woods. The voice of leaves crunching was loud, everyone was dead silent. I drew my rifle, eyes focused and finger on trigger. Ready to put whoever it was in a deep sleep. My steps were slow but filled with caution. Adrenaline pumped in my veins and anger started to rise.

I took a quick glance at Hassan who was copying my moves but not moving from his place, which was next to the doctors. With every step I took I was getting nearer to the place where the sound came from. Stopping a feet away from the large bush in front of me, I realized something was wrong. I could feel it, feel everything; the fear radiating from the people behind me and the person hiding just behind the tree, with his back towards us. I was't sure who he was: a bastard or someone we should be protecting. So I stilled my movements, waiting for the man to make a move.

Swiftly I slung my rifle over my shoulder then I raised my right hand and gestured for Hassan. Making a pistol with my fingers then resting my left palm on the back of my right hand to let him know we have an 'enemy'. Then showing him my thumb to let him know that our enemy is a male and lastly I raised my index finger and moved it in circles and cupped my hand in the air for him to know I would need his help if things got out of control. And I would need his help fast.

If I pull the trigger I could attract many of those bastards here which would be welcoming my death to a tea party. Not to mention the piercing sound of fire would terrify everyone, so I had to go the other way. The close combat that I was trained specially for these reasons to do.

I reached for the sheath on my right calf and pulled out my black army knife, perfect. I advanced like a lion stalking the deer, not making any sound. Every step I took was silent as though walking on clouds instead of sticky forest ground. My heart started to beat faster as I got nearer the tree. Things had to happen between seconds, more than that and I could get into trouble. He can run, or worse, turn to fire at me.

My hands were not sweating because it wasn't the first time I was doing this, but I was anxious. Things could go wrong and there might be more than just a man. Standing directly behind him, with only the tree separating us, I inhaled silently, wrapped the cloak of courage and then it happened.

My hands worked faster than I thought, with the knife in a 'hammer grip' in my right hand. My left hand grabbed his forehead and pushed his head in the tree, preventing him to move. But this guy was huge and he was certainly making it a whole hell of a lot harder to restrain him He panicked and grabbed my hand on his forehead, which gave me an opening. Quickly like a lighting blot I brought the blade of my black knife near his throat and slit it open. I couldn't see but I knew I was done, as warm liquid drenched my hands. I let him go and walked around the tree to see him slumped over, the blood pouring from his neck.

I bent down and lowered his bandanna which was the proof for me that he was not one I should be protecting. It was their sign, a bandanna hiding their vicious faces. The man seemed in his late thirties. I stared in his eyes till they closed on their own. Looking down at my hands to see his blood on them I smirked, well at least they are warm now.

Cleaning the blade with his bandanna, I made my way back to the people who waited for me and was startled to see Avalina jump to her feet and rush toward me. "Blade, you're bleeding," she gasped and I smiled. Her terrified eyes stared at me in disbelief thinking. I might have lost my brain. I shook my head.

"It's not my blood," was my reply as I cleaned my hands on my combat pants and my eyes narrowed at realization that she called me by my name. My stomach did a flip but it felt good. I looked up to see Hassan standing next to her and noticed how Avalina flinched.

"Threat down," I informed him.

"We have to sky out," he spat angrily.

"As soon as the team is here," He gave a nod and walked away. I knew he had to report this back at the Base.

 "Are you okay?" I asked Avalina, while she patted her enchanting eyes at me.

"You are the one with blood on hands and you are asking me if I am okay," she mocked and I chuckled. Yes, I did.

"Yes, I guess I am asking you," I replied and let my eyes look around for Fiona. Thankfully I found her quickly and saw that she was trying to stop a young boy from crying. That's when I heard a vehicle approaching and reflexively my body stood like a shield in front of Avalina. I looked at the source of the sound then I sighed in relief. The medical team had arrived at last.

"They are here." I looked over my shoulder down at her, Avalina nodded and turned to grab the packed stuff.


 **

Nearly at midnight I was done with all the work they demanded. We were back at the refugee camp; patients were taken cared of, doctors were back. We had been acknowledged for our work and now I was walking with Lieutenant towards my tent to get some rest.

"Your performance was highly impressive today." Lieutenant Hyden made me turn to him with his unexpected comment.

"Thank you, sir," I answered, a bit confused which was of course visible on my face.

"They had been keeping an eye on you, Blade, since you started patrolling here. First we all thought you might not be as devoted to work as you are but surely you proved us all wrong and I am glad you did." Hayden kept on praising and now I got where this was going.

"Glad I could be of any help," I said simply.

"Keep that in mind, Blade. They are watching you and they are soon going to make a decision so I suggest you be careful for what you commit," Hayden warned and then strode away, leaving me with wide eyes staring at his retreating back.

What was that about?

 With a fogged brain I threw myself on the cot, not in a mood to take off my shoes. Watching me? Like some hawk? I growled and flipped my body. Laying on my stomach I drifted in a dreamless sleep.

The next morning came sooner then I thought. Weren't winter nights supposed to be longer? I thought to myself. Oh, wait, but the clock is the same. Waking up at 5:00 in the morning, I was frustrated and confused. I knew what Hayden meant by watching me; they were considering a promotion for me. I was happy but something was wrong. Maybe Troy not being promoted was bugging me. It was exactly the same reason. I hadn't seen my man from two and a half weeks now and my blood was flaring at the thought of me getting promoted without my brother.

