The Fighter

Chapter 3

The white walls intimidate me as I stand there in my bra and underwear. A group of scientists including my two generals come in with a machine. They place a screen in front of me which is attached to a separate TV screen. They start talking about different parts of me while pointing to different things on the TV screen.

"Powerful legs, indeed." General Hugh says coming closer to me along with General Logan. I stand there very still while they circle around me.

"Ok, get dressed and head to the mess hall."

I quickly put my clothes back on and then get out of the room.

"I hated that." One guy says coming out from the room across from me.

"Did they do the screen and stuff to you too?" He catches me by surprise.

"Yea." I say. It's the first word I've said to one of theses boys.

"I'm Oliver."

"Scarlet." I say and shake his hand.

"Nice to meet you." he says sincerely.
I smile at his friendliness and start to walk with him as he tells me about himself. As we walk and talk we run into the silent one on the bus. we offer a hello and he gives us a small smile.

"What's your name?" I ask friendlily trying not to frighten the shy boy. His eyes dart around with panic until I finally say something to get him focused on me.

"I'm Scarlet and this is Oliver."

"I'm Henry." he says very faintly. I can barley hear him when he says it. He walks with us to the mess hall.

"So I heard your a Lieutenant?" Oliver ask me.

"Yes," I sigh, "I took the classes in school and did the best out of all the boys attending, then I get a knock at my door after graduation asking if I wanted to sign into the army and be an inactive lieutenant."

"So why did you sign it?"

"I was 13 and starving because my dad's two jobs weren't enough and my brother is still in school for being a broadcaster. So I signed because I knew we could get by with the money I would be earning while my brother was still trying to get through school."

"Who is your brother?" Oliver ask.

"Jessie Martin." Instantly both Henry's and Oliver's faces light up.

"I love him." Oliver says as Henry nods with approval.

We arrive at the mess hall were most of the boys are already.

"Hey, I'll talk to y'all later. I have to go find my friend Jax." Oliver says as he walks away.

"Got any friends to sit with?" I direct towards Henry. He nods no.

"Well you got me to sit with because I don't have anybody to sit with either." He smiles and nods as we head to the line to get food.

Henry doesn't say anything while we are in the mess hall.

"So Henry, why did you sign up for the war?" I try to converse.

"To get away from my family and troubles." he says in his quiet voice.

"Oh."

"You're lucky, I usually don't talk to somebody unless I've known then for 2 months." He says looking at his food.

"Thank you, Henry." I acted as if it was a compliment. He gives me a smile and begins to eat again.

After dinner we are guided to the barracks to bunk at. Henry is assigned to a bunk with Oliver's friend Jax. I get assigned to a bunk with Oliver. His friend, Jax, isn't friendly like he is. Jax was the first to start making fun of me since I'm a girl. During dinner I got a few nasty comments from him but they were cut off once Oliver sat down beside him and scowled him. It didn't stop for long because Jax had more to say. I didn't retaliate at first but then he just made it so easy to make fun of him. Soon I was throwing back rude remarks as he tried to catch up with insults.

"You make it so easy." I say to him before I go to sleep. I hear Oliver snicker along with Henry, but that doesn't make me feel special. It is expected of me to defend myself. After all, I am a soldier.