THE SKY was a mixture of black and orange, red-orange perhaps. The dawn just strike on land and early this time, Blanche and her battalion had just arrived at the said training ground, but for the latter, it was more likely a dumpsite. Blanche sees this place as a site of a human who was thrown to die.
Blanche sighed as she tried to shrug off the thought of what she had seen earlier. She couldn't argue with herself as she was unsure if what she had seen was indeed accurate. Jeez, why am I being preoccupied with that silhouette of a being? I'm not even sure if that's her! She mumbles from inside.
On the other hand, while the Captain is occupied with her previous memory of that someone, the recruits drop their bags on the snowy ground and look around, buzzing like bees can be heard. They can’t believe that they made it! Who wouldn’t be? After facing a snowstorm, staying in an igloo just to keep them warm and walking on a snowy path make them shiver to death. Most of them, the recruits, thought that they were going to die long before they can make it here.
“Guess we’re already late,” Aerith murmured under her breath while standing beside the Captain. She removed her mask and wiped her chin using her wrist.
“Oh!” someone exclaimed and let the other trainees stop what they doing and greet the newly arrived. Rolling her eyes, she made her way toward Aerith. “How I wish they could greet you both in a more tiger look, stomach in-chest out-way. You know, in a more military way.” A lady wearing a military uniform with her hands in her pants pocket was withdrawn by the cabin's main door.
“Son Hyun Ah,” Blanche utter and slightly nodded to the lady. The latter smiled, “That was me, Captain Blue.” while pointing her thumb finger on her own chest.
The girl named Son Hyun Ah has an eye color of ebony brown, blonde hair, petite; stands at merely five feet, she also had a white complexion skin. A complete Korean description.
“How come you arrived early? Didn't you encounter the snowstorm from last night?” Aerith asked, curiously, while raising her brows and arms crossed to her chest.
“Oh! Well, I let ‘em use the Amtrak. Simply as that,” Hyun-Ah shrug her shoulder as she answered to Aerith's query. It's as if she's saying that she finds a way not to experience the snowstorm.
“Amtrak? You mean the amphibious tractor?”
Son Hyun Ah just shrugged and drew her attention to the recruits, “My, my, look at your trainees, they’re lousy.” She winced as if she were annoyed with the newbies' appearances.
“That’s the reason why we brought them here,” Blanche replied bluntly. “Wouldn’t you let us in first before doing some interrogation kinds of stuff, Hyun Ah?”
“Oh well, yeah. The room for the new recruits is located East of the North, two out of five rooms are occupied so take the three vacant rooms, each room had two double-deck beds. Move!” Son Hyun Ah said to the recruits. Hastily, the recruits entered the room and followed the commando’s command.
“You think we can survive the training?” one of the trainees asked Aracelli. The latter looked at her colleague, “We should.” I should survive this training or else, I won't get what I wanted. She told herself while glaring at Blanche. Blanche, on the other hand, notices the intense glare of someone so she takes a look only to find Aracelli's death glare at her.
Blanche, being her usual self, give the trainee a smirk and hand-signaled her to move and enter the cabin. Aracellie could not protest but roll her eyes heavenward. Argh, dumbass! She thought.
Later that day, when the sun shone above the roof of their cabin, the trainees abruptly run towards the door for they heard some commotion outside the cabin. There, they saw Son Hyun Ah, Blanche, and Aerith. Hyun Ah was leaning on the porch looking intently at both Blanche and Aerith who were giving a death glare at each other.
“How I love to see blood,” Hyun Ah said, looking at the trainees.
“Excuse me, but what was happening?” the girl named Autumn asked. “They’re going to kill each other, amazing ay't?” nonchalantly, Hyun Ah replied letting the trainees gasp.
“Of course, I am just kidding, youngsters. They’re just having some sparring, you know, spanking, stabbing, and such. Nothing serious,” the commando said, repaying her attention to the two. She rolled her eyes heavenwards and groan inwardly, “C’mon, I want to see the both of you in blood.”
“You’re full of pranks, Hyun Ah.” Someone said making the three of them get stiff. “Salute!” Son Hyun Ah abruptly said, saluting the newly arrived. All the trainees salute the newly arrived with the exemption of Blanche and Aerith who was just staring blankly at that someone.
The newly arrived was wearing a long coat and underneath it is a military uniform similar to Hyun-Ah's. She was carrying a wild boar on her left shoulder while on the other one hangs a bolt-action rifle.
