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
Saying hi from a lazy day in the Philippines.
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
"She's going to be fine," said an unfamiliar voice. "The lieutenant handled her quite well." Then, I heard footsteps walking away. I opened my eyes and saw Loki and Ace standing by the foot of my bed. I sat up. Loki grinned at me, and Ace just pursed his lips, looking a bit stern. "What happened? Why am I here? Where's Minnie?" I asked. I was about to jump off the infirmary bed when my neck throbbed. "She's still unconscious. She's resting in the room right next to yours," Ace answered and folded his arms. He leaned back on the wall and watched my reaction. "How is she?" I asked.
We walked towards the Great Hall, and Ace still couldn't get over the idea that I was harboring a pet. It appeared that Ace didn't notice what it was I handed over the aide weeks ago at the infirmary. "This is totally unfair!" he yelled. "How come you get to have a pet?" "The lieutenant said that it is a reward," I mused, grinning. "What kind of cat is it?" he asked. "It looked nothing like an ordinary cat." "It's a cat," I said. "A Bengal, maybe." "It's black!"
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
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
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.
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. &
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 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