The Patriots

CHAPTER 8 (THE PURPOSE)

The total number of kids with the red body stamp, was a hundred and thirty-four. They were too many for the job, but they would be chosen if only they qualified. Del stood in front of the kids and said, "I have a question for you, kids, and your answer with take you to the next stage. Your answers will decide whether you will be chosen or not, so think quickly."

There was murmuring among the kids as they anticipated the question and prepared to answer. "What next stage is he talking about? We're here for a funfair," one boy whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear, even though he did not intend for everyone to hear it. Even Del heard him, but he chose to ignore him.

Del permitted the kids to call him 'the joker' for now. "Well kids..." he begun. "...here goes your question. If you were called to stand up here, as I'm standing, to be killed for someone you love or your country, would you come up?" The place grew silent as the kids looked at each other shocked by the question. He repeated the question, louder and clearer.

After a long period of silence he continued. "I understand this question is quite strange. I'll make it simple. Leave this tent if you know you won't be willing to die. That would mean you are out of the game. You can join the other kids in the white tent." More than half of the kids left. Del was not surprised but he was a bit disappointed. At least, even though he did not believe in love, he believed in service for one's country.

Surprisingly, the kid who commented on the next stage Del mentioned was still standing in the tent. Del slightly raised his brow, impressed by his courage, or was it his curiousity?

"How the hell are we going to fight the rebels with such a small number of people?" he thought. Anna, his personal assistant, who knew him well noticed his disappointment. They had been working together for almost ten years. One might think they would be very good friends or maybe lovers, but their relationship was strictly business.
(Due to Del not believing in love).

Anna walked up to him and whispered in his ears. "It's okay Del. We can do this. They're just kids, but even their bravery makes them more than what they are now," she said with a reassuring smile. Del sighed and addressed the remaining forty kids.

"Well...looks like you are our finalists, so I'm going to tell you my little secret to begin with. I am Del Pine, the general of the Colombian army." There were gasps from the crowd, mostly from those who finally recognised him. He gave a little smile of pride as he continued.

"You, the remaining kids here, who were so willing to die for their country and loved ones, have proven that you can be freedom fighters. I know this sounds a tad crazier than the question, but the truth is, this was an undercover job. I know most of you did not sign up for this, but you've already been chosen and there's no backing out now. You will be given military training out of this country and when you're fully prepared, we will be coming back here to fight those blood-sucking rebels. So...any questions?" He asked at the end of what seemed like a speech. The room was dead silent. The kids were too flastered to talk. Then a girl spoke from the small crowd.

"Are you from the government?" Vera asked from the crowd.

"Yes, obviously." Del answered, making Vera flinch at the coldness in his reply.

Cecilia hesitated before raising a hand. Kelvin at the back, rolled his eyes and scoffed, "I knew you would definitely be the next curious girl," he thought to himself.

"Go on," Anna beckoned smiling at her.

"You are from the government and you are from the military, why do you need kids to fight for you? Are you sending us on a suicide mission?" Cecilia asked without a pause. 

Del was dumbfounded. He tried to speak, but he could not find any words to answer her question.  He was never expecting such a question from such a little girl. "What's your name kid?" He finally asked.

"Cecilia," she answered with a questioning tone. She was not expecting a question as the answer to her question.

"Extraño," Cecila whispered under her breath, her brows furrowed.

"We'll get to know that later, Cecilia." Del finally said.

He signalled Anna to take charge of the remaining part of the business and walked out. He needed some air and time to think about the question Cecilia asked.

Anna, Miles and Peter took the names of the kids, names of their parents and their addresses. Those kids without parents were to be camped at a safe place. Anna briefed them on their whole mission and told them to meet at the same place in two days.

Del was out, far away from the tents, thinking. He was a soldier, a man who would do anything for his country, but the kids? He realised there must be some sort of conspiracy going on, and he just took orders from the big bosses without questioning them. "Are the kids strong enough to fight this war? Are they the only solution to this? Or are we really sending them on a suicide mission?" He asked himself.

He could not back out now. He was a soldier. A soldier never gives up, until the last drop of his blood. He had already taken the work upon himself. He was determined to do everything in his power to protect those kids.

The kids were sworn into secrecy before they were allowed to leave. "Remember, this secret must be kept to save yourselves and loved ones." Anna warned, before the kids were finally allowed to leave the park. The funfair was over. This was no funfair, it was the beginning of a fight that would end the bloodshed for good.

A/N: Thank you for reading🤗
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