After a week of training, it was my last few hours there at the Black Ops Facility. Ezequiel and Olivia express their excitement about my growth and send me a warm farewell, Dante nods farewell, and the twins give me a bear hug and express their gratitude and how proud they were. "We expect you back here real soon!" Hansel tells me. "Destroy Isiah," Gretel says in a grim tone, but quickly switches to a smile. On my way out I wander into a lab, and I see a boy working on mechanical wings.
"Hey those look cool are those for the soldiers!" He looks over at me and smiles.
"They're for this soldier! I am not average so why would I fight like one right?!" He eagerly asks. I nod and smile.
"The name's Gale Hawkins!" He announces to me. "But in the field, you can call me Zeus!" He boasts. I let out a little chuckle and he follows suit.
"My name is Aaron Philan, its very nice to meet you." We shake hands.
"Hey, I've heard of you, do me favor; beat that Isaiah I want you to join us here." He says in a serious tone. I smile back at him.
"I'll try," I respond and I leave with a reinvigorated drive to beat Isiah.
I arrive at my dorm super tired from the day I had, I soon decide to go to the commons and get some food. I make my way to order, and an elderly man was the cook. "Hello, sonny what would ya like?" I think about my answer, and I draw a blank. "I trust your judgment, whatever you like." The old man lights up and goes into the back and makes a grilled cheese with tomato soup. I smile and I take the plate. "It looks great thanks, have a good day!" He grins. The common's clears out relatively soon after I arrive. The old man takes off his hat and comes to sit with me.
"I notice you're an Exile how'd they take you away?" He asks normally. I look at him very shocked.
"How did you?" I begin to ask.
"I'm 75 years old, I know when someone is an Exile or a Perfectionist." He humorously tells me.
"There was a raid on my school, and I ended up getting taken," I say.
"You poor thing, how have you made it?" He asks in an inspired voice. I look at him a little confused and happy that someone cares.
"I don't think about it, my family is ok I did everything I could for them. Now I pray they live their lives in freedom for me." I look down and tears drop and the next thing I know I'm crying. I don't really know why but the pain has really hit me right now. Everything has been hitting me back-to-back and I've never really had a chance to process what's happened. He gives me a look of understanding and he pats me on the back as I cry and is just there for me. Which is something I've never had; but feels so good to have.
"Come by the kitchen after your exam and I'll treat you to a hearty meal for you." He smiles and walks back into the kitchen. I collect myself and head back to my dorm and prepare for the battle tomorrow.