Take Me Away

Along the way, the scenery outside the window was becoming more and more desolate. From high-rise buildings, it turned to country roads before transitioning into a forest that looked devoid of human trace. Spencer groaned as he woke up from his sleep. With eyes still closed, he asked, "Johnson, what time is it?"

"It's four o'clock. We'll be there in an hour."

'An hour?' Fiona couldn't believe what she heard. Were they going to sell her in some remote village?

"Find me a bottle. I have to pee," Spencer casually said after a bit of stretching.

Fiona's face turned red. 'What did he just say? He wants to pee? Here?' The questions in her head were numerous. 'Hasn't he realized that I'm in the car with him? How could he say something like that?' "Spencer," Johnson faltered. "I don't think that's a good idea. Your...date is sitting in the back."

"What?" Spencer exclaimed. He opened his eyes and turned around. He was already expecting the look on Fiona's face, but the coldness in her stare still caught him by surprise. "I almost forgot! Stop the car then. I can't hold it in anymore. Women are always troublesome!"

The car pulled over along a forest path and Spencer and his assistant stepped out.

"Would you also like to go?" Spencer turned to Fiona and asked.

"No, thank you," Fiona said coldly as she looked away.

Spencer could only shrug his shoulders as he walked into the forest, whistling.

At this point, the base was in an uproar because of Johnson's message.

"What? Did you say a woman is coming to the base?"

"It's true! It's what Johnson said!"

"Who's the woman? Is she beautiful?"

"She must be. But she's Spencer's date, so don't even think about it!"

"Date?" "That's right!" "Then I have to

tell the others!

This is big news!" "Right!

Everyone must know."

"Breaking news!"

"Major news!" Little did Spencer know the news was spreading like wildfire in the base.

The off-road vehicle drove straight to the base deep in the mountain just as the sun was setting.

Fiona looked around at the towering trees and the mountainous landscape, and thought that everything looked amazing. It was really a wonderful place to paint. It was a good thing she brought her sketchpad and pencils.

They drove until they reached the gate, where their arrival was met with a whistle. The base was guarded by armed men who immediately raised their hands and signaled for them to stop for inspection once they saw Spencer's car approaching.

Spencer took out his certificate from his pocket and handed it to them.

"Spencer!" The guards gave Spencer a salute and opened the gate for the car to pass.

"So this is the base?" Fiona asked.

"Yes, this is our base. Spencer is respected here for being very powerful and valiant..."

"Cut the crap!" Spencer roared as he swatted the back of Johnson's head. "Just drive the car!"

"Yes, sir!" Johnson closed his mouth and focused on driving.

Fiona was surprised. She had heard that Spencer worked in a special place, but she didn't know that it was this base. Fiona recalled Johnsons' words when he spoke of his superior. 'Powerful and valiant?' She couldn't help but sneer.

It was Fiona's first time at the base so everything looked fresh to her. She remembered asking her father to take her to the base when she was just a little girl. Her father always promised that he would when she had grown up. It was unfortunate that he couldn't wait for her to grow up.

The base's dormitory area had many three-story buildings. There were also fields for football and basketball. After passing these, there was a large playground at the back and a trench. Fiona could hear the intense training going around.

They finally stopped in front of a building for military families. Spencer got out of the car and told Fiona, "This is where you'll be staying."

"For how long exactly?" Fiona stepped out too.

"Five days!" Spencer turned to her and gave her a cold stare. "From Monday to Friday, everyone is forbidden to go out of the base!"

"Am I free to walk around at least?" Fiona's gaze turned to the mountains in the distance.

Spencer pursed his lips before ordering his assistant, "Johnson, tell her! I'm done talking here!"

"Yes, sir!" Johnson gave him a salute and watched as he left.

Once Spencer was out of sight, Fiona turned to Johnson and asked, "Where shall I stay, Johnson?"

Johnson was shy upon hearing her soft voice. "You can select any room in this building. It's mostly vacant these days," he said.

Fiona nodded. Everything seemed settled until a thought occurred to her. "I didn't bring anything with me..."

