natcat

This Means War

I slowed down as soon as I heard the door swing shut behind me. Moving quickly hurt too much and my frustrated breaths weren't helping either.
I walked blindly, hoping that I'd at least end up near the cabins. My mind was full, swirling with bitterness as I went through, over and over, my resentment about the situation. I just wanted to scream. How could these 'people' think doing such a thing was alright? The government. Our own country, who we're supposed to trust, betray us and decide the easiest way to deal with this camp full of soldiers was to send them out to die. Why weren't we sent out to other bases? Spread amongst them to help and grow, and become better soldiers. To make our side stronger.
Nothing made any sense to me. How could they think that was okay...?
I sucked in a deep breath with a wince as I came to a stop. I just wanted to try and forget about it all. Make my mind stop running around in circles.
Looking up at the dark sky, I could see a small star every now and then through the clouds that hung oppressively low. Letting my eyes slip close, I suddenly thought about my father.
It made me sad, and guilty. He wouldn't have anyone left. He'd be alone and it would be my fault, because it's always my fault. He'd drink himself to death, he was already halfway there, it wouldn't take much more. Just a dead son to match his dead wife.
But maybe that would be okay. For me. Maybe I could finally meet her. The woman that I'd called my mother but never known. Maybe she would be kind and have the sort of smile that made you feel safe.
The idea was comforting, maybe in death I could finally be loved as a son...
Gradually, I began to feel calmer and continued my journey back to the cabin, ready for some well needed rest.

This Means War

"Where is everyone?" I asked as I followed her, glancing into each of the rooms we passed, noticing that each was almost empty.
"Well, since they decided they were shutting down the camp and sending you lot out to the front line, things have been changing." She huffed as she reached the room she was after and pushed open the door, gesturing for me to go through.
"Wait, so they are shutting the camp down?"
"The government can't afford to keep this place running anymore. It's always been the most rundown base we've had. I would know, I've been through many." Glenda raised an eyebrow at me and pointed at a small wooden bench against the wall. "Sit." She ordered and turned around to face a desk, rummaging through a stack of papers as I did what she requested. "It's a recent development. This 'decision' of theirs. To be honest, I don't think the General had any say about it, the orders came from higher up." She took a breath. "Those rooms are almost empty because the sick soldiers have been transferred."
"Transferred." I repeated, taking all of this information in. "Well then why are there still some people here?"
Glenda stopped what she was doing and turned to face me, crossing her arms over her chest. "Those soldiers aren't going to last more than two days. They won't make it to another infirmary, let alone the front line. There's nothing we can do for them, so they stay."
"Either way they die. We die." I pointed out slightly irritated.
A strange silence settled between us as Glenda's eye slipped to the floor, obviously not happy with the situation, that she couldn't do anything about it. After a moment, she stood straight and turned back around, flicking through papers until she discovered what she was looking for. "Your x-rays proved to be positive. No fractured ribs, or broken bones." She announced, pulling out an x-ray and attaching it to a light box on the wall so we could see what she was talking about. "Although some of those bruises are caused by something deeper, so I would like to try do an MRI Scan on your chest, just to make sure I'm not missing anything."
I looked over the x-ray as she spoke. Where was this supposed to lead to? This scan. Was it going to find out what was wrong, to heal me just so I can go and die? And there was Glenda, standing so calm as she spoke, like she'd said all of this before, like this happened all the time. Everyone in this camp was sentenced to death and she was just going to move on to another camp, to a new base. Safe from all of this crap, simply because our government can't afford it.
"There's no point." I scoffed and she looked at me. "There's no point because in less than a week I'll be on that front line and I'll be dead. Along with hundreds of other soldiers from this hellhole. It doesn't matter if there's something wrong with me or if there's not, because I'm going to die anyway." I stood up, not bothering to look back as I stormed out of her office, past the rooms that held the dying and out into the night.
Too many words were running through my head. Too much information and anger.

This Means War

I smiled and stood as I watched her walk away, clenching my hands in my pocket as a gust of cold air blew over me. "Let's get this over with then." I mumbled to myself and turned around heading towards the only white building in the camp.
Pushing open the door, I followed the hallway down to the room we'd been in earlier today. Stepping inside, I noticed it was quiet and dark, with now only one person sleeping in one of the beds at the back of the room- quite a difference from the amount of people who had been in here this morning.
"Mr. Pace?" A voice from behind grabbed my attention and I spun where I stood facing whoever it was, their body enveloped in shadows from the glow of the hallway behind them. "You're a little later than I expected but I suppose you are here now so lets get started. Follow me." As the voice continued, I recognized it as Glenda's. She sounded tired as she turned away and gestured for me to follow her down the hall.

This Means War

I smiled slightly before looking towards where she had pointed. "Oh, not too far." I said knowing I would be able to make it back just fine. "Thanks for walking me, but this is far enough, you go and get some rest. I'm sure I won't be long." I told her, slowing to a stop and turning to face Daisy. It wasn't late, but we'd been through so much lately, I could feel the exhaustion hovering over us like a cloud. A good nights sleep would do both of us good.

This Means War

I shook my head quickly. "No nothing. I doubt anything would even reach us now. It's not like we're officially apart of this base." I said thinking of my dad. He probably wouldn't even blink an eye when he received the letter of my 'heroic death and the brave dedication I provided my country.' Just drop it in the bin and pour himself another drink. "Last thing I got was a post card. I probably won't even be here still when the next ones sent."

This Means War

"I hope not." I looked over at her, slipping my hand back into my pocket. "It doesn't feel like anything's broken so hopefully that's a good sign. I just hope there's nothing else." I said shrugging my shoulders gently. My body still ached, even more than earlier after the riot in the food hall. I couldn't believe we were being sent out to the front line. Why? Did they not want us anymore? Were we a bad group of soldiers? I couldn't help but feel like I helped play a part in their decision if that was the case. "You have any idea where your sister might be?" I asked curiously, ready for a change of subject. "At all?"

This Means War

"You really don't have to." I started to protest before I saw her look. She was sincere, she didn't mind, and I could use the company despite how much I knew she needed to rest, I couldn't quite say no.
"Fine. I don't really know the way anyway..." I said as I began walking again, hoping that I was going in the right direction. I wondered if Glenda had found anything on the x-ray she had taken, hopefully this would be an in and out situation.

This Means War

I nodded with a small smile and led the way back to our cabin, ready to rest. "Wait." I said as I remembered something with a start. "I'm supposed to go back to see Glenda at the infirmary. Shoot. I forgot- with everything that happened." I stopped and looked back at Daisy. "You can go back to the cabin, get some sleep. I'll be there soon." I said pulling a hand out of my pocket and gripped my side as it suddenly throbbed in pain.

This Means War

I shrugged. "Would you rather not have the chance to find out?" I said looking over at her before I stood up and slid my hands into my jacket pockets. I was still in my track pants, having just gotten out of bed not even an hour ago. I wasn't tired though, my mind was too wound up for sleeping, even though that's what I knew my body needed. It was very dark out here, with one light above us marking the door to the food hall. "We should probably get back to the cabin."

This Means War

I nodded taking in everything she said. "I want to go home too." I admitted with a sigh. "It's not much, but it's better than where they're going to send us. I'd rather just go somewhere I've never been before, somewhere relaxing and warm." I looked down the road as I spoke, there was no one around, everyone was either inside the food hall or had the sense to get out while they could.