The VOID

Ch 6 (A. Flett)

     "I always appreciate your hard work Angus. Your writing is beautifully worded and you always have options that I never think of. I value your input immensely," Captain Weaver expressed, holding the documents I wrote in his hand.

     "He liked my written thesis paper!" My excitement was bubbling over, but I got a cool head.

     "Thank you, Sir. I appreciate yar words, but I still have a lot to improve," I humbled my words so as to not to seem arrogant.

     "Humble as always," he remarked, "But I can't send you away without a proper reward. I'd be embarrassing myself if I didn't give you anything even when you did a fabulous job."

     "I couldn't-," A knock interrupted me. I turn in my seat to look at the door behind me.

     "What is it?" Captain Weaver seemed irritated with the interruption.  A Commander from the Soldier Unit frantically burst open the door. The usual tidy appearance for Commanders wasn't displayed; his hair messy as if he ruffled his hair, sweat dripping from his dark skin, and his uniform slightly untucked. The name plate on the left shoulder read: Scott.

     "I received word from the 2 year training teachers that one of the top graded Soldiers in training was just stabbed," Commander Scott blurted out, not realizing I was present.

     My mind immediately went to Luca, "Was he okay?"

     "Which class was it?" I stood up from my chair. His eyes caught mine for a moment before hesitating, looking at Captain Weaver for a moment.

     "Class 8 A, Luca Bates," my heart dropped to my stomach.

     "Tell me where he is." I demanded, "Tell me!"

     "Flett, I suggest you calm down," The Captain told me.

     "Ya said ya would give me a reward!" I reminded him, turning to glare at him, "Bring me to him." He gave me a hard stare.

     "You will be working overtime for an entire year for this transgression," he told me.

     "Anythin' for my brother," I stared at him.

     "You can accompany him to the  Medical Facility, but starting tomorrow you will be working double," he ordered. He bobbed his head to the man in the doorway and he quickly guided me to the roof where a helicopter that was ready to take off. We rushed onto the helicopter and put on bulky headsets before taking off.

     I silently watched the wooden terrain get rougher and denser the further we go in. Located just inside the dense woods was a round clearing for helicopters for emergencies. We landed and three people rushed in our direction. Two men carried the stretcher, while the other man was putting pressure on the young boy's abdomen. They placed him up on the helicopter reciting information the new doctors needed to know about their patient before the metal bird flew again.

     Unconscious and defenseless, Luca laid still. His boyish face had already gone pale; lips and fingernails blue. He was silent to the point I was worried he was already gone. My mind started to drift to the worst.

     "Did he die? Oh God, no. Please no! He's only sixteen! I have no one but him! I'm gonna be alone again! My family is gonna leave me again!"

     The doctors pulled back the dressing to assess the situation of his wound, which caused Luca to grimince unconsciously. Even knowing that he was not through the worst of it, I still let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Just the fact I knew he was alive right now was all I needed to hold onto reason. I reached over and held Luca's limp hand, which flinched every once in a while.