Chapter 8: Solitaire Unraveling

His fingers touch each keyword number like it's an art. His eyes stay glued to the screen like it's a part of his body. After all, Sean is a hacker. Been doing this since he can remember.

Ben says, “Hey Sean, got that program installed?"
Sean says, “It'll be done in a few minutes."

As Ben walks away, he turns into the direction of Col. Staley's office. Ben figures that by the time that Sean is done, his appointment with Staley will be done. Ben knocks on the Col. Staley's door.

Staley says, “Come in."

As he walks in, Ben salutes Col. Staley.

"At ease, Lt.", says Staley.

As Col. Staley gestures for Ben to sit down, Ben does so.

Staley says, “It has come to my attention that someone is attempting to access classified files, more precisely, pertaining to Vietnam. I need you to check up on it."
Ben says, “Yes Sir."
Staley says, “Ben...."
Ben says, “Yes Sir?"
Staley says, “I need you and your men to watch your asses now. Anything can happen and you need to be prepared. You are dismissed, Lt. DeLuca."

Ben walks out of Staley's office and back towards the Grinders headquarters. As Ben walks back in, Sean is still working hard.

Ben says, “Is that program done?"
Sean says, “Ready to go."
Ben says, “Good. All of our systems are updated. Sean, report to the main hall in a few. I'm going to gather the rest of the guys and make an announcement."

As Sean finishes up, Ben goes and tells the rest of the guys to meet him in the main hall in a minute. As everyone is seated, Ben walks up to the podium.

Ben says, “Ladies and gentleman, it has come to our attention that someone has been snooping in classified information. Sean, you need to find out what you can about this. If someone happens to get away with any of this, it's your asses. Any questions?"
Hearing nothing but silence, Ben says, “Dismissed."

The Grinder's disassemble and return to their respective positions. Bored and with nothing to do, Lt. Matt Luggin returns to his father's office. Ever since he reached 17, his father wanted him to join the army. It was not a very easy thing to object to him, so he had no other choice. That was also one of the reasons why Matt is in the Grinders. Staley saw the opportunity to get someone that knows power and grabbed it. If it weren’t for the name, Staley would have tossed his sorry ass already. Seeing as how his father is overseas, Matt takes this chance to sit in his father's chair, one that (and he has this farthest from his mind. But its still there) he wouldn't mind having as his own.

Moments away, Lt. Lawrence Graham is sniffing cocaine. Lt. Broun knows about this but she feels like a big sister to him, so she won't rat him out. Since the incident last year, he's been having panic attacks and this usually calms him down. As he puts his head up to anticipate the effects, he hears a noise a few feet away.

Graham says, “...Who the fuck is there?"

Graham's voice flows through the room, telling him no one is there. As he calms down once again, he puts his head down and sniffs some more cocaine.

"Inside my shadow"

He looks around, anticipating shadows. He now hears creaking footsteps. Graham stands up and takes out his knife.

Graham says, “Where you at?"

I can hear you

Graham says, “Who the fuck are you? Come on you sonovabitch."

Am I near you?

As those last words are spoken, a black body of mass jumps out from the shadows, poised like a carrier of death. He hits Graham with enough mass that sends them flying at the wall.

Frost-So lost in your own hell...lost to the world you know.

Frost puts his hands on Graham's face, and absorbs his memories.

'Oh fuck, what are we doing?' thinks Graham as he watches his friends kill the two civilians.

Frost says, “You just stood there. A great man once said, “For good men to do nothing is evil enough." The evil of your action has marked you. Your time is now but over. Where souls of the wrongful dwell, to be forever lost, lies your destination."
Graham spits out, “Eat my shit..."

Frost thrusts his fist into Graham's stomach, forcing the morning's meal up. Graham moans.

Frost says, “Lawrence Graham, the hand is a symbol of power. It's shown that it can create life as well as death. Unfortunately for you, It will bring death."

Frost positions his hand in attack mode, towards Graham's face. Then without warning, he sends his fingers up Graham's nose. As it passes halfway through, he opens up his fist and pushes farther until his hand reaches out the back of Graham's head against the wall. Graham's brain is now in Frost's hand and Graham's head rests on Frost's arm. He pulls his arm and hand out of Graham's head, and lets go of Graham's brain.

Frost-My world has turned to rust.

Frost walks away and discreetly blends in with the shadows.

A letter dropping on his father’s desk wakes Lt. Luggin up. He looks around but finds no evidence of someone being there in the first place. The note has the shape of the crow cut into it, but with blood. It reads:

Blood will be spilled from the hands of the less fortunate. The holder of pain decrees the moment of the end. The Grinders.... Will find their path very unrestful. ~ N. Frost

Luggin almost cries out, “Fuck, Dad's not even around.... I gotta show this to Ben."

Matt runs to the Grinders HQ and finds Ben is not there.

Luggin says, “Oh shit..."

She watches the delicate curves, around the legs and surrounding the body. She can almost feel the pleasure in it. She closes her eyes and imagines the picture as if she is there. Her father's penis, inside of her, thrusting in and out of her. She can remember his hands on her ass and on her breasts. She can even remember his moans of joy from being inside her. "C'mon, Samantha. Show me you’re a good daughter. Let me fill you up." Unfortunately, that was her only good memory from her childhood. Her mind goes back to the "scene" with her father and her. Her father grabs her ass as he cums inside of her. "Good Girl. Now go get daddy a beer".
"Yes daddy."