My Step Brother's Obsession - Carly #2

I Don't Know What's Happening

Just a quick note to everyone these next few chapters include all three soldiers and their battle to recognise and get through PTSD. I am not fully aware of the extent of PTSD so please be aware of this when reading this.

Carly

It had been almost two months since the camp had been reopened and it was time for the games, something I wasn't looking forward to in the slightest. And like last I wouldn't be participating. And unlike last time Kaden would be participating in my place. I already feel like a knife has been twisted into my insides and has been twisted to the point that I can't breathe and I can feel the warm reads pertinent ng out of my eyes and turning cold when they hit my chin and fall to an endless nothing. I haven't seen or heard from Kaden since a year ago. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing Mom and Dad said he went off to uni and never looked back. They've rarely spoken to him since the day he came home and told them he was leaving for uni as far away from the dump we grew up in to make a better life for himself with no complications. Which meant me. That hurt.

Maybe it was for the best that I didn't see my brother ever again after all he had decided he no longer wanted anything to do with me and that's fine with me. I haven't seen or spoken to Aiden since our run-in at Christmas a year ago. I still keep in contact with Liam. He's handling prison relatively well. He, like me, has no time for our father, the sperm donor who not only ruined one life but two he'll get his comeuppance. We both know that it's just biding time and when he does it will serve him right because like they say Karma is a bitch.

Star has been doing well since the asshole got thrown off the campgrounds. I was proud of her for not only sticking up for herself but bringing the bully down, giving her the justice she deserved was Conrad who she has now become close friends with and she's warned him that she wants nothing more from him. He's okay with that apparently. And pigs may fly. On the other hand she and Caspian are growing closer to one another though she is still a little resilient of his actions towards her. But she's taking one day at a time so is he. He doesn't want to mess anything up this time and I'm glad he's finally found a girl that makes him truly happy, one thing I knew that would never be between us because it is purely platonic between us, nothing more.

"Come on Darla,the games are about to begin."

I look at Star and smile. She's going to be watching just like me until the last races then she'll be participating alongside Conrad who she roped into being the second adult on Camp Holingway to participate in the games. Apart from a few of the soldiers there. She's a Star, definitely.

"I'm coming. I'm coming, don't get your panties in a twist."

She looks at me and grins, this girl has a dirty mind. She also is leaving Camp Hollingway after Easter. I'm going to miss riding in the car with her and her antics but it's her choice, one Conrad is definitely not happy with but he understands she needs to move on and forget what happened here to do her job.

She links her arm with mine and we smile and head to the river where the games are taking place.

Conrad looks at us and smiles. "Good morning ladies."

"Good morning Conrad."

We unlink our arms and he pulls us both into a hug. He's getting awfully affectionate, maybe it's because Star will be leaving once the games are over.

He moves away. "So are you girls looking forward to the games this year?"

I smile politely and Star bounces up and down. "I'm excited I've never been to anything like this before."

"Or participated?"

"Or that."

Conrad grins. "You're going to enjoy it, Star, trust me."

She looks at me and I smile and nod at her. Her smile is wide and it's the happiest I've ever seen her. It's a pity that we won't share our time at uni once a week now but I understand her completely. I wasn't sure that I wanted to stay here after what had happened to me but I pushed in and pushed it in the darkest place I could think of just to be here. I'm glad I did. I met some amazing people and I have the most amazing friends that I could ever wish for.

Bulldog Jr

This will be the first time that I've been on the sidelines since we started the game a few years ago just before Carly Bear came to us. I always enjoyed participating but I'm not sure I can this time around. No one knows how hard I've been struggling since I got back from Africa with literally everything. I think Kyler is too but it's hard to tell he hides shit well just like I do. I don't like talking about war at all. I decided to come to this camp to help others who need a little nudge in the right direction of how to deal with bullies and life in general. I had done a few tours the same as Kyler when we were told the general wanted to see us in his office and it was to our surprise we weren't the only ones there Caspian was there too. We saluted him and he returned it. "Sergeant Hollingway, Lieutenant Hayes, Lieutenant Stanford. I asked to see you because you are the best soldiers I have there will be a few others with you, but you three are the best of the best you work well as a team so I'm giving you an opportunity no one else will be offered, but it is also up to you to say whether or not you want to take up this opportunity or continue with your platoon here. I have received an offer from your brother Sergeant Holingway. His dear friend Hope Evans is opening up another damp to help children and teens combat bullying and how to build themselves up so they know how to combat their bullies and give them a new confidence in themselves which they never knew they had but will be thankful for. The camp is opening at the end of this month and he has asked me to send my best troops to help the individuals who will be there to learn all the specifics of helping them to help themselves. Your brother asked for you, especially Sergeant Holingwat he says you are ideal for the position and I agree. So if you are all in agreement with this new job description I will let Sergeant Seth Hollngway know that you will be with him within the next week. So what's it to be, soldiers? Are you in or out?"

We were definitely all in. I'd had enough of seeing death, bloody massacres and people turn against you after you'd saved their asses.

"I'll let Sergeant Seth Hollingway know you'll be at the camp a week from now where you'll be filled in what is expected of you."

And with that, we were dismissed and a week later we returned home and were introduced to Capian's older brother. We were shown around the camp and I fell in love with it instantly and four years later I'm still here loving it. But since we were called up for duty nothing has been the same. Nothing feels the same. I don't feel the same.

"Good morning campers!" Caspian voice booms through the microphone. I wince and shudder. I haven't been too good with loud noises since I returned. It was worse than the first time I had returned from battle. I had recognised something was wrong so I seemed to help and got it but now I'm not sure if I feel the same or different from before.

"Today we're going to start with swimming the length of the lake in your groups. There will be a flag at each stop the pick up and return the strongest swimmers will lgo last and the not-so-strongest will go first the flags are separated within twenty five metres of one another. The team who comes back first and with the most flags wins. Are we ready?"

"Yes!" they all scream. Shouted.

I cringed, not sure why it was affecting me so much it never had before.

"On your marks...

Get set...

"Go!" Caspian shouted, pressing the horn.

My ears started buzzing, something that had never happened before, it grew worse. What was happening to me?