The Hidden Evil 2

Chapter I: The Brother

     The setting sun over Shippendale: the loveliest sight a citizen of the city could endure. The purple and orange colors that water-colored the sky were normal in the summertime. In the wintertime, the cold grey clouds layered the sky, making the gorgeous setting sun invisible. Clear eyes glared the rich orange tint of the sky. The summers were long and hot, making it hard to get work done. Most soldiers enjoyed the fall and spring seasons, since the weather is perfect for intense workouts or trainings. The seasons were quick, except for summer. Summer was long and dry, and it was hated by the soldiers of Shippendale.
     Veronica Bauer, a soldier who migrated from Germany many years ago, believed that she was the only soldier in her team that actually enjoyed the summer season. She loved the warmth, the sun, the clear skies, and the fruits and vegetables that only grew in the summer. Veronica, more commonly called Ronnie, had a team who she loved greatly.
     Ronnie walked down the hall of Shippendale Headquarters slowly, her eyes cautiously blinking. When she turned the corner, a man with honey-blond hair stood there. He meekly leaned against the wall, a look of content on his face. His name was Kenna Arisen, a soldier from Spain. He was in Captain Augustine's team. Ronnie and Kenna had been dating for about a year-and-a-half. She smiled at the sight of her significant other, catching his gaze. His amber eyes fixed on her green eyes, his smile lighting up.
     "What are you doing all alone," she asked him, standing next to him.
     "Eh, I don't really know. I guess waiting for someone to need me," he replied with a shrug.
     "Wanna go to the river after work," Ronnie politely asked. Kenna nodded, his face still bright with pleasure. Ronnie smiled, nodding her farewell. She continued down the hall, still thinking about Kenna's stunning amber eyes. Lost in thought, she suddenly ran right into someone's back. She was knocked out of her daze, noticing that she was in the cafeteria. She had ran into a small man. He turned around, his eyes narrow and deep.
     "Sorry," she frantically told him. She was taller than him by exactly five inches, but he was older than her by fifteen years. He looked at her, his face written with irritation.
     "Be more careful, Bauer," he lowly growled. She nodded, sweeping pass him quickly. That man was none other than her captain, Karma Alekhin. She bumped into him while he was chatting with Captain Augustine, another captain of Shippendale's Soldier Committee. Karma was short and skinny, people refuse to believe that he was Shippendale's strongest soldier. She didn't know how she got into the cafeteria, but she knew that her destination was Commander Asker's office.
     She warily opened door to the commander's office, seeing him writing in a notebook inside.
     "Hello, Commander," she diffidently said.
     "Why, hello, Bauer," he said. He carefully took his glasses off and set them on his desk, all while closing the notebook. "What do you have to report?"
     "No intruders, just Lurkers," she told him.
     "That's good to hear. How well did your team take the Lurkers? Did your captain decide to join you guys today?"
     "Yes, sir, he did. We took them well, and we killed them easily," Ronnie explained slowly. Asker nodded, seemingly happy with the news.
     "He must've finally came to his senses and took my words into consideration. I told him if he didn't join his team on their missions, then he would be demoted," Asker explained, drawing his breath after every sentence. Ronnie smiled. She did find it a little annoying how her captain didn't join them every time they went on a mission. It was a captains job to lead their soldiers, after all. They were clueless most of the time and had no idea what to do or when to do it.
     "Well, have a good day, Commander," Ronnie told him, turning for the door.
     "You, too," Asker said, picking his glasses back up.
     Ronnie walked back down the hall. She was stoked for her and Kenna to meet up at the river after work. She couldn't seem to get her mind off of him. But, she knew that she had to focus on work.

     Ronnie timidly walked up to the flowing river. She had changed out of her uniform and got into shorts and a light pink t-shirt. She wore leather shoes and low socks. Her face was rosy in the heat, and her baby hairs stuck to her wet forehead. She felt a small tap on her back, and when she turned around her eyes lit up at the sight of Kenna. He was dressed according to the season: a collared white shirt and black shorts. He smiled, starting to unbutton his shirt. Ronnie widened her eyes as he slipping off his shirt.
     "Wanna get into the water," he asked her, carefully putting his shirt to the side.
     "I'd love to," Ronnie replied. She got into the water, fully clothed. The water was warm and still, the sunlight reflected off of its ripples. Kenna got in behind her, sighing at the touch of the heated water. Ronnie dipped her head under, coming back up with a gasp of breath. Kenna smiled, his eyes smiling along with his mouth. Ronnie also smiled, lightly splashing him. Kenna chuckled, splashing her back. Leaves fell into the water from the trees above, landing with a small ripple forming around it. Ronnie kicked off of the surface, bringing herself towards Kenna. She landed on his chest, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He held her by the waist, his big smile turned into a warm grin.
     "I love you," she quietly mumbled.
     "I love you too," he softly replied. Suddenly, Kenna brought them both under the water, their ears suddenly clogged up with the liquid. Ronnie opened her eyes, squinting to see a blurry image of Kenna. His eyes were also open, and he was looking straight at her. He grabbed her head, forcing its closer. She felt the warm embrace of his lips on hers, and she closed her eyes in pleasure. They kissed, and it seemed as long as a lifetime. Time slowed, and his lips wouldn't release. They would keep kissing, and kissing, and kissing. Because of the warm water that they were submerged in, it felt like they were floating in space, holding each other dearly. If space felt this way, then she wanted to visit it and stay there forever, Ronnie thought as Kenna kept kissing her lips. Like all things, it ended and they both emerged from the water, taking gasps of air. Kenna smiled, and so did Ronnie. That was about the best thing that and happened to her in a long time. She felt like she has never been this happy in years, and she wanted to experience it again and again everyday she walked the earth. Kenna walked over to the shore, stepping out of the water and back into the grass. He was soaking wet, the water dripped from his bob cut all the way to the ground. She also got out, her lips stuck in a smiling position. Then, Kenna reached for his shirt and took something out of its pocket. Ronnie watched in anticipation as Kenna knelt down on one knee and popped open a small box. It contained a sparkling ring, the sun glaring off of its diamonds. Ronnie was speechless, her hands promptly darting to her mouth.
     "Veronica Bauer," Kenna smiled. "Will you marry me?"
     "Yes, Kenna! I will!" Ronnie ran into Kenna, wrapping her arms around him. Tears were forming in her eyes, tears of joy. Just as she thought this day couldn't get any better, it most definitely did. She loved him, and he loved her. Now, they could spend the rest of their short lives together under the protection of their city.