After class, Adam felt the weight of exhaustion settle in. He had pushed his body harder than usual during the sparring session with Alex, and now his mind was craving rest. He headed straight for his dorm room, planning to take a short nap before meeting up with his friends, Alex and Max. The plan for the evening had been set—an easy night to relax and talk, but right now, his body begged for some sleep.
As soon as Adam collapsed onto his bed, his mind drifted into unconsciousness. The soft hum of the dormitory was a comforting backdrop to his brief moment of peace.
But his rest was short-lived. A loud knock at the door tore him from his sleep, and he groggily rose, irritated at the interruption. Who the hell is up this late?
When Adam opened the door, he was surprised to see Alex and Max standing in the hallway, looking more serious than usual.
"Hey, man. Sorry to wake you up," Alex said, an apologetic look on his face. "We just wanted to make sure you're still coming with us tonight."
Adam rubbed his eyes and stifled a yawn. "Yeah, of course. Just give me a few minutes to find a shirt," he muttered, still groggy.
Max grinned, his usual carefree demeanor in place. "No rush. But seriously, you better not bail. We've got plans, remember?"
With that, the trio made their way up to the rooftop of the dormitory—one of the few places where they could get some privacy. The city skyline stretched before them, the perfect backdrop for a conversation without prying eyes.
Once they were settled, Adam couldn't hold back the curiosity that had been bubbling up since their sparring session earlier. "So, Alex… tell me why you're really here."
Alex looked out across the horizon, his expression distant for a moment. "I was trying to get away from that hellhole," he began, his voice quieter now. "They made us kill all our friends. And when I got here, they threw me into this military school. I didn't have a choice."
Adam and Max exchanged a confused glance. They hadn't heard anything about this before, and it was clear Alex was hiding more than he was letting on.
"Wait, hold up," Max said, concern creeping into his voice. "So, are you telling us you're gonna be hunted down by your people? Just because you ran?"
Alex sighed heavily, glancing at the ground. "Probably. And if they sense you, Max, they'll come after you too. They'll kill you just for being near me. If they send a knight after me, none of us will be safe."
Adam felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He wanted to offer some form of reassurance, to say something that would make the situation less terrifying, but he didn't know how. Instead, he just stared up at the sky, trying to piece together everything Alex had just revealed.
"So, what do we do now?" Adam asked, his voice steady but his mind racing.
Alex looked over at the two of them, his gaze serious. "We lay low. Avoid drawing attention to ourselves. And we need to be prepared to leave at a moment's notice. If we're discovered…" He trailed off, leaving the threat hanging in the air.
Max, ever the optimist, was now visibly somber. He nodded slowly, his usual cockiness replaced by a grim determination. "Alright, we stick together. We'll figure this out, like we always do."
For a moment, none of them spoke. The weight of the situation pressed in on them. Adam glanced at his friends, feeling an unexpected surge of protectiveness. Despite the danger they now faced, he knew one thing for sure—they couldn't abandon Alex. They were in this together.
Finally, Adam broke the silence. "Okay, let's make a plan. We'll start by gathering supplies. Food, water, anything we might need if we have to leave."
Alex nodded, relieved that they were taking it seriously. "And we need a signal—something to warn each other if things go south."
Max, trying to bring some humor back to the situation, grinned. "How about a code word? Something random, like 'pineapple.'"
Adam chuckled despite himself. "Pineapple it is. If any of us says it, we know it's time to go."
But Adam's tone shifted as he turned to Alex. "Look, you've gotta tell us everything. No more half-assed warnings or cryptic crap. If we're going to help you, we need to know exactly what we're dealing with."
Alex hesitated, the weight of whatever he was hiding pressing down on him. He glanced toward the edge of the roof as though he expected someone to be watching from the shadows. Finally, he sighed, shoulders slumping. "Fine," he muttered. "But don't say I didn't warn you—this shit's dark. You might wish you'd stayed out of it."
Max crossed his arms, voice low and serious. "Too late for that, man. Just spill it."
Alex sat down on the edge of the roof, his eyes distant as he spoke. "The place I came from wasn't just some military school. It was a damn factory for killers. They take kids—orphans, runaways, anyone no one will miss—and they train you to be weapons. They mess with your head so bad that you don't even know who you are anymore. You either do what they say, or you die."
Adam and Max exchanged a tense look, both of them struggling to grasp the reality of what Alex was saying.
"But that's not even the worst part," Alex continued, his voice cracking. "Sometimes, they make you fight each other. Not just sparring—real fights. To the death. They call it 'weeding out the weak,' but it's just their sick way of turning us into monsters. I had to… I had to kill my friends. The people who trusted me. I didn't have a choice."
Adam muttered under his breath, his fists clenching in anger. "Jesus Christ, man. That's fucked up. Beyond fucked."
Max ran a hand through his hair, his usual cocky grin nowhere to be found. "And you got out of there? How?"
Alex let out a bitter laugh. "Barely. I faked my own death. Took months of planning, and more luck than I deserved. But those bastards don't let anyone go. They have eyes everywhere. If they find out I'm still alive…" He trailed off, his voice thick with regret and fear.
Max swore under his breath. "And now we're on their radar because of you."
Alex nodded slowly. "Probably. If they think you're helping me, they'll come after you too. I shouldn't have come here. I didn't know where else to go."
Adam stepped forward, his voice firm. "Stop right there. You didn't drag us into anything. We're your friends, and we're not gonna let you face this alone. Right, Max?"
Max nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Damn straight. If anyone comes after us, they're gonna regret it."
Alex looked at them, his eyes slightly glassy, but for the first time, a flicker of something close to hope crossed his face. "I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you guys."
Adam placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, giving him a firm, reassuring grip. "Cut the crap, Alex. We're in this together, and we're not leaving you behind. Got it? We're gonna get through this. Together."
For the first time that night, Alex let out a shaky laugh. "Alright, fine. Together."
The trio went to work. Adam packed a sturdy backpack with essentials—water, granola bars, a flashlight, and a pocketknife. Max raided the cafeteria for snacks and energy drinks, his smug grin briefly returning. Meanwhile, Alex sketched out a rough map of the campus, marking potential escape routes and safe spots.
When they regrouped in Adam's room, Alex handed Adam a small, battered notebook. "This has everything I know about them," he said quietly. "Names, locations, weaknesses. If something happens to me, you'll need it."
Adam stared at the notebook, his grip tightening around it. "Nothing's gonna happen to you. We're sticking together, remember?"
Alex smirked, the briefest glint of his old self showing. "Yeah. Together."
The three sat in silence for a moment. The weight of the situation was undeniable, but despite the fear and uncertainty, one thing was clear: they weren't going down without a fight.