Hassan tried to throw jokes when we started with the patrolling but I was not in mood. My thoughts were running in my head, like a wild dog was chasing them. The sun smiled down at me and I scowled. I needed clouds to make my mood drift. Even though the cold was numbing my brain I didn't want the sun. Criss-crossing the tents and watching the refugees waking up and preparing their breakfast, I suddenly remembered I hadn't eaten anything from yesterday. The funny part was, though, I was't hungry at all.

I walked in silence but that's when Hassan's weird laughing reached my ears, even though he was five feet away from me. I turned around and followed his gaze to which my eyes widened. First I was astonished to see Avalina in the state she was in. Second, my heart cringed for that poor piece of fabric.

Avalina was kneeling, with her hair tied in a pony tail behind her head, but the wind teased her face with her strands. She was scrubbing my shirt, the shirt I had given her, on a rock with such force I thought she had intentions of literally killing the poor soul. Water splashed on her face when she beat the shirt on the rock. Here I couldn't help it and joined Hassan with the laughing. She had her brows furrowed and somehow looked extremely beautiful. What made me most proud was that she was washing my shirt.

Our maniac laugh soon reached her delicate ears and her head snapped towards us. I sobered at once but my pain-in-the-butt friend couldn't stop showing his damn teeth. Avalina looked between both of us and her eyes at once filled with tears. Oh!

When she looked down, resuming her beating, I punched Hassan in the arm, making him shut up for the best.

"Dude, what was that for?" he demanded, rubbing his arm.

"Laugh again and I'll kick you in the balls," I warned and walked up toward the girl who drove me insane. I stopped and looked down at her. She ignored me. I loved this, loved seeing her angry. It made me excited.

"C'mon, it's funny watching you beat my shirt to death," I joked, bending down so we were at eye level. She looked up and a sad pout appeared on those lips and I knew I had to do something soon.

"Give it to me, I'll make sure it's clean and then I'll give it back to you," I said. She disagreed with a shake of her head and I smiled.

"But I wanted to help, you do so much for me I wanted to wash the blood from yesterday so that I can return your shirt back to you, I thought I should at least do this for you," Avalina replied, looking at my wet shirt sadly. The smile on my face turned into a huge grin.

"I always wash my clothes in the washing machine so it's okay if you returned it back dirty," was what I told her.

"But I don't want you to wash it," she argued and something punched my heart.

Then I asked with a smirk "Why?" As the word left my mouth I noticed her blush, which made her look even prettier. It made me proud.

"Well, you always work and get really tired; I didn't want you to..." She trailed off and after a moment of thinking she said, "I just wanted to help."

"Thanks a lot for helping, Avalina." I told her, trying to hide my smile.

I didn't talk but watched her wash it. The beating was actually good; the dirt was disappearing from the shirt. Every now and then she would glance up at me and smile me a beautiful, small smile which made my heart and stomach warm, regardless of the cold.

"So, how's you bodyguard?" She looked at me, surprised. She had no idea I noticed what happened around her.

"Aden is fine and he is not my bodyguard," she replied, pouring water on the shirt.

I quickly reached for the bucket and helped her with it. I guess today was the day I found out I could actually help women in their work. Maya would like to know this.

"But he sure seems like one," I replied, reminding her of the day I saw her with Aden. Avalina shook her head and looked up at me pausing the beating.

She muttered, "No, he is just protective," and shrugged. I nodded with a smile.

"Don't you have work to do. I mean I don't want to stop you from your duty," Avalina added, her eyes pained a little.

I sighed, she had a point but spending five minutes with her wouldn't hurt anyone. "Yeah I do, but helping the refugees is also my job,"

"Oh." Her brows creased . When she was done with the shirt Avalina hung the shirt on the line to dry. "Thank you." She turned to me.

"No problem," I told her, then watched her walk away from me, feeling the pits of my stomach fall apart. I growled when my ears heard a low whistle and knew Hassan found his new target.

"What was that?" He butt in when I started walking.

"Nothing that concerns you," I snapped without looking at him. He chuckled.

"But that sure was something," he pressed and I heard the playful tone in his voice.

"Dude, stop acting like you have some screws loose," I grunted.

"That's da problem, Blade, I do have my screws loose," he laughed and I growled again. "Tell me, do ya have eyes for her?" he mocked I tightened my jaw. I am not that greedy. Sometimes Hassan really knew how to be in someone's hair.

I turned to face him and the look in my eyes made him shut his mouth. "I appreciate it, I really do, but that's my personal business. Go near her or even ask me about her and I swear it won't be sunshine in your brain anymore." My threat made us stare at each other for a while, then he looked away.

"Chill man, don't go bananas," Hassan smiled, understanding this topic was not to be touched again. I sighed and walked again, he met my pace. "Let me tell you this, Blade, you are the only man in this world I definitely won't wanna piss off so don't worry that brain of yours, she is protected," he added. I looked at him sideways and passed a smile in gratitude.

This made me worried, now Hassan knew how I felt about her. This could put me in trouble but I guess for her it's worth it. For many years I have killed the feelings in my heart but now I was more than one hundred percent sure it was the time to unleash them and face the world. Glare the animal in the eye and embrace what the feelings can do.

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