we meet again ¹ - the 5th wave

XVI

graduation day.

our new uniforms were waiting for us when we returned from breakfast, pressed and starched and neatly folded on our bunks. and an extra special bonus surprise: headbands equipped with the latest in alien detection technology, a clear, quarter-size disk that slips over your left eye. infested humans will light up through the lens. or so we're told. later that day, when zombiw asked the tech exactly how it worked, his answer was simple: unclean glows green. when he politely asked for a brief demo, he laughed. "you'll get your demo in the field, soldier."

for the first time since coming to camp haven—and probably for the last time in our lives—we are kids again. whooping it up and jumping from bunk to bunk, throwing high fives. ringer and i go into the bathroom to change and after, throwing the hated blue jumpsuits into a pile in the middle of the floor. teacup has the bright idea to set them on fire and would have if dumbo didn't snatch the lit match from her hand at the last second.

the only one without a uniform is sitting on his bunk in his white jumpsuit, legs swinging back and forth, arms folded over his chest, bottom lip stuck out a mile. i walk over to him and sit down, "what's up?" i ask.

"you're all leaving without me." he says with a frown before climbing onto my lap. his head laying on my shoulder. i've known this little boy since he was in diapers it hurt to know there's a possibility of us not coming back.

"you'll get your turn, private. hang in there." zombie says approaching us.

"two years, zombie." nugget spoke up.

"so? thank what a hardass you'll be in two years. put all of us to shame."

nuggets being assigned to another training squad after we deploy. zombie promised him he could bunk with him whenever he's on base, though he had no idea when—or if—he's ever coming back. our mission is still top secret, known only to central command.

"come on, soldier. you're supposed to be happy for us," zombie teased him.

"you're not coming back." he says it with so much angry conviction that we both don't know what to say. "i'll never see you again."

"or course you're going to see us again, nugget. i promise."

nugget jumps up from my lap he hits zombie as hard as he can. again and again, right over his heart. zombie grabs his wrist, and he lays into him with his other hand. zombie grabs that one and order him to stand down.

"don't promise, don't promise, don't promise! don't promise anything ever, ever, ever!" his little face screwed up with rage.

"hey, Nugget, hey." zombie folds his arms over his chest and bend down to look him in the eye. "some things you don't have to promise. you just do." my eyes sting trying not to tear up.

zombie reaches into his pocket and pulls out sissy's locket. undoes the clasp. circle broken. he draw it around nuggets neck and hook the ends together. circle complete.

"no matter what happens out there, i'll come back for you," zombie promises him.

zombie stands at attention and snap off a salute.

"private zombie reporting for duty, squad leader!"

"my one day of glory," she says, returning the salute. "everybody knows who's making sergeant."

he shrugs modestly. "i don't listen to rumors."

the two start to walk off. nugget looks at me his puppy dog eyes have tears in them. "what about you, lana?" he says quietly. i look at him my features soften. he comes back over into my lap.

"i promise, i still have to come back for amélie don't i? and if i don't, you have to promise me you'll keep her safe, deal?" i say with a soft smile. he nods a tear falls down his cheek.

"deal." he says with a whimper before his arms wrap around my neck tightly, i hug back as he cry's into my shoulder. i hold back tears myself. "i love you, sissy." he blurts out.

"but i'm not cassie." i say softly.

"i know."

"i love you too, sammy."

the door flies open, and dumbo shouts, "sir! good morning, sir!"

we rush to the ends of our bunks and stand at attention as reznik moves down the line for what will be our final inspection. he's subdued, for reznik. he doesn't call us maggots or scumbags. he's nit-picky as ever, though. flintstones shirt is untucked on one side. oompas hat is crooked. he brushes off a speck of lint that only he can see from teacups collar. he lingers over teacup for a long moment, staring down into her face, almost comical in its seriousness.

"well, private. are you ready to die?"

"sir, yes, sir!" teacup shouts in her loudest warrior voice.

reznik turns to the rest of us. "how about you? are you ready?"

our voices thunder as one: "sir! yes, sir!"

before he leaves, reznik orders zombie front and center. "come with me, private." a final salute to the troops, then: "see you at the party, children."

on his way out, ringer gives him a knowing look, as if to say, told you so.