Chapter 2: Casey

Day 3 of Training camp

We had to write letters from beyond the grave. Letters for our families as a way to say goodbye. They won't get mailed out unless you pass. It was an 'If you got this letter, this means I won't be coming home' type of thing. I tried not to think about the ways I could tear my family apart-ways that I knew would happen if they ever received a letter from me or my brother.

I wrote my letter to Mom and Dad and one to Oliver, but then I also wrote my own letter to mail to them for tomorrow's deliveries.

Dear Mom and Dad:

Bootcamp's going great. Early morning starts, and there are a few drills that we didn't expect to be doing right away, but I met a friend here. Jackie, her name is, and she's good. Oliver and I haven't been roomed together as expected. Still, I am honestly enjoying our time here, and before you know it, we will be back home and driving you all mad as usual. I hope you are all doing okay, and Sophia is keeping you on your toes. I will transfer some money over once we get some, and I will see you after the 12-week course.

Mom, I know that you had your reservations regarding us coming here, and I know it isn't everything you ever dreamed of us doing, and maybe one day we will live a new dream. Create new adventures and experience life outside the military; that's if we get through this. As they say, go big or go home. So here I am doing something I never thought I would do, and I am enjoying it. I will be safe; me and Oliver will be secure, I promise you that.

Dad, You spoke about what you wanted my dreams to look like; you asked me what I was feeling the night before we left, and I don't know. I can't tell you what I was thinking that night because every thought I had was a fearful thought, but I didn't want you to think I was having cold feet. I didn't want to let you guys down, and I know you always tell us not to worry about those things, but I did. I took an oath when I signed my name on those papers to enlist, and I will honour that oath until my last breath. I may leave here in 6 months and not know what to do, or I may leave in 20 years and have a whole new life planned out, but I do know and I do think that after everything you and Mom have done for all of us, I do think it's time I owed you all back. By the way, Oliver took the $20 out of your wallet when we were 13 so he could buy bags of sweets. Just saying.

Anyway, it's 3 am over here, and I need to be up in 2 hours, so I will wait for your letter back and talk soon.

All my Love,

Casey

After that day, I found myself eagerly waiting for a reply. Everything was going by fast, and now we are heading into another week. Our captain isn't a nasty piece of work but he is in his late forties and has the loudest voice going. I suppose that's what you have to do when you train to be a leader.

It's a course day today, which means we all team up and also work on our own, with and against competitors, to secure our ability to outrun our opponent and outsmart our enemy.

"As we have discussed over the last week, once you have done your training, all phases of the training, you will have 2 weeks leave before you are back here to get deployed for your first mission. There will be moments on this tour that will haunt you, make you see them in your sleep, and most of all, might put you off, but you as a team will follow your leader, communicate with your peers, and check in at every waking moment you have with your captain. These missions are mostly classified and confidential. You will receive your letters wherever you are, and from those days forward, you will remain in the shelters and tents that are accommodated for you."

After his speech, we are given a moment to line up and get our heavy gear off our backs. We have learned to run places with all of our gear ready for when we are on the field, and we have also learned to carry all of our equipment everywhere we go to boost strength and resilience.

"HAMILTON" Captain Renard's voice booms across 30 men and women. This will round down further along the course, and it will finish with 12 standings.

"Sir, yes, sir," I say to our lead commander.

"You and Cosgrove are running the course. It's a simple task; if you lose, you have to pack all the gear up. Your teammates can cheer; you are to not touch each other; you are to not fight or spite your opponent. And you have to run the full course even if your component wins"

"Do I make it clear?"

"Sir, yes, sir," we shout back. Saluting our commander is something you get drilled into you when you start. This is week four, and we have letters back in our barracks. Probably from mom and dad. We sent them one when we got to day 4, and now we have their reply.

"Good luck. You're going to need it, Hamilton,"

Louis Cosgrove. Such a prick; it's unbelievable.

"Cheers," I say as I focus on the main event. I have trained for months for this.

Focus Casey.

The whistle blows and we are off. I don't run as fast at that start because this one is for muscle strength. Pulling yourself along ropes and over boulders set in the way to test your ability to jump and climb. Once they have been done, I sprint off under the army crawl mat. Cosgrove has seconds on me, but I can tell that he is getting tired, which is why I'm glad we trained for it before coming here.

