Operation by Tony Ruggiero

WENTY -T WO
    Christina opened her eyes. She stood near an old wooden picnic table. There was no fire and there was no Alexander. There was no one. She stood alone in the woods despite what she had just experienced.
    It was a dream…nothing but a dream. When I entered the woods, it reminded me of home and brought back that memory of him. Recalling some of their conversation, she felt anger and shame.
    She closed her hands, tense with anger and frustration at the experience that had come with the memory and as she did, her right hand closed upon something hard. She raised her hand finding it black with blood. Christina opened her fingers and saw a cylindrical object in her hand. The explosive device? It was covered by the same black blood. It was then that she realized that she had done it after all. It had been more than just a dream.
    But if that was the case, where was Alexander? She had seen him. She had spoken with him. She had felt his touch. Or had she? Had it been him, or had it been her own thoughts that had brought him to her to do what she wanted to do? Were these thoughts part of some awakening she was undergoing?
    She had felt strange this evening. Too many feelings were distracting her - taking control of her thoughts and actions. What was happening? First, there was her reluctance to feed upon Jake and then the anticipation of seeing John Reese again. Now there was removing the device that she’d willingly succumbed to so long ago. Christina wondered if perhaps she was losing her sanity. She didn’t know. What she did know was that she was free.
    There would no longer be any outside control over her. She could do what she wanted. Be with who she wanted. She could even…go home if she wanted. Home?
    There was much to consider and she felt overwhelmed by the possibilities. She also felt ashamed at how she had allowed herself to be used all these years. But it was only time, she thought and she had all the time in the world.
    But first, I need to feed.
    She felt hungry, near starving. The removal of the device had involved a heavy loss of blood despite her recuperative powers; however, combined with her already existing hunger she needed to feed and soon. Still holding the explosive device she decided that it might have a use later on—if for no other reason then as a reminder of misplaced trust. She placed the device into her pants pocket and then sniffed the air. She no longer smelled the presence of any other humans and now she wondered if there ever were any here to begin with.
    She headed back to the parking lot finding the other vehicle still parked near her own car. She decided to walk down the trail leading to the water and after a short walk, found what she sought.
    The man was young with beautiful dark skin, perhaps twenty, she thought as she spied him sitting alone. Next to him were two fishing poles with their line cast out into the river. Dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, he was wearing a set of headphones and humming loudly to the music his player was providing. She searched the area to ensure they were alone and not sensing anyone else, she moved toward him. He was oblivious to her approach because of the headphones he wore.
    Although hungry, she also felt unusually playful in the new mood brought on by her…what would she call it? Her epiphany? Sure, why not—that sounded good and Christina smiled. This was going to take a while to get used to.
    She picked up a piece of a branch that was lying on the ground, and tossed it near the man. It struck him in the leg causing him to look in the direction it had come. He removed his headphones and stared at her.
    He had a strange look on his face, his eyes wide and puzzled at the sight of her and Christina remembered what she had done to her clothing. She had cut her shirt from her collar to waist, including her bra, exposing her blood splattered chest. She imagined she looked like some kind of monster from Dawn of the Dead, or some other movie