A week had passed, and we had Guns again. I just hope Private Stiles would overlook my average shooting ability this time. I entered the shooting range and noticed the pile of paraphernalia in front. Private Stiles entered the room, and my stomach was getting acidic, especially when he gave me a glance.
What did I do to him, really? Creep.
He looked sterner than the last time we saw him. "Good morning."
There was a pause, and we murmured our replies.
You'd think this is one hell of an exciting game, but for someone like me, this is just pure trouble--- a complicated, troublesome worthless task.Who wants to be bait?! I doubt someone out there dreams of being bait. It's like how people throw in meat on a crocodile pen to draw them in. Damn that jerk! For all it's worth, this is his revenge on me. I still don't get why he's mad at me, but since he's one of those crazy kids, I'll let it pass. He must've lost a screw or something. I picked all the bait-like personalities in the class, or they chose me. And when I say bait-like, you'd probably think wimpy, and you're just half right. I sighed, looking at them. I can't help but feel sorry for ourselves. One of us even sneezed, spreading green matter down his chin.&
I went back to my modest team, thinking about the task at hand. Indeed, we're going to play sacrifice. And relaying the mission will be tricky since most of us are cowards that would instead run away along a path than clean it. I found them in a very awkward situation. From the looks of it, Yetti is having an argument with Osprey, both of them scowling at each other. "We will fail if we include the others with the plan. They'd just be excess baggage," said Osprey, who appeared to be in the same league as Marlo and Sedano. He reminded me of how Bee thinks. "As far as I remember, this is just a class activity advising awareness," Yetti answered. "We came here to learn not to weed ou
"We're up against the enemy's whole vanguard team," I whispered. I felt their stunned gazes digging into my head. "One trap will not be enough to take most of them." Osprey glowered at me and said. "I don't know how you can affirm that confidently, but what are we going to do?" I took a stick and started drawing on the land. "We're here," I said and drew a circle. "Here's Kaye's trap." I drew another circle. "And the biggest and nearest enemies around are over here and here." All of them listened quie
I woke up and yawned. Someone is trying to tear our door down. I looked at the clock and shrugged at the thought that I'd slept for almost fourteen hours. I ran my hands on my hair and fixed my clothing before I opened the door. "How can I help you?" I asked, and Minnie's grumpy face welcomed the sight. "Oh, hey." "Help?" Minnie snorted. "You ditched the game yesterday, and now you're asking how you can help me?" "We lost, huh," I said and yawned again. Minnie waved a hand in front of her face,
My body was still raw from the past weeks' rigorous training... And yet, here I am running on the field thinking about the book that lies inside the library. Private Diaz was scolding us about how flaccid our baby muscles had become just by giving us a day of rest. "You lousy losers!" he shouted, and that did it. "I heard some of you lost against the other class the other week?!" I thought this soldier had decided to drop that incident, but I guess I was wrong. I groaned ruefully. And when I turned at the others, I found them with grim expressions. "I am teaching a bunch of loser
Soldier Fred The gears were smaller, and yet our weapons were the same. They may be kids, but surely, the soldier doesn't see them as invalids. Beside's Fred knew, being a newly conscripted soldier, that they don't really have that much of a gap when it comes to military knowledge. He saw the first one who woke up. She folded her sleeping bag and slid it inside her gear. Noticing that he was looking at her, she approached him. She looked up the tree and called. "Good morning, Sir," the girl greeted, and she smiled at him. "I can take the watch now. You may rest." He chuckled. "The captain would kill me if
For days the patrol lasted. Still, there was no sign of any of the missing soldiers. In the forest, there lies a lake where all the patrolmen gather to exchange reports. At the lakeside, they camped. More and more from the bases soldier arrive each day, reinforcements as they seem, the kids see no immediate danger to be wary of. Perhaps, amongst the leaders, there was an exchange of Intel regarding an attack. Lieutenant Margeary sends them the awaited reinforcements only to discover that they were sent kids to work with. Most adults were appalled for what these kids, small, weak, and inexperienced, could do but hinder progress? Ace watched the camp with keen and stern interest. Being the best of the best amongst his age, he can't help but sympathize with the
It appears that a search team was about to get dispatched for us when I got there. Forgetting everything, I ran towards Private Bones. To my surprise, as much as to everyone seeing me there together with them, Private Bones gripped me by the shoulders and shook me. "Thank God you're alive!" he exclaimed, then his face suddenly looked grim. "Where are the others?" "I don't know," I said. "But they told me not to let you dispatch search parties. Oliver doesn't want to be pursued." "He told you that?" he sounded questioning, but I knew there was something he understood more than anyone did. I nodde
