Jarren and I are currently standing in line. The people here are diverse. There are people here from ages 11 to 40. Both men and women are here.
On the first stage we were made to do fitness test exercises. Our ability to fight was also tested. Those that are strong and can fight were lead somewhere else. Those that were strong but aren't capable to fight are taken to another place too. And as for us that aren't very strong and are not exactly capable of fighting stayed where we are. They didn't bother divide us even though our ages were different.
The very first training we did was run on treadmills for all 30 mins straight. It matter not if we fall, we have to quickly get back up. After 30mins of running and falling, my knees were shaking and almost couldn't stand. I was bathing in my own sweat and was panting heavily. They gave us bottles of water and instructed us to drink slowly. I did just that and I felt the water I just drank simply comes out of my skin.
Next we were made to do push-ups. We are not to stop until we make our first 10. After finishing 10, we were allowed to rest and catch our breath for only a minute before going back to push-ups again. We did this for about 3 more times before doing another exercise. After push-up, we were planking. We are required to do at least a minute. As if push-up wasn't hard.
The final stage of our training was that we were using dumbbells and barbells. I don't exactly know what were the exercises called. All I know is that everything was hard. I felt my entire body tremble.
By noon time, we were dismissed. My body was so sore. Everything pulsed and hurt. I am both very thirsty and famished. I could eat an entire cow with this hunger. So for lunch, Mom have left us money to buy and eat food in the court. Jarren and I didn't exactly know what to eat. But we were advised to eat meat by the trainer. So we looked around the food court. We found a shop selling barbecue. The smell made our mouths water and we each bought the most our money could buy. We both had two full cups of rice and a whole chicken leg and thigh each. We also bought a cold drink, Melon Juice, to go along with our heavy meal. We then ate our lunch at the food court.
While eating, some soldiers sat with us. My brother and I tried to eat our lunch in peace. But the soldiers started talking with us.
"Were you the ones Captain Ogram adopted?" asked a male soldier eating some crispy pork thigh.
"Yes," I answered.
They then gave us a dirty look.
"Don't let it get in your head, kid. Doesn't mean you're the Captain's "sons," you'll get special treatment." said another soldier with chicken barbecue.
Jarren and I stayed quiet, we tried to avoid looking at them.
The soldiers laughed to themselves. I noticed Jarren's clasped hand to be shaking in fury. They too saw this.
"Oh don't get mad now, buddy, we're just joking around." the guy eating crispy pork thigh taunted.
"Yeah, princey, we don't want you to complain to your "momma." Do we boys?" another soldier teased.
They laughed at themselves again. Both Jarren and I lost our appetite. I stood up from my sit. The soldiers looked at me with their disgusting grins.
"Oh now, you gonna cry?" asked the soldier eating beef stew.
I ignored the guy. I walk up to the shop and asked the seller for plastic bags. He sighed and handed them to me.
"Just ignore them mister."
I just looked at him and blinked.
"They're like that to newbies. Just don't pay them any mind."
"Thanks for the bags."
He nodded and I went back to our table. I gave the other plastic bag to Jarren. I proceed to transfer my food from the plate when the soldier closest to me hit my plate with the back of his hand. My lunch all fell on the floor.
"Oops, my bad. Butter fingers," he smugly grinned.
"What's wrong with you?!" Jarren stood up and slammed his hands on the table.
Everyone in the food court stopped and looked at us. The soldiers then put their hand on their guns. Jarren froze in place. I then went down and picked up the food on the floor with my bag. I thought to myself that I've eaten far worse than food dropped on floor. I can just clean this one up and reheat them. I then bagged my brother's food and I gestured him that we're leaving. But before we did left, I spoke aloud where everyone in the food court could hear me.
"My name is Nigel Ogram and this is my brother, Jarren Ogram. We are the adopted sons of Captain Pheene Ogram. It was nice meeting you all." I said while looking at the soldiers.
After introducing ourselves in front of everyone, Jarren and I left. A few paces later I heard fast heavy footsteps behind us. I spun around and I saw the seller of the barbecue chicken. He offered me a replacement for the food that fell on the floor.
"Take it, it's a pleasure to serve the captain's sons. Captain's team was responsible for saving me and my little girl. Sorry about what happened earlier, those jerks don't know who they're messing with."
"It was nothing and thank you for the replacement." I accepted the food he gave me and left him a smile.
Jarren and I return to mom's unit. I brought out a piece of paper from my pocket and used the code to unlock the door. We went in and we ate the remaining of our lunch there. As for the food that fell on the floor, the seller took it and said he'll give it to his new dog so it doesn't go to waste.
For the rest of the afternoon, Jarren and I tried cleaning by sweeping and mopping the floor. We also dust the surfaces and furniture's with dry cloth. Satisfied with our work, we finally decided to take a nap.
5pm, we were woken by a loud banging on the door. I checked the peep hole and saw Uncle Larn. He looked distressed. I opened the door and what he said got my face pale.
"Your mom's in the laboratory, she was bitten!"
Jarren and I rushed to the laboratory. There we found Aunt Etil and the others. Mom was cuffed on the pipes. She was inside some room with thick glass where we can see her. She looked very weak. Her left hand was bleeding and there was where she was bitten. No one told us how it happened, all that we were told was that she didn't turn to a zombie in an expected time, she surrendered herself as a test subject to combat the virus.
Jarren and I refused to leave the lab. We wanted to keep watch. Aunt Etil sat on the other side of the glass, she was talking to her to keep her company. I guess mom can't see us on the other side of this glass in the observation room.
At sun down, mom stopped moving. She was as stiff as a statue. My brother and I panicked, we thought our mother has fully turned. But based on the monitor, her heart is still beating. Jarren and I cared not for the rules and entered the room. Now she sees us, her eyes moved towards the door when it opened. Mom's eyes watered and tears streamed down her face.