The guest just nodded and signal them to stop saluting while she put the dead boar on the porch as well as her rifle. “So, you two had arrived. We’re expecting you to be in here last night, what happened? What was the cause of the delay?” She asked and turn her attention towards Blanche and Aerith.
“Whoa! Whoa!" Hyun-Ah tapped Alexis' shoulder, "You should calm down, Alexis.” She said as she tried to lighten up the mood but the three just stared at each other. “What?! No one will explain?” asked the latter, placing her hands inside her pocket.
“Don’t act too dense, Alexis. We can’t let the trainees walk along while there’s a snowstorm,” said Blanche while hastily grabbing the baston, an arnis stick, which they had used for their sparring.
The being named Alexis chuckled, “Ha! So Captain Blue cares for her battalion now? Gosh, it's a miracle isn't it?” She lunatically laugh as if some stupid joke were spilled up. She shrugs in disbelief and gathered again the wild boar and her rifle as she makes her way inside the cabin. "Anyway, it's not so nice to be with you after that incident." She added and leave.
THE DAY after they arrived was full of challenges. They let the trainees undergo hard training, some of them are already giving up but the commandos wouldn’t let them. They were like tormenting the newbies.
“My arms are still hurting,” exclaimed Aracelli while pressing lightly her arms.
“Me too,” another trainee said, leaning on the chair. “Sit erect!” Alexis reprimanded making them sit on their seat properly. It was their lunch break but this commando wouldn’t let them relax.
“We’ll be having your second training after an hour so better finish your lunch,” Alexis commanded holding a thin stick as if she's one of those terror professors that you'll meet during university days. Her hands are crossed to her chest while walking back and forth, looking intently at the recruits.
The trainees couldn’t help it but whimper silently as they continue eating. “Let ‘em eat in peace, Alexis. Don’t be a burden on them,” someone said.
“And what do you want them to do then? Sit back and relax while eating? C’mon, we both know that entering this kind of shit isn’t a joke, they need to be trained as soon as possible.”
“If it is not you then I’m going to kill you, but it’s you. The commander in chief” said Blanche who was now sitting beside Aracelli. Tapping the tobacco she's holding, she chuckles at the thought of killing her comrade. “Good thing you still remember that I am the commander in chief,” Alexis chastised.
“How can I forget when your freaking tag says it all? Kwon, Alexis, Commander in chief. Ha! Displaying your fucking degree,” Blanche stated, not minding if her trainees can hear and see what they were talking about.
“Your tag says it all too. Emerson, Blanche Lucille, Fucking Colonel slash Captain. What now? Having a double freaking fucking shitty degree eh?” Alexis gave the Captain a lunatic smirk while glaring at her. On that statement, Blanche stopped tapping the tobacco on the table and closed her fist.
“You know I’m not proud of this, Alexis,” Blanche replied as she stood up. “Continue eating, follow her instructions.” She commanded their battalion.
Without the group's knowledge, two figures were hiding in the trees just above where the dumpsite was located. They were both looking at the opponent's location as if they were checking something.
“I did not know that she’s here,” one of them said, looking at the other.
“You should expect the unexpected,” the other shrugged and continue looking at the binoculars.
“I don't even get it. Why do we need to spy on them? What do you even want?" the being who's looking at her binoculars asked the superior.
“To know all of her plans, all of their plans,” the other stated.
They were in the middle of the conversation when someone inside the dumpsite went out, a familiar figure. “We better keep going,” one of them suggested as they took a step away from the tree where they were hiding.
Blanche heaves a deep sigh and looks up towards the mountain not so far from their location. It was covered with multiple numbers of species of trees. She paused for a while and squinted for she thought that she caught someone or something behind the trees just above the location of the dumpsite, looking in her direction. She shrugged for she assumed that she was just overthinking things. “I thought I saw someone from there,” she whispers to herself.
“Indeed, we saw the same thing.” Son Hyun Ah said coming from somewhere behind her.
Blanche's brows furrowed as she quizzically look at the newly arrived combatant. "How long have you been here?" She asked, Hyun-Ah shrugged her shoulder off as she walked toward the Captain. "Not long enough when you've arrived here though."
The Captain nods as she crosses her arms on her chest. "That thing, how long have they been there?" she asked, pointing her finger in the direction where she saw those being.
