Survivor

Rising action to Climax

I have still not found the exact words for what I felt at that moment. I was...empty with sadness. It felt like lampposts on a street I had been walking through suddenly turn off. It was going to be a long day and things were only going to get worse.

On my way to our routine morning assembly, another recruit gave me 'the look'. Whenever a recruit was taken away by a lieutenant wether that be for punishment or forever, we were never to talk about the incident. Just act like they never existed, so amongst ourselves, the recruits developed a look we would use express our condolences. I stayed awfully quiet that morning, observing lieutenant.M with a keen eye. Even during assembly and the reciting of our national anthem. I had other aqaintances to eat and train with. Plus it the first time one of us had been taken away to be punished. But it really hit me when I finished my breakfast faster than usual and turned my head to boast to Bennet. But he wasn't there. Hard labor and being reprimanded had never lasted that long, I knew something wasn't right.

I waited and waited, for what felt like eternity. Until the other recruits and I were let off training for the day. There was a twinge of pride among the gloom, knowing I had come up with my own plan. I was finally catching up to Bennet. Even though I was nervous out of my mind and my heart was beating out of my chest. I didn't smile. I kept composed.

Exiting the assembly hall, I made my way down a prolonged hallway, lieutenant.M had just eaten his dinner, a smear of sauce above his bushy mustache. A chill went down my spine as he passed me in the inlit hall. His appearance had always pit me on edge, but I never felt a chill like that before. Biting my tongue, I continued to walk down the hallway towards the room holding my friend.

"Where do you think your going, recruit.S?" lieutenant.M spat, I could feel his eyes on the back of my head. I took the biggest breath of my life. And ran. Ran the fastest I ever thought I could. A mixture of tears and sweat flying off my face as my chest tightened and the feeling of emptiness was replaced by fear. I didn't want to be taken away. I didn't want to be gone forever. I didn't want to be forgotten. I knew that The fierce clanking of heavy metal boots weren't going anywhere anytime soon. Even after I had made it well past the punishment room. Turning on every corner I could, the orphanage had become a maze, with death as a forfeit. Ultimately my legs gave out, just after I turned another life saving corner. I almost collapsed, clinging onto tattered walls like they were my last hope. My slipping fingers betraying me. I was wheezing for air like I'd never breathed before.

"Sa-Sally?" Bennett mumbled, his eyes, cheeks and nose were a salmon pink. Tears still spilling from his eyes and an anxious change in his voice. Behind him however... An open door. To outside. It was a ruined town covered in debris, wreckage draped in snow. But to me? It was paradise. Just outside the door was an automobile, it's trail leading to a port on the beach. Loud footsteps stomped from behind me. I turned to Bennet and gripped his hand in mine.

"Let's leave." I said both determined and fearful, we didn't want to be just apart of the past. But...maybe, on 'the other side' we wouldn't be forgotten, I thought.