The next day, I woke up and found a note on the bedside table saying, 'Be right back. I had another bone scan. They said my hands were mending faster than expected. They commented about the drugs doing better than expected. They had me escorted back to the room. Fran gave me a visit again, brought the usual tray and food. She helped me eat, and although it didn't taste as pleasant as the food from the canteen or the food from the underground floor, I ate with vigor. I need my energy back as fast as I can. I can feelit. I know something's brewing out there, and I'd bet my toes this time that it has something to do with the captain. I did squats until my legs cave in.&n
I opened my eyes and turned to the clock on the bedside table. I wasn't surprised to find myself insidemyinfirmary room. My body's a stiff as stone. I must've slept for a long while now. I stood up and stared at my hands. Only my thumbs survived the beating. I couldn't help but feel sorry for my little fingers wrapped thoroughly with bandages. Fran entered the room holding a tray topped with a water bottle, a couple of medicine, and a kettle. There was food, too. I smiled at her, and she just sighed. She gave me three tablets of different-looking capsules. I took it and gulped it down with water. &nb
Bee became the highlight of my life, diligently helping me avoid detentions. During the past few days, the class managed to escape detentions with her wits, thus making my wounds heal in peace. One of these days, I'm going to thank her. Still, Lieutenant Margaery is nowhere to be seen, twice the sergeant had personally gone to me for information, and twice I told him I didn't know where she was. We were in the middle of Flight Lessons when Victor got pissed off and attacked Viper, his co-pilot. Roses stood up to watch them brawl. Private Lowell found them rolling on the floor, kicking and punching. &n
Another month passed by, I managed to avoid seven detentions and survived three. The first one was when Eagle and Howler snuck into one of the warplanes parked outside. Bee punched me in the gut when I asked her to tell the superiors that I made them do it. The captain and I made a happy reunion and later drowned me. I had also started teaching Muscat some tricks like stay and fetch. Minnie said I was mistaking it for a dog, but I ignored her. As long as I can prove that it's atrainedcat, who would argue against it? It had also refused to eat cooked food, so I do covert burglary missions to the kitchen for Muscat's everyday food source at night. It's either piece of meat or a whole fish. Even Minnie doesn't know this. The second time was when Reaper, Barrel
As soon as I opened my eyes, I realized that my nap had taken longer than I had planned it to be. It's 4 o'clock in the morning, and my back feels like it's gonna cave in. The jelly pads must've worn out. I stood up and limped my way to the shower room to wash my face and brush my teeth. I turned around and lifted my clothes to check my back. The deep blue pads had faded to a whitish blue. I fought the urge to remove them and look at how grave my wounds were. I lost and succumbed to curiosity. "Awawaw," I muttered as I lifted the corner of the pads to take a look. I watched my reflection as the weight of the situation dawned on me. I looked at my half-exposed back with self-pity and
The lieutenant found me wearing the suit from last week's detention. She stared at me for a second and sighed in defeat. I saluted. "They said a kid's up for detention," she told me. "I should've known it's you again." "I got really pissed off with my bomb," I told her. "Whose ass did you save this time?" she asked and turned right. "No one," I said. "It's all me." I looked at the room where I was electrocuted and frowned. "Where are you taking me?" "The captain must've heard that it was you again, so he changed the venue," the lieutenant looked pale. And angry. "He's not gonna cut my fingers, is he?" I asked and cleared my throat. &
Minnie walked beside me as we headed to the underground classroom. She's commenting about how we would learn to fly war planes underground. She's also talking about how Bee's starting to get on her nerves again. I stayed quiet the whole time. We met with the other guys on our way. Loki approached me, looking a little confused. "Why are you wearing a jacket?" he asked. "It's not that cold." "Leave me alone," I told him, and he shrugged. At last, we've arrived.
I was asked to strip off my clothes and wear the white, tight, thin suit. I did what I was told. I looked around. The lieutenant escorted me in here. I am now inside a small room, which appears to be the changing area. I tied my hair up in a tight ponytail, noticing how long they've grown since I got here. I focused on my breathing, calming my nerves. I can't calm down. I can't calm down when I know I am up against something I cannot kill. I want to run. There was a knock on the door. Slowly, I walked towards the door and stepped out. A guy in a lab gown welcomed me. "This way," he said. I strol
The Clique We walked further inside and up the great hall. We were welcomed with a carpeted floor and hotel-like ambiance when we reached the third floor. "That way is the Captain's quarters and office," the Sergeant said. "They made it look grand because sometimes, the country's leaders visit us. We can't make it look barbaric." I stared at the door a couple of meters away from us. The Sergeant signaled us to follow him. We found ourselves in the middle of another hall. I looked to the right, and there's a door, t