Crowns and Guns.

Venom (part 1)

I turn from side to side, unable to fall asleep. I hate how my metal foil blanket sticks to my skin. My throat feels soar, and my nose feels stuffed. I knew walking around barefooted in the rain was a bad idea. I sit up, being careful not to hit my head on the low ceiling, and feel my feet. Little clumps of dirt and grass are still sticking to them, as I didn't get a chance to wash them.

I figure if I am not going to sleep, I might as well just wash my feet and legs. I carefully get out of bed and navigate between the beds to the wall with the lockers. I use my wristband to open mine and check it. I still have a mostly clean towel with some smudges on them, that I used to clean June's face yesterday morning, and half a bottle of water. I decided to drink some of it, to ease my soar throat a bit. I then take the towel and the bottle with the remaining water and walk to the bathroom.

I go sit on one of the broken sinks, with my back against the mirror. I carefully pour a bit of water on a a spot on my towel that is still clean, careful to not spill any. Then I start scrubbing my ankles. Without seconds of scrubbing the white towel is a mixture of green and brown.

After scrubbing both my feet, and drying them with a different spot on my towel, I hear a toilet flushing, and Commander Warner steps out of a stall., wearing nothing but short white shorts, his bare chest and sizeable belly on full display. I instinctively avert my eyes while focusing on my feet. Despite me trying to avoid him, he walks over to me and tries to strike up a conversation.

"Up so late, Lieutenant Riley?"

I shrug. "I couldn't sleep, so I decided to wash my feet instead."

He looks at my feet as if lost in thoughts. "I never noticed you had similar scars on your legs as on your arms." He puts his hand on my ankle.

I slab his hand away. "Please don't touch me."

The commander crosses his arms. "How did you get those scars?"

I look him in the eyes. "None of your business."

"So be it." He turns around and walks away.

"Wait," I yell after him. He turns back around. "I need another favour."

He turns around and narrows his eyes. "Another one? I already did one for you this morning, giving that girl a permit to join your class."

I nod. "Yes, about that. That girl has a name, Katie, and she has no shoes. We train outside, and I don't want her to get sick. Can you request a pair from ORCHID?"

The Commander looks at me, thinking, and smiles. "Sure, I'll get her a pair. But only because you ask so nicely. And because my daughter Kelsey speaks so highly of you." He smirks. "And besides, it is hard to say no to your pretty face." He lightly touches my upper arm, but I push his arm away. He just, stares at me for a while. I cover my body with my arms, being hyper aware of how revealing my nightgown is. He then turns around and starts walking. I stop him.

"Commander, where is your wristband?"

The commander looks at his wrist. "Oh, I don't know. Probably in my bed somewhere. It tends to slip off. I always find it back in the morning tho." He turns around one last time and walks out of the room.

I look at my empty bottle and jump down from the sink, walking back to the barracks. After putting the towel and bottle back into my locker, I walk back to my bed. I stop at my bunk, ready to climb the ladder, when I notice the bottle bunk is empty. I wonder where Katie is, I didn't meet her on my way to the bathroom.

I turn around and see June sitting on her bed, her feet dangling over the edge, in her grey fleece pyjamas. She is loosely holding her teddy bear in her hand. The bottom bunk below her is equally empty. I guess May is gone too.