"Jade! "

The teenage girl grumbled before turning over in her bed, pulling the covers over her head.

There was a soft knock on her door, she grumbled and clothed the blankets tighter. "Jade! Get yourself up and out of bed please! There's a someone here to see you..."

Her grandmother says quietly outside the door. Jade perked up at this. It was too early still for her to be up for school so it couldn't have been Sam or Mikaela, so who could possibly be here?

She opened her door to reveal her worried looking grandmother.

"Who is it? " She asked, biting back a yawn.

"I haven't the slightest clue. But they specifically asked to speak with you first. Men in suits. "

"What? Men in suits? " Jade furrowed her brows before shutting the door gently and changing into day clothes. She fixed herself up to be presentable and walked down stairs.

Sitting on the couch were two men.

At the sound of her steps coming down the stairs, they turned; placing their cups, courtesy of her grandmother, on the table. They fixed their ties in sync and the left man cleared his throat.

Just by the way he stood and the vibe he gave off Jade could tell he was in charge here.

"Miss Jade Dixon, have a seat if you will, please. "

Jade glanced to her grandmother who looked uneasy but nodded and looked down at her feet.

Something was up.

Jade knew that much. " Okay. I take it this is the part where you introduce yourselves and tell me why you're here and what's in that bag. "

She said slowly. The men nodded, the right man held up the bag and placed it on the table. "My name is Captain Orion. I work with the same division your parents work under in the forces. "

Jade felt her body go rigid. "Okay. So why are you here now, Captain Orion. Where are my parents? " She addressed.

The man on the right opened the bag, but much to Jade's annoyance she couldn't yet see what was inside.
The man was tall, very built and had a few tattoos and the most vibrant blue eyes she'd ever seen.

"This here is my partner, you may address him as Ron. He is the weapons specialist on base, he oversees all weapons training and defense. "

Captain Orion pulled out an item wrapped in a navy blue sheet. "And these, respectfully, belong to you Miss Jade Dixon. "

He knelt down to one knee and held them out. Jade took the items hesitantly, afraid to confirm what she had been thinking in her head.

"What is it..?"

"I believe it's best if you open it and us to explain. "

Jade sighed. They were dodging her questions, not giving straight answers. She turned to her grandmother, that big blue eyed Ron guy had taken her to the kitchen to speak with her right after she took the items.

And to Jade's discomfort, she looked upset.

"Okay no." She held a hand up towards her grandmother and stood. "What's going on? "

She was fed up and impatient. The man sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Miss Dixon, with all due respect, you get your stubbornness from your parents." He sadly smiled.

"Your mother and father were two of the militaries best soldiers. They are the reason we have lasted so long in this battle."

Jade felt the air leave her body. She felt her throat tightening. "Were? As in past tense. What do you mean, 'were?'"

She ground out. Then she heard her grandmother cry, Ron placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Jade shook her head, tears forming.

"N-no. No, no, no. No. This isn't- no. " She breathed heavily. She impatiently took away the sheet covering the items and almost dropped them.

Two military funeral flag memorials with her parents names on them.

Jade let out a shaky breath, tears flowing freely from her eyes. She ran a hand across her fathers name.

"No. This isn't real. This- "

She closed her eyes and resisted the urge to pinch herself. She choked on a sob, raising her head and stood, hugging the items to her chest.

Her grandmother walked passed the man and straight to her. She wrapped her arms around the teen, a hand on her shoulder and the other on the back of her head.

"Grandma..." She sobbed. Ann shushed her, squeezing her tightly.

"I know Jade bug. I know. " The men respectfully turned away, hands folded in front of them as they stared outside the front window.

Ron nudged Captain Orion, a teenage boy was walking to the door.

Sam Witwicky.

Ron eyed the boy for a moment, sending a message to his friend with the yellow Camaro to begin the next step in his plan.

Ron turned to glance at the two women, and shook his head. Before the boy could knock he opened the door.

"Jade what's with the fancy black SUV outside- oh. Wait who are you? " Sam asked. He perked over his shoulder and his eyes widened.

"Jade?! " He went to enter but the man blocked him.

"Now is not a good time, kid. " He said quietly. Jade peered around and sobbed seeing her friend.

"Sam... wait! Let him in. " The men stepped aside and Sam immediately took Jade in his arms. He made eye contact with Ann.

"What's going on? " He whispered. Ann now held the two memorials in her hands, and motioned to them. Sam made an 'oh' with his mouth and gave a sympathetic look. Ann wiped her tears and walked to the men to see them out.

Jade shifted, "Wait. "

The men paused. Jade wiped her eyes and stepped towards them. "I want to know. "

Captain Orion looked skeptical. "Miss Dixon, look- "

"No. You don't get to come here and tell me my parents- you don't get to come here like that and not tell me. "

There was silence.

"How. What happened. " She demanded. Ron was ordered to wait in the car. Captain Orion sighed and shook his head.

"My deepest apologies for the loss of your family, but there are some things you will not understand. That you are not ready to understand and- "

"No! No that's bullshit! " She cried. Ann stepped forward, grabbing her arm carefully.

"Jade. Not now please. "

She cried and watched as the man walked away.

"No... no, no, no, no. "She sobbed. Sam and Ann shared a hug that seemed to last forever.

Jade had long since left the room, going upstairs and spending her time in a hot shower. Sam left awhile ago to school, she chose to remain home.

