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WARNING!! : Explicit content. Contains strong language.
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Time seemed to have slowed down inside the dark cell for Aman. He had no idea how many days had passed on the outside. Having done most of his thinking on the very first night, he had mostly been asleep trying to conserve whatever little strength he had left. His body had burned through all its fat reserves. He was nothing more than a bag of skin and bones at this point in time. It had been almost a day now since he had taken the last sip from the glass of water.
A pair of footsteps echoed through the hallway and the door finally unlocked. He did not even lift his head. He could not. But, he opened his eyes as a familiar voice fell on his ear.
Hey there kiddo. Are you still alive?...
Colonel Riyaz was a short bald man in his late 50s. He did not have any distinctive features at all. None. But he was rich. His family had been friends with the dictator's family for generations now. He rose up the ranks through his Alawite lobby and connections. He had been enjoying life to the fullest for the past three decades. Money, power, all kinds of luxuries, and a beautiful young wife. He had everything. He had been thinking of planning a grand retirement party for a while now. The glory of life was at its peak before the war started. And then, everything went to shit.
"War tells no lies", they say. It certainly did not hold back with the colonel. The anti-government protests started in 2011 in a Southern city called Darʿā when several children were arrested for making anti-government graffiti on the walls. It saw protests throughout various parts of the county but the heaviest protests were seen in the city of Darʿā. The Syrian armed forces were mobilized to seal off the city to stop the protests from spreading. It was an assignment given to Colonel Riyaz. But, not only was he unsuccessful in stopping the protests, he even had a faction of his armed forces break off and form the 'Free Syrian Army' after he ordered his forces to open fire on a group of protesting civilians.
He was heavily criticized and immediately withdrawn from the frontlines. He was benched and faced multiple investigations before they had to send him back into the field due to a shortage of military personnel. His assignment was to push into Homs, a major industrial city that had been surrounded by rebel forces. This was supposed to be his redemption. Only if were that easy. He had been fighting a mercenary warlord named Umar for months now to no avail. Despite having more soldiers and superior weaponry at his disposal he had not made any headway. To add salt to the wound, his brother-in-law was killed in battle by the mercenary leader a few days ago. He had already been under heavy criticism, but now, he had become a laughing stock among his peers. The dictator was also quickly losing patience with him which was the reason he had been away from the command center for the past three days.
It almost cost lieutinant Farhan his life just to propose an audience with the captured child soldier. The colonel was absolutely furious at first but finally made up his mind to try the kid as he had nothing to lose (and a guest to amuse), with a clause, that the lieutenant was to be shot dead if the information Aman provided turned out to be useless.
The Lieutenant called two of his soldiers and ordered that Aman be cleaned up and fed before his audience with the colonel. He also ordered them to clean his wounds with disinfectants.
Oye kid! you better have something good up your sleeve or the colonel will have both our heads on a fucking pike, you hear me?
Don't worry. You have done your part. You just get ready to become a hero (he said with a confident smirk).
And brush his teeth too ( he motioned towards one of the soldiers who immediately sprung into action). I will see you soon then.
(With this, the lieutenant got up and went out of the room and the soldiers escorted Aman to the bath area to clean him up.)
Aman was escorted into the main building of the command center by two soldiers. His eyes had been covered and his hands tied behind his back. They also put a rope around his neck like a leash. The soldiers kept yanking at it to direct Aman to go in the direction they wanted. He heard them joke about putting a leash on a 'Jru' and walking him. They kept walking for a few minutes before finally entering a room. The blindfold was removed and the escorts forced him onto his knees. This room probably used to be a mess area or canteen.
There was a huge table in the center of the room behind which the colonel and a few other army officials sat. Just beside the colonel, sat a tall and heavily built caucasian guy. He was smoking a cigar and drinking out of a cup. There were six soldiers standing on one side of the room and on the other side was lieutenant Farhan. He was the only one standing in attention.
Bow your head you mutt! (one of the soldiers slapped him hard on the back of his head. Aman immediately bowed his head).
(After a minute or so, the colonel finally broke the silence.)
So, lieutenant. This is your pup ha?
Yes sir. ( The lieutenant said in a clear voice without breaking posture.)
At ease soldier ( The lieutenant obeyed the command ).
Now then, the lieutenant says you have some important information to offer, but I highly doubt it. Do you know why I agreed to see you?... It's because Mr. Grillo here was curious about what kind of dogs that bastard Umar has been raising (He said pointing towards the foreigner sitting beside him).
I personally don't give two fucks about what you have to say. If I wanted information, I would have just asked my soldiers to beat it out of you. Now, I am going to have dinner with this gentleman after ordering your execution. But, congratulations, because of the interest, Mr. Grillo has shown, the value of your life has been upgraded to a bullet.
Sir, If I may (Aman lifted his head and tried to speak)... (Wham! one of the soldiers hit him from behind. Aman fell down. He grabbed him by his neck and pinned him to the ground)
Do not open your mouth unless asked to speak, you bastard!
Now now. Let him go ( the soldier let go and Aman pushed himself off of the ground with his head and sat up). I am feeling kind of generous today so I will let the mutt bark one last time. Say...what were you saying?
(Aman lifted his head up and looked at the colonel straight in his eyes... Mr.Grillo smiled in amusement as he saw the resolve in the kids' eyes. Eyy? Interesting. What do we have here?)
(* Free Syrian Army was an umbrella organization that took in most of the rebel militia and mercenary groups)
(*Jru is the Arabic for a puppy. It was also the name of the platoon of child soldiers Aman belonged to back in the warlords' camp.)