"Had no idea how long, but I just noticed them since there's a light reflection that hit my vision for a short while, perhaps they're using scope or binoculars?" Hyun-Ah responded, placing her hands in her pockets.
Blanche chuckled as she remembers what had happened last time. Hyun-Ah looked at her with a confused look. "Do you... Do you think that there's still a chance that she's still alive?" She asked, lowering her gaze while her foot is playing with these tiny rocks that were covering the sand.
The other officer faces Blanche sideways as her brows wrinkled as if she could not acknowledge what the Captain had asked her. "Wait, you're not thinking that---"
"I'm just asking. I'm not too sure as well if she's the one that I have seen last time. I can remember the figure - it was just like her."
"Maybe your conscience is hunting you," a familiar voice said which made both Blanche and Hyun-Ah to looked swiftly in the voice's direction. There, leaning on her back while her left foot was pressed on the wall backward while the other was on the ground supporting her stance, is Alexis looking at them with a sly smile.
Hyun Ah could not help it but press her palm on her forehead while shrugging. She grunts, about to say something but Blanche just chuckles. "Hmm, maybe. Maybe her ghost's hunting me off already," the Captain responded as she swallow a lump in her throat.
"Fix up yourself, Captain Blue, you won't be able to get any mission if you keep on acting that way," Alexis added while signaling Hyun-Ah to come after her. "I hope her death would not be the reason for you to fall down your position. After all, your position does not suit you." With a smirk on her lips, Alexis leaves the place. Hyun Ah, on the other hand, is hesitant to leave Blanche alone but the Captain just nods and lets her leave. No choice but to go, Hyun Ah just heaves a sigh and taps Blanche's shoulder before following Alexis' path.
The Captain could not do anything but groan inwardly as she angrily kicks off the sand in front of her. "Fucking useless! You're fucking useless, Blanche!" She said, slapping herself.
The wind had blown silently, which makes Blanche calm down. She shut her eyes as she sighs. As she inhale, a familiar scent touched her senses. Brewed coffee... Hastily opening her eyes, she gazed in the scent's direction. There, she saw a retreating shadow of a familiar figure. "If it is not you, then who would it possibly be?" Blanche asks herself while watching the retreating shadow walk away.
"Am I hallucinating things out?" She question herself again as she parted her hair using her bare hand.
THE SUN isn’t up yet, but Alexis already budged in inside the trainees’ room. “Wakey, wakey,” she said, hitting her stick on the metal bar of the bed. The trainees groan with astonishment. Who wouldn't be? Their commando bulged in in their room in the middle of their sleep! But they had no choice but to obey what the superior had commanded them. “Get ready for today’s training. Move faster, turtle buddies!” said Alexis as she leave the trainees’ room and budged in with the others, just like the others, they groan because of the surprise. But what do they even expect? Blanche leans on the porch, sipping on her cup as the steaming coffee touches her wounded lips. Aerith punch me real hard yesterday, she thought as she remember their sparring yesterday. It was their second sparring since they arrived here. She chuckles and shrugs as she reminisces what they've always done when they had enough time. “So the captain was up early,” Alexis tapped her sh
FIRE. The whole cabin was on fire! How does it happen? Nobody knows. Even Blanche who was now showering with her own sweat doesn’t know a single thing. All she knew is that when she came back after doing their mission, the whole cabin was on fire. “Good thing all the trainees are outside,” Son Hyun Ah said, heaving a deep breath. Blanche look around, one, two, three, four, wait--- how many was the recruit anyway? All she knew was she had five of them. What was the name of those five? The captain's trying to recognize their names and faces. “Wait! Have you seen Aracelli?” she inquired to others, worried about the other recruit. She glanced at the spot where they were resting but there was no Aracelli. She return her glance to the burning fire, the front part of it was now fuming like hell. She looked at Aerith who was currently wearing a breathing apparatus. “Aerith, may I borrow that?” she drew her attention to Aerith and then back to the cabin. She thought t
THE PAIN will make you yelp, whimper, and cry out loud. To torment, that was their work but it was like that the fate has reversed. The General didn’t see this coming, well at least he did not foresee this one to come this fast. A group of opponents entered their site without their knowledge. “How are you, General?” Agent Ghost inquired, walking towards the higher official. The fierce eyes of the girl meet the innocent yet bold look of the General. “I’m expecting you to be surprised,” she added while wearing a sweet smile. The agent is holding her M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle across her chest while looking intently at the General, alert that every moment, the General might fire at her. “You’re alive?” asked the General, a puzzled look can be traced on the officer's face. Perhaps the General could not believe his very eye. Here, standing in front of him, his previous officer. By the question asked by her former superior, the agent and her comrades could not he