"Don't worry. We have everything here." Johnson patted his chest.

"Thank you." It was then that Fiona heard the sounds of a gathering crowd. What she saw when she turned around surprised her. More than one hundred people were swarming towards her. They were all dressed in camouflage and they were encircling her.

Scared, she took a step back and asked, "What...what are they doing here?"

"Don't be afraid. They mean no harm." Johnson turned and yelled at the men, "You bastards! What are you doing? You're scaring her! There are even people on the tree. Get off there, quickly!"

'On the tree?'

Fiona looked up and saw two people squatting on a branch of a lush tree. They were smiling as they looked at her, sizing her up. Upon Johnson's orders, they quickly leaped off and dropped in front of Fiona. Fiona didn't know whether she should cry or laugh.

"They all heard that a woman was coming so they wanted to get a look. It's my fault. I shouldn't have told them," Johnson explained.

"It doesn't matter." Fiona shook her head. She looked at the crowd around her and said politely, "Hello, everyone! My name is Fiona Ji. This is my first time here. So I hope you'd be nice to me." After hearing her speak, all the men started making noise.

"You have nothing to worry about!"

"We will take care of you!"

"Welcome to the base!"

"You have a nice name!"

"You're so beautiful!"

Fiona nodded and beamed, "Thank you, everyone!"

"How old are you?" someone asked out of nowhere.

"I'm eighteen," Fiona replied.

"I'm older than you then. I just turned nineteen!"

"What should we call you?"

"We should call her madam!"

"Ha-ha..."

"Please, call me Fiona," she urged.

"What's on your back?"

"It's a sketchpad. I like drawing," Fiona answered.

"Can you draw me?"

Others also chimed in, "Draw me, too! Draw me!"

"And me!"

"Draw me first!"

"What's your relationship with Spencer? Are you his girlfriend?"

"Is that why you're here? Are you on a date with him?"

"Can you tell Spencer to not make us run too much tomorrow?"

"What's all this commotion about?"

There was a shout from behind the crowd and everyone went silent. They turned around and instantly saluted.

"Spencer!"

The crowd automatically cleared a path for him. As soon as she looked up, Fiona saw Spencer striding towards her. His stare was cold.

"Why haven't you gone inside the building? What are you still doing here?" he asked in a harsh tone.

"I'm going inside now," Fiona said coldly. Then she turned to the crowd and said, "Goodbye, everyone. I have to go now." With that, she followed Johnson into the building.

"Bye!"

"Bye!"

The men waved at her as they said goodbye. Spencer turned around and kicked the one who was nearest him. "What are you looking at? You're drooling. Wipe yourself clean!"

"Yes, sir!"

"And you, what are you doing here?" His face was livid. "Have you never seen a woman before? Go back to your exercises. You'll be running fifty more laps tomorrow!"

The group retreated quickly after hearing his words. The front of the building was instantly empty again.

"I'll stay here, Johnson," Fiona said, pointing to a room on the second floor.

"Okay." Johnson opened the door for her. "I'll have my men bring you toiletries soon."

"Thank you!" Johnson was about to leave when Fiona asked, "Do you have extra clothes here?"

"Well, we have plenty of men's clothes." "Johnson, go get her the smallest set of camouflage uniform we have," a voice said. It was Spencer, who was leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed. "Yes, sir!"

Johnson rushed out of the room, leaving only Fiona and Spencer.

"So, what do you want to do for our date?" Spencer asked as he went inside the room.

"I don't want to go out on a date." Fiona turned her back to him and started organizing her things. "Since Grandpa isn't here, you can stop pretending that you enjoy talking to me."

"Had you been one of my men, I would've had you thrown out and fed to the wolves," Spencer snorted.

"If you were my boss, Spencer, I'd rather be unemployed," Fiona mocked. "Now, please do me a favor and leave. I'm going to bed."

"Watch your smart mouth, or I'll have your teeth pulled out one by one someday!" He turned around and left.

Fiona watched Spencer as he walked out.

Was this man really brave and strong?

Given the way he bullied her, he seemed like a boy in high school.