Guns & Roses

Tatiana

This is it. Today’s the day.

Every group was to be expected at the grounds by five in the morning. And for once, I was actually hyped to wake up so early.

They gave us a uniform to wear for the exercise which consisted of a tight fitting army green long sleeve top with camouflage shorts that reached just above the knee. I suspected Viktor was behind this because who the hell wears shorts in a battlefield?

I racked the closet until I saw some regular camouflage pants. I wasn’t about to wear shorts and the v-neck on my top isn’t helping my case.

I wore my combat boots and the gloves that came along with the uniform. After tying my hair up in a tight ponytail, I made my way towards the basement parking lot where the team and I decided to meet up.

By the time I got there, everyone was already suiting up. We took two separate vehicles and made our way towards the battle site. I was getting more and more excited as we neared the familiar metal gates of the training grounds.

When Levi and I got back to the training room yesterday, we immediately called up everybody and devised a game strategy on how we could win the mock battle.

The rules were still to be announced so we had to work on a flexible strategy. We were up against the other guys and I knew it was hard to beat them head on so we needed to play smartly.

When we got there, I noticed that many vehicles were already parked meaning most of the groups were already here. We entered the gates and I immediately felt the buzzing energy. They do take training seriously. Remembering what Levi had said.

I spotted Boris and the others but there was no sign of Dimitri. Not that I was looking. Boris’s voice boomed through the mic and he started off with his announcement.

“Good morning everyone! I hope you’re all ready” he said as loud cheers erupted from the crowd.

“Alright!! Let’s get to the chase shall we? Today’s exercise is pretty simple, you need to obtain the white flag that the defense team will be protecting. As many of you noticed the defense line isn’t here because they are already inside the training ground” Boris said as he pointed to the trail that’ll lead through the forest.

“Each team will be assigned a color and a starting point. Team Alpha you guys are red and will be stationed at North, Team Beta blue and you’ll be in the east, while Team Charlie will be green on the south and Team Delta is orange at the west station”

“The weapons you will find at your stations are all dummies, the guns work similarly with a paintball gun, the knives are laced with paint as well and for the explosives, those would also release powdered smoke and all are non-lethal. When another team’s color is on you, that would automatically remove you from the game” Boris explained further.

“Oh! I know most of you had noticed that the fifth team isn’t present here. Well that’s because they’re the main defense team, you have to tackle the Boss if you want to win this game” Boris smirked.

Everyone seemed to get more excited, it’s not common you get to battle with the Boss himself and I on the other hand was anxious about having to fight it with Dimitri.

“You’ll be given an hour to head to your stations and settle your plan. A flare gun will signal the start of the game and only then will you get to move”

“Alright! Head out and may the best team win!” Boris concluded as the four teams dispersed into the site.

When we reached our station, we found a metal table filled with different weapons and accessories. We wore the safety glasses and head gear.

I automatically reached for the sniper gun and strapped it across my body. I also took some hard rubber knives that had blue paint inside the sheath and stashed them in my combat boots. The others took their weapons and waited for my instruction.

“Okay team, just like what we planned, we will lie low for the first few hours and play defense. I predict some of the guys would go for offense so we have to lure them in. Also, we have to look out for the defense line, Mia, do you have everything you need for the traps?”

“Yes, these little babies will work their magic” Mia gestured to the smoke bombs she assembled a few minutes ago.

Looking at the watch I got from the table, I saw we only had 15 minutes left until they signal the start.

“When the gun sounds off, we’ll head west and position ourselves at the point we chose earlier. Me and Justin will scope the place when we get there and the three of you would serve as our attack line if the other groups cross our site. Remember to check if your headpieces are working because communication is the key to winning this game” I explained.

It was already past six yet the sky was still dark and gloomy which was quite the fitting mood for this exercise. When everyone checked their gears, we heard a gun shot and saw the red flare going up, lighting the gray skies.

I nodded at my team and went forward with the plan. It only took us about five minutes until we positioned ourselves at our respective places. I efficiently climbed up the tree that was tall enough to give me great leverage as well as bushy for me to stay hidden.

Using the telescope attached to my sniper, I saw Levi , Mia and Kate in their respective positions. I also saw Justin just a few miles from where I was. He was well hidden, if I didn’t know where to look, it would have taken me a hard time to find him.

“Cap, everything’s in position” Levi said through the receiver.

“Roger that. Stay in position, I’ll signal you when I see incoming men” I said quietly.

A few minutes had passed and I heard shots firing through the distance. When I spotted where the noice had come I saw that it was the Alpha team. I knew Viktor was the type to strike head on.

From the looks of it, they took down about ten of defense line and was heading towards us.

“Levi, the Alpha team is headed towards your way” I said through the intercom.

“Copy that” he replied.

Viewing through the telescope, it seems the team were headed straight through our trap. I saw Viktor signaling them too stop but one of their members was too late as he stepped on Mia’s trap. Blue smoke started to explode and soon enough his whole body was covered with it.

“Now Kate” I signaled.

Kate nodded her head and jumped through the tree swinging her foot right onto the other man’s face. They landed with a thud but Kate was quick enough to shoot as blue paint was spluttered on the man’s chest.

Levi was already battling with the other guy as he swiftly knocked out the man with an uppercut on the jaw. Levi slashed paint on the man’s uniform as he went back to place.

Kate was about to return to her position when I saw the guy coming from behind him. Before I could shoot, Justin beat me to it by just a second.

The man landed on the ground as Kate stood up and went back to position.

There were six of them so only two was left standing. Viktor was nowhere to be found and I was searching for the other man. When I saw movement from my peripheral vision, I noticed a man on the tree aiming at Justin.

He shot his sniper at Justin but missed by only a couple of centimeters to the head. I quickly shot him straight in the middle of his helmet as blue paint covered his view. He angrily threw off the helmet and climbed down.

“Justin are you okay?” I asked.

“Y-yeah. Thanks” he replied.

“No probl-” I said but I was cut off with the sounding of metal wheezing through the air. I ducked for cover just as a cold steel rubber knife lodged itself on the tree.

“Tsk, missed you by a second sweetheart”