She sat on the floor of the shower, hot water across her back, traveling down her head, face and body.

She didn't feel it.

She didn't feel much of anything.

Except the dull ache where her parents once were. When the water turned cold, she didn't pay it any mind. Instead tilting her head back and letting the water hit her face.

When she finally gathered the courage to get out, she escaped right to the garage. Ann sat at the kitchen island, a book spread of pictures and memories. An old shot glass and bottle of whiskey in front of her.

Her grandmother hadn't had a drink since her 30's. It was a shocking sight to see, Jade left her alone to mourn her way.

She entered the garage, and sat in her chair. She placed her head in her hands. In the corner of her eyes she could've sworn she saw the trucks side mirror shift, but she payed it no mind.

Thinking it was nothing.

Her phone rang, revealing Sam's name. It was well past in the afternoon now, school had probably let out.

It was the last day of school, he had his project to present today. In the back of her mind she wondered if he managed that A. She answered the phone, saying nothing.

"Hey Jade. I know you're listening. And you don't have to say anything."

She heard him shuffling around in the background.
"I know you're hurting Jade. I'm going to come by later today, my dads taking me to a dealership now. Oh right, I got my three A's and three grand. I'm getting my car! "

Jade smiled softly. Sam continued, "Dads rushing me now. I'll see you later, okay. Call me if you need anything or even if you don't. Just- call me. "

Jade chuckled softly with a nod, even though she knew he couldn't see it. Sam hung up.

Jade sighed and set down the phone. She glanced at her fathers old beat up maroon car. Tears welled up again and she cursed at herself.

She dazed over to her toolbox and gripped a wrench tightly. She stalked over to the car, running a hand down the hood gently. "Dad..."

She gripped the wrench tighter before raising it up. She wanted to beta the crap out of something.

Anything.

She went to bring it down a few times, but every time she hesitated before falling to her knees. She couldn't do it.

She pressed her back against the front of the car, wrench clattering to the ground. The door opened, Ann coming in and silently sitting on the ground beside her with a soft groan.

"Jade. Listen to me dear. " Jade sighed.

"What happened, with your parents, no matter what they say or what you discover, your parents were hero's. "

Jade gave a questioning look. "They saved you, and this world so many times I've lost count. There's so much people don't know, and your parents? They protected the public from the evil that people wouldn't be able to handle. Evil the world would crumble and fall to. "

Jade sniffed, and looked at her grandmother. "What's that even mean? You're talking weird. And you've been drinking. "

She said, running a hand down her face. Ann smiled sadly, kissing her granddaughters forehead and standing. "I haven't drunken that much dear. As for what it all means, that's something you'll have to discover on your own. And dear lord do I pray you never do. "

Ann walked away with a glance at Jades black truck. She sighed, closing her eyes and walking inside. Jade was left in confusion.

She cried, head in her knees as her body shook with cries. "I don't understand. "

She whispered. Jade looked to her left, staring at her truck. She dug for the keys and unlocked the truck.

She climbed in, gripping the steering wheel. She took out the crumpled piece of paper she shoved into her pocket after receiving it from the men earlier. It contained the address and plot number for her parents.... well... their graves.

She drove to the location and brought the truck through the old black gates of the cemetery. She parked right in front of her parents plot numbers.

She got out, leaving the windows unrolled. She knelt down, touching the soft grass. Two holes had already been dug and prepared for caskets. Gravestones with their names on them had been placed.

"Oh my god. " She cried, placing a hand over her mouth as sobs escaped her. She took a fistful of grass before screaming as loud as she could at the ground. She heaved in and out, gasping for air as tears ran from her eyes.

She sobbed, slumping against the front tire of the truck. She sat, one leg up with an arm propped on it holding the side of her head. She closed her eyes, breathing in the air around her.

"This is going to fucking suck. "

She said to herself. "I mean seriously. How am I supposed to- god. How am I supposed to go on without you guys? "

She sighed. "You weren't supposed to leave me like this. Not so soon. Not so suddenly. "

She closed her eyes again, trying to hold back tears.

"It's not fair. " She whispered.

"Well. Life ain't fair. "

Jade jumped, startled by the sudden voice. She stood, one hand remaining on the truck. She breathed in slowly, looking around the cemetery.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. "

Jade whirled around, a man with flowers stood behind her. He was uncomfortably close. Jade backed up and sniffed.

"Who are you? "

"Ah. You don't know me. Just visiting. Couldn't help but over hear you. But it's true, life ain't fair. But I'll leave you to it. "

Jade watched as the man walked down the gravel pathway. "Hey! "

She called out crossing her arms. "I- you should really not sneak up on people. It's rude. And creepy. "

He paused, turning his head sideways with a chuckle. "Yea. I suppose so. My bad, love. "

He continued his walk, Jade scoffed.

"My name is Ryder, by the way. " He said.

"Jade.." She mumbled. Ryder smiled as he walked away. Jade shook her head while scratching the back of her neck.

Jade strolled to the drivers side of the truck, climbed in and started it. She took one last glance at the empty gravesite before leaving the cemetery.

Jade made her way home in no rush at all.

Ryder remained watching.

::::: ::::: ::::: ::::: ::::: ::::: ::::: :::::

Aha. Excluding this note this chapter was 2,200 words on the dot. Hope you enjoyed this great but very saddening chapter. Happier chapters to come!
Stay tuned y'all.

:)