Were down to the monkey bars over water and finishing in a sprint to the finish line. Finishing the bars, we are level with each other when he sticks his foot out to trip me up. I saw something dirty was going to come, but instead of falling over, I hit the floor and sprinted harder, finishing just seconds before he finished. His stunt only pissed him off, as it made me run a little bit faster.

"Tut-tut Louis, being a sore loser gets you nowhere," I say as I look at the crowd cheering and heading our way.

"You won't survive the remaining weeks here, bitch. I'll make sure of it"

"Oh, will you now? You can't even play fucking fair, so how are you going to survive the tougher shit, mate?" I say this just as Oliver wanders over with our commander hot on his tail.

"Cosgrove. You are out for this week's training. Benched. I warned you both to play fair and you didn't. That shit gets you kicked off the course. One more stunt like that boy and you're gone"

Normally, answering 'Yes, sir,' to his order is better than "I don't even know why she's here; it's a man's job this," which is what he did say.

"Pack your bags, Cosgrove. Your out"

I should feel bad that he got sent away. Maybe if I had just ignored his sexist comment about it being a man's job, then he wouldn't have felt the need to be a jerk.

All my life, me and my brother have done everything together; some things we didn't do, but most times we were stuck to the hip. Hanging out with friends at events, parties, or school. Everything was together, and even now, even though we probably won't spend every waking day together, we will still be together. I get confused when our leader shouts 'Hamilton' because I never know which one he's talking to, and I think he himself is just getting used to me and my brother being here.

I head back to my barracks and fish out the letters I have. I recognise them instantly. A letter from Jake and a letter from Mom and Dad. I open Jake's first because I know the others will make me emotional.

And of course, he had to call me Baby Hamilton.

Dear Baby Hamilton,

These last few weeks here have been a bit sh*t, to be honest. I wanted to write you both a letter before you went so you had something to read while you were either travelling or just wanting some comfort from having me pick on you both, but I couldn't get the words out. I speak with your mom and dad a lot, and I remember having to write to Max when he got to the boot camp you were at, so I left my letters with your folks, and they hopefully sent them off.

Anyway, Leah is a mess, and she can't wait for you both to come home, and, to be honest, neither can I. My folks are currently standing here with me as I write this, and they send their love as always. Oh, and they want me to tell you that they are so proud of you both and to see if your care packages arrived? I know I'm rambling on right now, but I guess this is because I miss you both and can't wait for you to come back.

Stay safe, and don't bulk up too much. The skinny me isn't ready for a competition to see who's bulkier, because we both know I will win.

Anyway, as I said, be safe, and I will see you when you get home.

Jake

I laughed quite a bit at his letter, to be honest; it was just what I needed. I fold the letter back up and put it back in its envelope to stash away in my bag. I will have to get a box to store all of my things in soon.

I lift the next letter and tear it open. This is how I know this is from Mom. She's the only one who calls me a bloody bug. Childhood nickname from her; don't ask. I prefer Champ.

Dear Bug.

I cried at your letter, and I believe your father did too. Sophia is good. She doesn't understand yet why you aren't at home, but she will one day, and if you ever think that you are a disappointment to us again, I will have you come back just so I can complain in your ears about how very proud I am of you.

Every day I wake up, and I thank the heavens that I haven't had a visit or phone call to let me know my children are injured, and even though you are only at boot camp, your brother is very clumsy. We both know this.

It's quiet around here, and the time seems to be dragging as well, probably because I'm staring at the clock or the calendar several times a day just to make sure that it isn't June 22nd. The day you should be returning home. Me and your dad can pick you both up if you like. Everyone said they want to come by and see you both, and it would be nice to have them here when you get back, but the choice is up to you and your brother. How long do we get you for when you come back?

Anyway, your dad said that he knew it was Olly who took the money; he can't lie to save his lie; he doesn't have a good poker face like you do. Anyway, I want to hear all about your time there, so keep writing, and I will see you when you get home. Keep those men in their line.

I love you so much, bug.

Love, Mom.

I expected myself to cry, but I didn't. I was smiling all the way through that. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

I have already learned a lot by just being here, and I have really found myself feeling and doing more. I was a good student, loved classes sometimes, hung out with friends, and made some mistakes, but now I have a duty. I guard myself from my enemies. I guard my fellow soldiers and risk my life to save them.

I came here for one thing.

I came here to serve.

And serve I shall.