THE MIDNIGHT air touches the being’s skin yet she was oblivious about it. Walking back and forth along the middle of this place calm herself. She haven’t slept for two days, worried about the higher officer. Aracelli pulled her hair out of frustration, biting her lower lips. “Seems like you’re still awake,” said a voice from nowhere. Taken aback, Aracelli slowly looks at her back to see nothing. “Who’s that?” she said, acting valiant. She heard a shaking of the bushes and just in front of her jumped a familiar figure. “Trainees are not allowed in here,” the guest’s voice gave a shiver in her spine, it was strange for Aracelli. “You should go inside and take a rest,” the guest added and try to walk away but Aracelli stopped her. “Please stop bypassing me,” she pleaded as she held Blanche’s left arm tightly. The latter did not bother to look in Aracelli’s way instead, Blanche fidget her arms just for Aracelli to let it go but to no avail. “What the fu
TIRING and nerve-racking, Aracelli’s chest was pounding up and down as she take a rest. Both hands are placed on her both knee, making it support. She hasn’t got enough slumber, again, and yet, here she is, doing some routine on her own this daybreak. “I can do this,” she kept on murmuring as sweat made its way to her cheeks from her forehead. “I can do this,” she repeated. Picking the swords up, she made her stance and shut her eyes. “Keep yourself alert. You need to protect yourself from now on, Aracelli. Don’t let yourself get in trouble again just like what happened in the past.” She said those words to herself, making her feel proud. She continues the drill until her dark past chases her. The place was haunted, from the little girl’s standpoint. Terrified as she was, the fugitive guffawed like a mad wicked witch that you can see in films. Quivering in distress, she moved closer to the wall, greeting the cold surface. Shattered glass was on the floor’s ca
THE STEAMING aroma of the freshly brewed coffee welcomed her, first thing in the morning. She rely on her couch as she took a sip on her cup, thinking of the past. It was never included in her plan to meet her wife, she just feel the need to. The girl has been diverted with everything except Blanche. But when Blanche interrupted her mind, she’ll go and check the being. She surely misses Blanche but she can do nothing about it. Sighing, she wipes away the tears on her cheeks. “I have been staying away from you for too long, I can do it all over again if that's the only way you can forget about me,” she utters as she shut her eyes. “Venus,” a baritone voice called for her name. “I’m glad that you’re awake,” the serious tone of her superior made her shiver. “What are you doing inside my room?” she weakly asked. “Where’s my wife?” she added, roaming her eyes around the room. The latter shrugged and gave her a sly smile, “Who knows? Maybe
THE CLOCK was continuously ticking and with every second passed by, the two beings remain silent; as if they do understand what a silent atmosphere means. Staring blankly at the ceiling, Blanche sighed. Beside her was Venus who was breathing heavily. “How come you’re still alive, Venus?” she breaks the silence but still not looking at the other. Staring sideways at Blanche, Venus reaches for the latter’s hand and holds it. “It was my sanction, to pretend that I am dead.” “After all these years, I really thought you were gone. I thought I lost you,” Blanche said, panting. “But I was shocked when I saw you inside the cabin, what are you doing there?” she inquired. Venus guiltily stares down at the blanket and removes her hand from Blanche’s. “We’re about to start a combat between you and your comrades but we went there at the wrong time, someone put the cabin on fire,” she explained. “For how long will we fight? Our team. We do stand t
DEFEANING SILENCE greeted this being's attention. It has been a week since the last time she saw her wife and it frustrates her as she is currently staying inside this room covered with mostly white painted walls. The sliding window was left slightly open, curtains parted in both directions; swaying as if it is dancing, as the air flows inside.She took a glance beside the room's side table, there, she can see the envelope that was given to her. It was her payment for her service, she scoffs at the thought as she lay her head on her pillow as the being shut her eyes, and furrowed her brows. Tick-tock, tick-tock, the sound of the wall clock is the only thing that she can hear inside her room. Irritated by the sound, she hastily woke up only to find her superior's presence. The higher officer is sitting beside the footboard of her bed, reading a newspaper."I bet you're already awake, officer," her superior said, while still reading the newspaper. Venus sighed as she rolled her eyes hea