Blind Sky

Footsteps of the issued guard’s boots crunching on the lawn made it hard to sleep. One or two guards generally patrolled at nights, but there were a lot more out, and assumed it was requested because of the fight.

I fluffed the two pillows I used for neck support, rolled onto my back, and huffed at the sound of Misty snoring in the bed across from me. I thought about the events that brought me here, and my reason was clear. Find and kill the perpetrator that murdered my mother.

The entire continent was at the brink of war, and the death tolls were escalating, as uprisings from The Protectors, they announce themselves as such, were multiplying and on a killing spree, and have one up on us--Insanity.

Dad being away, allowed a little relief, though after hearing updates that we were going to war, he insisted on an earlier flight but nothing was available. Flights were booked up. Terror does that. Everyone panics and everything becomes turmoil.

I’ve acquired some knowledge in my short existence that nothing compromises value, structure and morale more than killing with no guilt or remorse. The killers were delirious and manipulated by propaganda. They wanted to overthrow the government, declared the need for a new world order, and were ready to kill and die with no regard.

When Australian Officials reported mom’s murder to dad and I on our front door, dad was beyond himself and had to be sedated after he attacked one of the Official’s. I on the other hand, was frozen. I ached with desire to avenge my mother’s murder, and defend my country from those vile killers. I craved revenge, retribution, justice, anything, something to ease the uncontrollable maddening desire marinating under my skin, which was boiling over with an insatiable appetite for vengeance.

Anything I ever needed or yearned for paled in comparison to coveting their head on a platter.

My mother’s death, murder, and slaughter was the turning point for the burst of galling urgency saturated inside my body, ready to erupt, and why I had to join the agency.

Tadao brought Derek and I back to continue with the torture test. It was the last place I wanted to be, but Tadao made it mandatory and had me pulled out my bed by an expressionless Marina at 5 a.m.

Derek didn’t seem nervous, and actually appeared composed and relaxed.

I gave him a nudge in the arm. “Are you trying to outshine me?”

“Never,” and rubbed my back.

Marina performed her same duties instructing Derek to take a seat.

I was apprehensive to watch Derek endure a similar ordeal as I did, but still curious to see how far he would go.

Derek took a seat in the chair, drank the liquid without hesitation, placed a hand on each leg and sighed.

The metal bracelet snapped around his wrists and minutes passed without anything happening. Derek scrolled his eyes around the room tapping his bare feet on the floor assertively.

I got his attention shrugging my shoulders because I didn’t know what to think of the whole ordeal, except maybe Marina didn’t administer the test yet, but she continued typing into the notepad staring vehemently at the screen.

I glanced over at Tadao who seemed to show no sign of worry or concern.

Derek wet his lips taking another deep breath.

Minutes passed and his heavy breathing persisted. I was ready to ask Tadao what was going on, when Derek closed his eyes and began shaking.

He seemed tense and traces of sweat trickled down his face, while digging his fingers into the arm of the chair.

Tadao watched with interest while I stood helpless, wanting to do something, say something, but I didn’t know what. He wasn’t screaming, or shouting hysterical like I did, but the anguish was obvious as he gripped onto the chair so hard it began to rattle, his entire body vibrating with convulsion.

The image was intense, and though the room was brightly lit, it felt and looked as if a dark storm engulfed the room. He shook and shuddered as if a possessive demon inhibited his body, wounding him with tremor. The design on Derek’s face mimicked that of an eruption of a volcano, the winds of a hurricane, the flood of a tsunami, and the pulsation of an earthquake.

I took a few steps forward that brought me within arm’s length of him. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but Marina grabbed hold of my arm pulling me away.

I reacted, withdrawing from her hold, and she sneered at me remaining close.

Tadao aware of the situation gave some kind of signal with a single finger motion, which he moved up then down once. Marina indicated agreement with a subtle nod, moving about a foot away from me.

I was glad for her to move, but that was quickly overshadowed by Derek’s grunts.

I observed his body rattling and vibrating more violently than before, and within seconds the chair falls over. The locks release, his eyes wide open. Clearly frustrated, he kicks the chair across the room, then stormed out.

Tadao approached reporting that the numbing liquid was not real. “It’s nothing more than a clear jello substance. We tell recruits that they will be numb, to settle their nerves a little, because the shocks are real. We want recruits and agents to understand, that most of the time, the key to staying strong when being tortured, is developing a mental resistance to the pain.”

At lunch in the cafeteria Derek picked at his food, barely taking a bite of anything. His usual entertaining wit and self-assured personality materialized to dowdy, and I didn’t know how to snap him out of it.

Misty was too busy flirting with Paul, Derek’s bunk mate and Joshua to take notice of Derek’s behavior, which ordinarily she would critique, igniting their usual banter.

