Home • atz

Chapter 27

Unfortunately, I was awake in the wee hours due to nightmares. They were getting old. I was starting to become irate at the lack of management and coping mechanisms my brain had when it came to problems like this. I reluctantly got up and readied myself for the oncoming day. I returned to my office.

Since it was the wee hours, there were no notes printed yet from the telegram. I switched on the computer and checked over the logbooks. They were all up-to-date and perfect. I got off the computer with a sigh and resorted to flipping through my notebook. The incomplete metal work project laid open, blueprint and all. I balled up the blueprint and threw it against the wall. I thought over it once more. The metal pieces were already cut up and waiting to be used. I retrieved the paper and opened it up.

The shapes were close to the shape of a blade, some closer to an arrowhead. I was reminded of my death dream, short bow in one hand and another loading an arrow. A small hum emerged from the back of my mind.

Access granted. Readying in 3…2…1…

I caught flashes of fighting behind my eyelids as I blinked rapidly in confusion. One blink and my hands are holding the short bow. Another blink and then they're gone. The bow felt even under my hand, lightweight and smooth from the rosewood body.

The pinching sensation from the tensed bowstring bit into my index and fourth finger. I relaxed my fingers and the tension left the string, letting out a twang. Some arrows that alternated through blinks and fired away were of light metal or fashioned from materials ranging from plywood to plastic.

The whistle from the arrows upon launching sounded so distant yet so close. It was comforting, bearing a welcoming sense of familiarity even though I haven't handled them before. A faint whisper of somebody calling for me lingered around my ears. It was a word I could not hear, as if it were clouded over every time it was muttered.

Time out. Resuming in 3...2...1...

Cold air passed my ear and I snapped out of my stupor. I stood up a little too quickly that my body lurched forward and I crashed into the table. I regained my ground with difficulty. On some peculiar timing, Hongjoong walked in on my clumsy posture. I automatically straightened at the sight of the captain. 

“Take the day off." 

I stared back at Hongjoong, doubting my ears. He sighed at the lack of response.

"Business might change with current circumstances." 

My mind flitted back to the supposed sell out by the alliance. Cynthia had sent a few messages containing small updates on movements and advances by the Black Tigers. Whether or not we could trust the intel was solely up to interpretation of intention. 

"I also know you aren't sleeping well. Go see Seonghwa about it," Hongjoong scanned my face, sensing some reluctance, "or I'll drag you there myself." 

Of course I agreed quickly. I did not want to cause a fuss. 

"What're you waiting for? Shoo."
After being chastised, I left my office.

It was still very early. The silence and the solitude that came with it reminded me of the crippling self doubt that fed my negativity. I wandered around, letting my feet carry me wherever it wanted. The stillness of the rest of the base was something foreign despite my permanent residency but to be fair, stillness was quite a challenge in itself when you share close living quarters with eight other people. A brilliant idea descended upon me and I wandered over to the workshop. 

The workshop was bigger than I anticipated it to be. The silence was a little unnerving, having gotten used to the humming from Jongho and the scratching of a pen to paper from Yeosang’s side. I found the buckets containing my metal pieces. It turned out that neither Jongho nor Yeosang moved it from the bench it was perched on.