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I crouched near the edge of the training camp, my eyes peering over a bush.
People, mostly kids my age, ran circles around the camp. A man with a bushy mustache and ugly green uniform sat far away in a chair. His eyes were full of boredom as he apathetically watched them run.
Then, one of the runners fell, collapsing to the floor.
Bushy-Mustache stood up while beckoning a soldier next to him to come closer. He whispered something and the soldier went running. Then, he made his way to the fallen kid on the ground.
Bushy-Mustache grabbed the kid by the collar and tilted his head, a wicked smile on his lips. My eyes widened in shock when he raised a hand and brought it down on the kid's cheek. The sound echoed through the woods.
However, the trainee refused to come into consciousness and Bushy-Mustache dropped him uninterestedly.
The others watched nervously.
The previous soldier came back running, in his hands was a bucket that sloshed with water.
"Pour it on him." Bushy-Mustache ordered.
Without warning, the bucket of water came rushing down on the kid. The boy woke up to a start, his mouth gasping for air.
"Welcome back." Bushy-Mustache sneered. "Since you've decided to take a nap, you owe more 50 more laps. Go."
"Sir-" The kid panted. Now looking at him, he was pale and obviously needed to rest from the sun. "I- I can't."
"Y-Y-You can't?" He mocked the trainee. "How about I make an example of you right now."
Abruptly, Bushy-Mustache pulled out a gun and pushed it into the boy's temple. The kid's lips trembled in fear.
Never had I seen such insanity in someone's eyes. As though if, by one small nudge, he would lose all control and kill everyone there.
"So? What'll it be? I've been thirsting to kill ever since they sent me to the damn middle of nowhere."
The pitiful kid crawled with newfound adrenaline, running back to the group.
Bushy-Mustache stood up. "Well," He shouted at the group. "Keep running!"
The group, in a startling way, began to clumsily run again.
"If only we didn't need them, I would've killed all of these brats." Bushy-Mustache growled with frustration.
A piercing shout tumbled my lips when a rough hand grabbed my hair and pulled me forward.
"Stop!" I cried while scratching at the hand.
The dragged me towards the camp and my screaming had attracted everyone's attention.
"Captain Berret!" My capturer shouted. "I found this rat staring at us from the north side!"
I was pulled forward and in front of the man in uniform and bushy mustache.
My body trembled as he looked down at me, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
He grabbed my chin forcefully. "What have we here?"
"S-Sir-" The words could hardly tumble out of my lips.
"What were you doing?"
"I was- I-"
He began to reach for his gun.
"I actually wanted to enlist!" I managed to force out.
The excitement in the man's eyes began to fade. "What?"
If I mess up now, I'll die!
"My mother is from the motherland, and I- I wanted to enlist!" I lied.
"So? How do I not know that you aren't lying?" His eyes began to show craze once more.
I curled my fists, attempting to act seethed, however I was still afraid and tears were beginning to show. "They- they murdered her! I want to become strong enough to kill that rebel scum!"
My heart wretched at the trash that tumbled out of my mouth. I felt as though Addie and Gus cried at the grave because of my words.
The interest was completely gone from his eyes, and they were back to aloof ones. "Petra, take her information. And get someone to watch over these brats."
"Yes sir!" The man that grabbed me shouted and saluted.
The two of us walked to a tent in silence, the running steps of the trainees was heard from afar. However, I was rehearsing the story I had made up in my mind.
My mother, was from Marna, the motherland. She had come to K_ as a child and fallen in love with an ice elementalist, my father.
[Again.]
My mother, was from Marna, the motherland. She had come to K_ as a child and fallen in love with an ice elementalist, my father.
I reached over to my eyes, which were still a clouded blue.
Since there was no way to completely hide my relations to my element, it seemed the only plausible way. I had inherited part of my father's blue eyes, but not his power. In which the black hair came into play.
It should be believable, I thought despite the pounding heart. Everything is going to be fine.
Inside, I had recounted my story, stating that my name was simple plain Jane Lark.
"So Jane," The soldier looked at me suspiciously, "how did you know we were out here?"
"A rumor." My heart pounded. "I was in the nearest city and heard a rumor about the training camp for the motherland's army. I was simply wandering around and decided to get revenge for my mother."
"The next city huh."
He- He doesn't believe me.
"Helavo. Take this girl to the next available space. Show her the ropes or whatever." He glanced slightly at a man who was scribbling something on a desk nearby.
My face stiffened when I tried to hide my relief.
"Did you even check her things?" The man muttered while scribbling. "Don't you see I'm busy myself"
The soldier scoffed in amusement. "I figured you'd do it Helavo."
The man stood up and beckoned me with his finger, his glasses slipping from his annoyed face. His black hair fell onto his hair, decorating his handsome features. A smooth yet shaped jaw and small lips. His striking pink eyes popped despite the bags under his eyes. He'd look in his twenties if it weren't for his tired look.
Placing my bag in his open palm, I watched as he searched it with disinterest.
Miss Maria had advised me to leave the gun in the attack of her home, and luckily, I was smart enough to listen to her.
Grasping my backpack, I glanced at the man who shifted through notes once more.
"Petra. My notes."
"Yeah, I'll take care of them." The soldier waved.
We walked outside together as he showed me the different areas that pertained to the camp.
The place extended farther than I thought, but had less resources than I expected.
"Also," The man glanced over at me, "the name is Helavo."
His hand reached over for a hand shake.
The hand of the enemy.
How many more hands would I have to touch?
How many more killers would I have to patronize with?
It wasn't until he dropped his hand that I realized I was dazed for too long.
My eyes peered at him carefully, trying to gauge out his mood.
His eyes looked back at mine, however, they were tired and sunken. If it weren't for his youthful appearance, I would've guessed he was an old man through his eyes.
"Jane, was it?"
I nodded.
"I don't know what your intentions are, but I advise you to be careful." He pushed back his glasses and looked at his surroundings with a solemn look. "If you travel too close to the spider's web, you can get caught. And killed."
His words brought a shiver down my spine.
Does- Does he know?
"I don't know why, but there's something about you I like." He scoffed with a soft smile. "So, I'll just tell you not to stand out too much. Oh, and do everything you can to stay out of trouble. The captain here is unhinged."
On my way to my tent, I wondered what was wrong with him.
Was it normal to talk that way to your supervisor?
That man, Helavo, was different.
His eyes were numb and tired, I've never seen it before. It seemed like he was tied up. Like a butterfly stuck in a spider's web that had given up to it's fate.
I laid on my of thin layer of hay that night, the breathing of other's in their sleep brought discomfort in me.
My body shifted to its side, as my arms wrapped around me. Quiet tears formed in my eyes.
I miss them.
Right now, Miss Maria was probably singing Dixie a lullaby while Benji joined her with a smile. I could hear the fire crackling and dying out. Even the crickets that cried sounded different.
I stifled a sob when a loud snore rang out the room.
The next morning I woke up with sunken eyes. All the trainee's, including myself, stood in lines outside the training tent. Several people continued to send me glances as we waited. They whispered several different things, but I ignored them.
"Salute!"
The others quickly stopped their gossiping and raised their arms. I followed them meticulously and with all the confidence I could muster.
The captain walked by, a crazed smile on his face.
"It's a good morning!" He grinned. "How are we doing today?"
"Great Sir!" We said in unison.
The captain laughed this time, heartily and heavily.
My heart sank with fear.