The R.A.R (Red Army Resistance)

A New Face in the Crowd

***??? POV***
I sit on the couch, my head in my hands. "Dr. Baker ordered me to destroy Miss Petrovich's image. How can I do that?" I think guilty as Dr. Mikhailov enters the room.
"Oh, Derrick. I didn't see you there. I'll leave if you want," he says as I shake my head.
"Don't worry. I'm just thinking," I say as he sits. "What can you tell me about Miss Petrovich?" I ask as he shrugs.
"You mean Charlee? She served in the French and English War and was recognized for her service," he says as he stands.
"What about after the war? She seems, well, a bit mad," I say as he sighs.
"After the war, Charlee came home with a lot of hurt none of us could understand. She lost her closest friend moments before the war ended. She was offered citizenship along with 50 s.c.'s. She said no to both, but when she came hone, she found the stars in her bag. At first, she was fine. A bit of sadness seemed to be over her, but she was fine. Then, she started having nightmares about the war. She'd wake up crying some nights, but the worst were when she'd wake up screaming. I prescribed her a sleeping pill and that helped for a while. That was, of course, before she had her first breakdown," Dr. Mikhailov says as he sighs. He rubs his temples and then stands. "What happened?" I ask as he leans against the wall. "My younger son asked her about her time in the war. She didn't tell him for the longest time. Then, she was invited to speak at his school. She was up on the podium, talking, when she suddenly broke down and started sobbing. The crowd remained silent for a while, but then began to laugh. Charlee finally quieted down and then walked off the podium. She was about to leave when one of the high school students began to cat call. He mocked her, saying she was a coward. That she'd run from the fight and had left her friends to slaughtered. The students started throwing things at her. She'd stiffened and then ran, leaving them. If it hadn't been for Yuri, I truly believe she would've killed herself," Dr. Mikhailov says as he sighs again. "I then confided in one of the Americans to examine her. He told me she had an advanced form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. He told me we could do nothing but wait and see what happened. For a while, she'd laugh and talk to people like nothing was wrong, but eventually, she withdrew from people and hardly moved from the roof," Dr. Mikhailov says as he stands and then stares out the window. "Even my daughter Yuri began to see her withdraw from her. It was as though Charlee was trying to cut herself off from everyone. I made her go to the American and she told him of her time during the war. He prescribed her an antidepressant and that helped her greatly. She would smile, laugh, and listen, but any fool knows it was short lived. It happened about a year and a half ago, right before she began the Red Army Resistance. She was in St. Petersburg when she decided to spend the night in a bed and breakfast place. She didn't tell the people who she was, but they recognized her. They told her that her stay was on the house, but when she was about to leave, she gave them all the stars she had. She told them to leave, to go to the United States and leave Russia. They took them, but then a young soldier came in. He saw them with the stars and asked them how they'd gotten them. He didn't believe them, calling them Commie thieves who wanted to steal a soldier's stars. Charlee explained to him she'd given the stars to them, but he said she shouldn't have given Commies her stars. Charlee asked him why he was treating her any different, that she was also a Commie. Why wasn't he being like that to her she wanted to know. He said she was different, that she'd served with the Americans and was an American. She threw him out of the place then, telling him to leave or she'd kill him. He's stood and then gone back inside. He began to mock the owner and then started making certain commits about her. He finally pulled out a knife and would've cut open some of the furniture had Charlee not forced him to the wall. She warned him to leave, but then he'd tried to attack her. She grabbed the knife and tried to get it away from. Unfortunately, she instead forced it into his chest and he died, his lung punctured. She sat before him, the knife on the ground. She looked at the family and told them once more to go. They left, leaving her kneeling beside the body. She came home, her hands bloody. She told us it was an accident," he says as I hear a woman laugh. "You telling how I went nuts?" I hear Charlee says as I stand. "Miss Petrovich!" I exclaim as I stand before her. "And you are-?" she asks as I blush. "Derrick Harkov, Miss Petrovich," I say as she smiles. "My mom's Miss Petrovich. Just call me Charlee. Call me Charlee Eliza, though, and I'll shoot you in the head," she says as I silently curse myself. "Baker told me to play it cool and here I am being an idiot," I think as she smacks me. "Pay attention, dumb one," she says as another girl walks in. She looks at me and then goes to Charlee. "Who's that?" she asks as Charlee kisses her. "Derrick Harkov," she says as the girl suddenly laughs. "Your initials are DH?" she asks as I blush again. Charlee laughs as I smile. "Well, perhaps we should begin making preparations for the renewal of the R.A.R.?" Dr. Mikhailov says as Charlee nods. "What was I doing before I was captured?" she asks as Yuri looks at her oddly. "I've got a bit of amnesia, still," she says, but I can see she's lying. "As it seems, Miss Petrovich is lying," I think as I smile to myself.
***Charlee's POV***
I stare at Derrick, guilty I'd lied to Yuri. What can I say, though? Sorry, Yuri, but I was trying to rejoin the Americans when I was captured? "The truth is, Yuri, I'm afraid. Perhaps the Americans could've helped us," I think as Derrick smiles. "That guy's creepy as fucking Hell. Does he know I'm lying?" I think as Yuri hugs me. "I hope you feel better, Charlee," she says as I kiss her. "Charlee, to answer your question, you were planning to meet with the heads of the major countries in Europe in order to get back-up for your plan to challenge the United States. Do you want me to contact them, Charlee?" Mr. Mikhailov asks as I nod. "In three weeks, I hope to meet with the European heads of state to discuss our plan of battle. With any luck, by the time April Fools day comes along, we'll be able to speak with the American president," I say as Derrick suddenly tripped over his own feet. "First Lt. Petrovich!" he exclaims as I stare at him. "I wish to be in your party of commanders," he says as I step back. "Okay, don't pop a blood vessel," I say as he blushes. "Charlee?" Yuri asks as I look at her. She suddenly wraps her arms around me and hugs me. "Don't you ever leave me again. Swear to me you'll never leave," she says as I pull away. I hold her at arm's length and then hug her against me. "I swear, Yuri. By Russia's flag and my honor as a soldier, I'll never ever leave you again," I say as I pull away. "And I swear I'll never lie to you again," I think as I kiss her suddenly. "Yuri? Will you agree to something, dear?" I ask as she nods. "Once we have a bit of peace, will you agree to be my wife?" I ask as she pales. "Really?" she asks as I nod. "Yes! Yes, of course!" she exclaims as I smile. "Then let the war begin. Tomorrow begins a new day in Russia and then, we shall join forces with any other European countries that wish to fight these injustices," I say, hoping they believe me.

***So, how was it? The beginning of the war shall begin soon. Please, continue reading and supporting!***

Please Note: PTSD is a real mental disease. Many people who serve in the armed forces experience this disease. I believe only counseling and medication help the people. I may be incorrect, but just remember, this is a real disease.