Lacey of course had to put her two senses in and comment. “What’s wrong with him?” she asked, but I turned away ignoring her, then saw Claire and Lawrence wave to me from the second floor.

He whispered something into her ear which made her giggle. They seem to be enjoying one another’s company and I wondered why someone couldn’t swipe Lacey away, so she could leave the table. I would have left myself, but I didn’t want to leave Derek or be rude to Misty, though judging by the flirtation going on, I doubt she would have noticed.

“Maybe, he’s just tired,” Casey suggested.

“Oh please,” Lacey hissed and I had enough, slamming

my cup down on the table, which thankfully wasn’t glass and stabbed my fork into my lasagna.

“Enough,” I shouted.

“Or else what,” she mocked.

She stood up knocking her chair over, growling at me. I got up out of my chair, chucking my fork at her head when a hand swiftly pulled me into my chair.

“Sky, what’s gotten into you,” Derek yelled.

I was blind sighted by my fixation to kick Lacey’s butt, and probably why I didn’t notice Misty or the guards hurling out questions one after the after, waiting for an explanation. The guards held their guns firmly at their sides while gaping over me. I felt like I was on trial. I rationalized the situation as nothing more than a misunderstanding and Lacey agreed to the story as well. We were both given a warning and summoned to our bunks.

Back at the bunk, the door creak open and assumed it was Misty or Derek coming to check on me. I stepped out the bathroom when something sharp and cold struck me across the face, the scent of fresh linen covering my head. And within seconds, was grabbed by the waist and thrown down.

“Pipe down will you,” the male voice huffed, immediately tying my hands behind my back.

I kept kicking, and didn’t stop until a stab punctured into my left leg.

“You think she’ll taste like candy, or melt in my mouth?”

Voices chuckled and mused on suggesting what type of candy they liked.

As I felt my shorts being removed from my hips, I wanted to die, and I thought I might because it was getting harder to breathe, and the smell of fresh linen evaporated.

“Don’t worry this will be quick. We’ll all be quick, won’t we fellas.”

I could hear the clatter of a belt buckle being undone, and the swish of a zipper slithered in my head.

They moved the fabric over my nose, quickly covering my mouth with tape.

Heat sipped on my neck from his mouth, followed by the moisture from his tongue roaming across my neck. “Taste more like salt to me,” and he positioned his body on top of me. I expected the assault, but instead he mumbled how soft my skin was running his fingers down my arm.

“This will be quick.” The heat from his mouth absorbing into my skin. “But I think I might actually take my time.”

“Make it quick will yah. We don’t have all day,” a different voice hollered.

“I’ll take as much time as I need,” pressing his weight against my chest, and as I tried fighting, another stab punctured my right leg.

“He’s right though, you can’t hog her all day,” another voice said.

“You guys can make a good moment so unpleasurable.”

I was mortified, alone, and frozen, feeling hands that felt like scrap metal graze down my arms.

“Don’t be so nervous. It won’t be that bad. I’m not here to hurt you.”

I couldn’t understand why such scum like this would be allowed to still live, then lips slithered across mine and I felt disgusting.

“Get off of her. You pathetic asshole,” recognizing Derek’s voice.

I tried to wiggle my hands loose, but fell off the bed, hitting the floor.

“Sky, your legs,” recognizing Misty’s voice. She quickly removed the tape from my mouth, and the fabric from over my head, but I couldn’t focus on the pain because Derek needed our help.

“I’m okay. We have to help Derek.”

She quickly untied my hands, then rushed over to help Derek, who was being attacked.

Misty jumped on top of the guard punching Derek. I wobbled and limped over trying to help, but one of the guards on the ground grabbed my leg, and I kicked him in the mouth just before hearing a shot fired.

Derek fired the shots, shooting two guards in the leg, and at that moment I wanted them dead.

******

The next day was knife handling drills, which I was asked not to participate in due to my leg injury, and because of what transpired yesterday. Tadao requested I not attend, but I wanted to watch the other recruits train.

Once training was over, Derek carried me back to the bunks.

“Sky,” calling my name in a soft careful tone. “How are you holding up? Are your okay?”

“Yes.” I whispered because I didn’t want the rest of the recruits walking by to hear us. “I just hope those guards get actually what they deserved for what they did.”

“Well, they were fired and won’t be coming back here.”

“You should have just killed them right then and there,” not regretting what I said. “What about you? Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” but I knew he was lying.

“Want to talk about it?”

“Nothing to talk about, except I don’t want to think about how things would have turned out if neither Misty nor I didn’t go check on you,” and he said it with such somberness I didn’t know what to say.

“I’m glad we’re almost done with training,” he said pressing his head against the wall.

“Yeah, thankfully we’re almost done.”